2000 Lincoln LS problems & reliability
354 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Lincoln LS, alongside 1 safety recall campaign. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
11 complaints report injuries (11 injured, 1 deaths reported).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2000 Lincoln LS vehicles were involved in 11 fatal crashes with 7 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 123 | 35% |
| Air Bags | 47 | 13% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 42 | 12% |
| Power Train | 38 | 11% |
| Electrical System | 24 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 | 6% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 | 6% |
| Visibility | 20 | 6% |
| Steering | 16 | 5% |
| Structure | 14 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 76,018 miles (middle 50% between 53,578 and 110,000 miles), based on 209 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Ball joint bolts loosen or don't tighten to specifications which causes a lot of wear and tear on the front end of my vehicle. I've had to have them replaced twice and tightened up or re-fixed several times it's unsafe at time. I take chances of my life safety. I mostly have had problems on the regular streets and to…”
Steering · filed Aug 27, 2019
“Tl* the contact owned a 2000 lincoln ls. While driving 35 mph, the steering wheel pulled to the right and caused the vehicle to drive into a ditch. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled and towed to an unknown location. A police report was filed. The contact…”
Steering · filed Apr 30, 2019
“The horn and cruise control just suddenly quit working does a master automotive technician ase-certified I decided to check it out before I contacted the dealer the problem is in the clock spring the clock spring has failed without an accident or anything to cause it to file this seems like it should be an issue…”
Air Bags · filed Mar 16, 2019
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
270 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2000 Lincoln LS. The 10 most recent:
This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled…
TSB 20-2233 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 13, 2020
Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel…
TSB 19-2026 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 7, 2019
Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel…
TSB 19-2026 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 7, 2019
Wds cop kit diagnostic tip - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - engine misfire or rough running. *tt
041601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 14, 2005
Excessive electrical system current draw which could result in a discharged battery and a no crank condition. *tt service tips. *tt
0295 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 14, 2005
Water/moisture in cop wells - dtc p0301-p0308 - 3.9l engine - vehicles built through 5/1/2004. *tt
02162 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 7, 2005
Safety belt retraction speed. *tt
042421 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 7, 2005
Unusual engine noise or engine knock concerns due to regular fuel. *tt
18615 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2005
Safety belt web stop button service. *eh
05310 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 21, 2005
Aluminum corrosion - service tip. *tt
04251 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 27, 2004
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2000 Lincoln LS has 1 NHTSA recall campaign — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2000 Lincoln LS?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 76,018 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.