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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2002 Lincoln LS Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
15about this part
Share
12%of 121 total for the year
Median mileage
80,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2002 Lincoln LS, 12% of the 121 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“Took my 2002 Lincoln into dealer to see why I was smelling hot engine oil they told me the valve cover gaskets leak on both sides of engine. Asked why both the service traction control light and ABS light and occasionally brake like stay on while operating the car, was told the sensor was bad and needed replaced. Upon inspection they found the transmission cooling line was leaking. My car has only approx. 80,000 miles on it. …”

NHTSA complaint #10383021, filed 2011-02, 76,000 miles

“I was driving down the street went to a stop light stopped and as I proceeded to go it started sounding like a bus the sound underneath the hood of a car and it was acting like it was slipping I pulled over turn my car off got back in and started going again and it got louder the noise did it sounded like a big bus and it felt like it was pulling me dragging me back like as if I had the emergency brake on or something but I did not. Then I started to smell something burning light oil or something”

NHTSA complaint #10779774, filed 2015-10, 2 miles

“I own a 2002 Lincoln LS. The transmission seems to be a bit of a problem with this car. While I was driving on the highway, my transmission decides to give up on me in the middle of traffic while driving at 70mph. I also lost my power steering and my lights shut off. Since this happened at night, the last bit was a bit of a problem. I feel that this car is not very safe and I feel that Lincoln should do something to fix this.”

NHTSA complaint #10298753, filed 2010-01, 120,000 miles

“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

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2006317%
20051719%
20041921%
20032029%
20021512%
2001146%
20003811%

Other parts of the 2002 Lincoln LS

Engine cooling
25 complaints
Air bags
24 complaints
Suspension
24 complaints
Brakes
15 complaints
Vehicle speed control
11 complaints
Steering
10 complaints
Electrical system
9 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaints
Other or unknown
6 complaints
Wheels
6 complaints
Body and structure
5 complaints
Engine
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2002 Lincoln LS

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology