Skip to content
Lincoln LSModel year report

2002 Lincoln LS Problems

Complaints
121filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
80,000miles, 89 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 15 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Lincoln LS (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2002 Lincoln LS most often write in about front suspension ball joint and lower control arm problems, illuminated air bag warning lights, and engine misfires linked to coil-on-plug ignition and oil leaking from valve cover gaskets. Many complaints come in between roughly 50,000 and 120,000 miles, and several describe symptoms that recur after a first repair rather than resolving. A smaller but repeated theme is unintended acceleration or surging, often described together with a brake pedal that did not respond as expected.

  1. Suspension

    Front ball joint and lower control arm failure

    • 15 complaints (12%)
    • median 95,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (12 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2003–2022

    Complaints describe clunking, squeaking or whining noises from the front end, shaking or vibration at highway speed, and in some cases the lower ball joint separating or fracturing while driving. Owners say the vehicle then pulled or lost steering control, and several report the joint was replaced and later failed again. According to complaints, some dealers told owners their vehicle identification number was not covered by an earlier ball joint campaign even though the symptoms matched. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 140,000 miles, though some appear earlier and a few well past 150,000 miles.

    What to check: Have a shop inspect the front lower ball joints and control arms, and ask for any repair history showing they were replaced and with which part. Listen for clunks or squeaks over bumps during a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving down the highway at 50 MPH when I heard a loud noise coming from the back passenger side. Then I felt the car go out of control and I managed to safely get the car to the shoulder. My passenger door side airbag came out. When I got out of the car my tire was almost completely of the rim. I had my car towed to the repair shop and they said I needed a new axle, wheel bearing, control arm, rotor, rim and tire. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10400468, filed 2011-05, 95,000 miles

    “While driving the lower ball joint fell apart. No injury resulted due to a low speed. After talking to a technician at the local Lincoln dealer I found out that Lincoln had changed the design a month after my car was built because they know they had underbuilt the car. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10310261, filed 2010-02, 95,000 miles
  2. Air bags

    Air bag warning light on or air bags not deploying

    • 27 complaints (22%)
    • median 85,251 mi at 9.3 yrs old (21 state mileage)
    • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2003–2020

    Complaints describe the air bag warning light flashing and then staying lit, or a chime sequence on startup, with some owners saying repeated wiring or connector repairs only worked briefly. A number of reports describe air bags that did not deploy in a frontal or side impact, and a few describe a side air bag deploying without a crash. Owners also mention the driver side air bag or connector being replaced. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 50,000 to over 200,000 miles, with no clear climate or seasonal pattern.

    What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the air bag light goes out after the bulb check; if it stays on or flashes, ask for the stored codes and what wiring or clock spring work was done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My 2002 Lincoln LS v8 has broken down in numerous ways. All ignition coils have had to be replaced, two window motors, airbag connector clip, my tie rod ends are bad, my car has actually shut off completely while driving up the 15 north three times while my son was in the car with me and now my transmission has completely stopped working. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10281000, filed 2009-08, 73,000 miles

    “Well I was driving down the freeway when all of sudden for no apparent reason there was an explosion in the passenger seat next to me. I was shocked by the loudness and I just sort of sat there in a daze and as I looked over I noticed white dust everywhere completely filling the cab of my car. I was driving so I had to split my attention between the road and this explosion next to me. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10379728, filed 2011-01, 95,947 miles
  3. Engine cooling

    Engine misfire and rough running (coil-on-plug)

    • 13 complaints (11%)
    • median 60,600 mi at 5.6 yrs old (12 state mileage)
    • filed 2003–2011

    Owners describe the check engine light coming on with misfire codes, shuddering or hesitation at cruising speed, rough idle, and occasional stalling or shutdown while driving. Many say the ignition coils were replaced, sometimes only some of them, and the same symptoms returned later. Complaints also mention oil from leaking valve cover gaskets reaching the spark plug wells, and dealers identifying the gaskets and covers as the needed repair. Commonly reported from about 55,000 to 100,000 miles, and often described as returning within weeks or months of a partial coil replacement.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether all ignition coils were replaced or only some, and whether the valve cover gaskets have been done. Check for oil in the spark plug wells and for a burning oil smell after startup.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My car has numerous parts that tear up repeatedly, within a 6 months time. Valve cover gasket had replaced twice within a 6 months time. The coil packs go up very often. I had panel buttons just tear up for no reason three times! Wheel caps replaced numerous times. Overheating issues, door locking issues, battery replaced twice within 2 years time. Ac issues, (I never used my AC..at all) . This car has a lot of problems on the t.s.bulletin. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10355036, filed 2010-09, 25,000 miles

    “My 2002 Lincoln LS's engine light came on at the end on may, I had autozone do a free test on it and it read that it was misfiring on cylinders 3 and 4. I took it on and had a tune up and replaced 2 of the 8 coils (which was about $500 total). A month later it started doing the same thing, it shutters when I reach the speed of 40 MPH and it idles like a semi. I have yet to take it in, I rarely drive it because of it. I got an estimate for another $500, just for the other 6 coils.”

    NHTSA complaint #10281142, filed 2009-08, 75,000 miles
  4. Vehicle speed control

    Unintended acceleration or surging with brake concerns

    • 13 complaints (11%)
    • median 90,511 mi at 8.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2003–2022

    Owners describe the engine revving or the car surging forward without pedal input, at stop lights and at highway speed, with the brake pedal failing to slow the vehicle in some accounts. In several complaints the driver had to shift to neutral or switch off the engine to stop. Dealers are described as unable to duplicate the problem, and one owner reported an idle air control valve replacement. Reported across a broad range, from under 20,000 to over 200,000 miles, with no consistent pattern.

    What to check: Check for any stored throttle or speed control codes and ask whether the idle air control valve, throttle body or cruise control components were serviced. Confirm the brake and accelerator pedal feel normal and that cruise control engages and releases cleanly.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While driving 35 MPH on the truman parkway the car suddenly accelerated as fast as it would go. Brakes failed and car went out of control. After avoiding to hit 5 o6 cars it side swiped another car then veered to the right and came to a stop on a wet grassy area. In 2 previous incidents the engine revved up at a red light and I almost hit the car in front of me.”

    NHTSA complaint #10649041, filed 2014-10, 100,018 miles

    “Car accelerates with no prior warning engine hit 3000 rpms had to slam on brakes did not hold car had to turn motor off. This has happened twice. Dealership couldn't reproduce this they replace idle air control valve they think this is the problem? I'm not happy with the fact they are not sure if this is it what if it happens again?”

    NHTSA complaint #10088621, filed 2004-08, 17,482 miles
  5. Engine cooling

    Overheating and cooling fan problems

    • 7 complaints (6%)
    • median 40,200 mi at 9.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2005–2018

    Complaints describe the engine running hot or overheating, sometimes with a warning to shut down, and owners waiting for it to cool before continuing. Several say a thermostat was replaced first, then a cooling fan or fan clutch, with the overheating returning afterward. Owners describe repeat shop visits for the same symptom. Reported from low mileage up through roughly 130,000 miles, mostly in warmer months.

    What to check: Let the car idle with the air conditioning on and confirm both cooling fans run; ask whether the thermostat and fan assembly have been replaced and whether overheating has recurred since.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When I drive approximately 35 miles, my 2002 Lincoln LS wants to overheat and shut down on me. I have to wait till it cools down and then start it up and proceed on my way.”

    NHTSA complaint #11102934, filed 2018-06, 35 miles

    “Purchased 2002 Lincoln LS with the v8 motor and got extended warranty from mepco vcs premier ultimate warrant corp. For past 2-3 years this car has been in shop over 6 times; 3 times for overheating. First 2 times of overheating they stated the fan clutch was bad and replaced it and it seemed to not run hot as often but still had symptoms.. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10230223, filed 2008-06, 55,400 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the front ball joints, cooling fans and ignition coils is worth the cost on this model year, since those are the areas owners write about most and repairs sometimes need repeating. Ask for records showing whether the coils, valve cover gaskets and cooling fan assembly were already replaced.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 121 consumer complaints for the 2002 Lincoln LS. 89 of the complaints include a mileage, and 27% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 80,000 miles. Of all complaints, 21 involved a crash, 9 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 23 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Wheels (6), Body and structure (5), Engine (4), Equipment (3), Fuel system (3), Electronic stability control (2), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Tires (2), Exterior lighting (1), Seats (1).

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “2002 Lincoln LS experiences sporadic engine failure. The vehicle has stalled at low and high speeds. I have spoke to two separate representatives form ford. They have acknowledged that the problem exists and as of this date they have no repair available. I was told that the problem is with a computer program.”

NHTSA complaint #10036906, filed 2003-08, 1,500 miles

Air bags: “While driving down preston hwy I rear ended a truck in front of me as I was unable to stop in time. Potential totaled car with heavy front end damage yet the air bag never deployed. 207,000 miles on the car.”

NHTSA complaint #10903054, filed 2016-09, 207,000 miles

Suspension: “Ball joint failure. My car was built in march of 2002 and they redesigned it in april to a larger ball joint which I learned by talking to a mechanic at the Lincoln dealer. He said that he fixes a lot of them built march and before but had never had to fix a post march 2002 car. I asked if he had ever upgraded it to the new design he said no, I asked if it was possible he said probably. …”

NHTSA complaint #10368531, filed 2010-12, 100,000 miles

Brakes: “Brake failure. My wife and I purchased the 2002 Lincoln LS in august, 2005 from our local ford dealership. Later that month on two occasions my wife reported that the brakes failed during low speed stops. We took the vehicle back to the dealership but the service department found nothing wrong. The service department suggested she might be driving with two feet and asked that she allow her spouse to drive it for a while to see if it happened to him. On october 5, 2005 during a low speed stop at an intersection, the brakes failed again causing a minor traffic accident. …”

NHTSA complaint #10140631, filed 2005-10, 60,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

27% of the 89 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 47,530 and 103,000 miles.

7%0–107%10–2513%25–5015%50–7527%75–10020%100–15011%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (89 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 80,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

17’04’07’10’13’16’19’22
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Lincoln LS. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
LS · sedan not rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2002 Lincoln LS version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
LS RWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic162319$4,350
LS RWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed manual162319$4,350
LS RWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic152318$4,550
LS RWD3.9L 8-cyl5-speed automatic152217$4,850
LS RWD3.9L 8-cyl5-speed automatic152217$4,850

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2002 Lincoln LS in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 23 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 23 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lincoln LS

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20061865,0000—18—Stable
20059059,5001—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20049159,9250—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20036859,7881—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200212180,0000—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200124088,0061—18Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200035476,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Lincoln LS model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Lincoln LS?

Owners of the 2002 Lincoln LS most often write in about front suspension ball joint and lower control arm problems, illuminated air bag warning lights, and engine misfires linked to coil-on-plug ignition and oil leaking from valve cover gaskets. The issues reported most often: Front ball joint and lower control arm failure; Air bag warning light on or air bags not deploying; Engine misfire and rough running (coil-on-plug).

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Lincoln LS have?

NHTSA recorded 121 consumer complaints for the 2002 Lincoln LS as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Lincoln LS is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 25 complaints (21% of the total), followed by air bags with 24.

Has the 2002 Lincoln LS been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Lincoln LS get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Lincoln LS (LS, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Lincoln LS reported?

Among the 89 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 80,000 miles and the middle half falls between 47,530 and 103,000 miles; 27% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.