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Lincoln LSModel year report

2004 Lincoln LS Problems

Complaints
91filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
59,925miles, 80 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
20 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Lincoln LS (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2004 Lincoln LS most often describe ignition coil and throttle body problems that put the car into a reduced-power "ETC engine failsafe" mode, sometimes with stalling or surging. Airbag deployments that owners say happened without a collision, harsh reverse or 3-4 transmission engagement, and intermittent electrical drains round out the picture. Many of these reports come in between roughly 40,000 and 90,000 miles.

  1. Air bags

    Airbags deploying without a crash

    • 18 complaints (20%)
    • median 51,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (16 state mileage)
    • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2004–2017

    Complaints describe side curtain or seat airbags deploying while the car was being driven normally, with no impact, sometimes at low speed and sometimes at highway speed. Several owners report injuries from the deployment, and some say the dealer attributed the deployment to a prior impact they were not aware of. A few complaints instead describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Reported from under 1,000 miles up to about 200,000 miles, with several under 35,000 miles.

    What to check: Ask whether the car has any airbag warning light history or prior airbag repairs, and have a pre-purchase inspection check for stored airbag module codes and signs of previous deployment.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Was coming home from the store I was going 55mph and out of no where the headlights turn off....pulled over turned off the car then back on and work for like a min then again I almost crash because no light..a 15min drive home became 50min had to be pulling over all the way home....due to the lights turning off on there own...”

    NHTSA complaint #10678161, filed 2015-01, 109,132 miles

    “My wife and I were traveling on the pa. Turnpike when a tractor trailer blew a tire. I struck a small piece of the tire and the side curtain air canopy and seat side airbags deployed, injuring my wife and almost causing an accident!”

    NHTSA complaint #10086398, filed 2004-08, 3,972 miles
  2. Vehicle speed control

    ETC failsafe / reduced power from throttle body

    • 53 complaints (58%)
    • median 70,836 mi at 6.6 yrs old (45 state mileage)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 5 quotes)
    • filed 2004–2020

    Complaints describe the car dropping into "ETC engine failsafe mode," where acceleration is limited to about 15-30 mph until the car is shut off and restarted. Owners often link it to throttle body trouble; some had ignition coils replaced first, and several report the throttle body was replaced or diagnosed as the culprit. A number say the problem reappeared after repair, and some mention a nationwide parts shortage that left the car at the dealer. Reported from very low mileage up to about 120,000 miles, with many complaints in the 35,000-90,000 mile range.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been replaced and whether the electronic throttle control lamps or codes P2106/P2135 have ever appeared. A test drive should include steady acceleration and a restart to confirm the car does not drop into failsafe.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Driving down the side street and my car goes into limp mode. Reads etc .start up will move about 1/4 of the block and does it again. Had to keep turning it off and on to get home.once stop in the middle of the intersection. From what I have seen this is not unusual for LS. This is a safety concern. Have not got my car fix because it is very expensive to fix.”

    NHTSA complaint #10478546, filed 2012-10, 92 miles

    “Normal clear weather driving down busy street when care suddenly slowed down almost resulting in a collision with vehicles behind me. The engine stopped , I restarted with very limited drivability the etc failsafe mode kicked in for no apparent reason this issue must be addressed before someone is seriously injured.”

    NHTSA complaint #10820770, filed 2016-01, 105,000 miles
  3. Engine cooling

    Misfire, rough running and stalling (ignition coils)

    • 24 complaints (26%)
    • median 73,550 mi at 6.7 yrs old (22 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2005–2013

    Owners describe the engine cutting out, missing, running rough, surging or stalling, often with a flashing check engine light and misfire codes. Complaints frequently name the ignition coil-on-plug assemblies; in several cases the dealer replaced only the coil that failed rather than all of them, so owners say they had to return repeatedly. Some report the dealer could not reproduce the problem or found no fault codes. Reported across the range from about 40,000 to over 120,000 miles, in normal driving conditions.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for service records on ignition coils and spark plugs, and check for a stored or pending misfire code. A service bulletin notes extended warranty coverage on coil assemblies for these years.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Stalling,jerking surges. Three times the car just came to an abrupt stop. Had to have it towed. My 77 year old mother was left terrified. Overheated jerks into gear. Ford replaced engine coil,but said they could not replace all at once we would have to continue to break down in order to fix each coil. The car always jerks and surges. The results are that we can not go on the freeway for fear of breaking down. No long trips etc.”

    NHTSA complaint #10342907, filed 2010-07, 50,000 miles

    “My 2004 Lincoln LS has a coil problem. It cuts out and misses and then shuts down. I have had 3 coils replaced and also the throttle body and spark plugs changed. It has 85,000 miles on it now but this has been a problem since it was in the 40,000 range. The dealer will replace them if they can get them to fail while they are checking it but they don't always act up at that time. I had to pay $114.00 for a diagnostic check last week and they could not fine anything wrong. It still cuts out and is generally unreliable. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10341066, filed 2010-07, 85,534 miles
  4. Transmission and drivetrain

    Harsh or delayed reverse and 3-4 shifts

    • 14 complaints (15%)
    • median 57,500 mi at 5.0 yrs old (12 state mileage)
    • filed 2005–2020

    Owners report hard engagement when shifting into reverse, harsh 3-4 upshifts and jerking when braking, with some saying the car lost power or would not move after stopping. Some complaints reference a mailed notice about transmission fluid installed at the plant that could cause delayed or harsh reverse engagement, and say the dealer added an additive or changed the fluid. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 90,000 miles, in ordinary driving.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the transmission fluid additive or fluid service described in the customer satisfaction program was performed, and drive the car through several reverse engagements and 3-4 shifts before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I own a Lincoln LS v8 with 55,000 miles. When I shift into reverse it creates a harsh sound, like the transmission is going to fall out. My check transmission light came on will be taking it to the dealership. I have been researching transmission problems on LS and seems to be extremely common manufacturing problem. Something must be done!”

    NHTSA complaint #10322118, filed 2010-03, 55,000 miles

    “In nov 2008,while driving on a very busy street, I noticed the vehicle shifting very hard and at times causing a harsh jerk. As I attempted to make a left turn on a very busy intersection to return the vehicle home, the vehicle lost all power and the error message etc engine failsafe mode displayed on the screen. Thankfully the car slowly coasted across the 3-lane intersection without causing an accident. I had the vehicle towed to the Lincoln dealership and they stated that the throttle body need to be replaced. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10256099, filed 2009-01, 71,000 miles
  5. Engine cooling

    Coolant loss and running hot

    Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe the engine running hot repeatedly, with owners returning to the dealer multiple times for thermostat, coolant reservoir and O-ring replacements without a lasting fix. Some report overheating alongside jerking or stalling complaints, and others mention the air conditioner blowing hot on one side. Reported mostly from about 55,000 to 90,000 miles, often on cars with a longer service history.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue around the reservoir, thermostat housing and hoses, and ask whether coolant parts have already been replaced. Watch the temperature gauge during a test drive in traffic.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have had my 2004 Lincoln LS in the shop at my local ford dealership on numerous occasions. Starting at around 80,000 miles on it, I had a variety of problems on it which cost me several thousand dollars. But most recently and the biggest problem that I have now is with it running hot. As a matter of fact, this is my 5th time taken to the shop for this same problem. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10328064, filed 2010-04, 80,000 miles

    “The car loses power and goes into fail safe mode, at 65 and lots of traffic getting over is not safe! I've spent thousands on new coils, computer, gas pedal, you name it but ford does not know how to fix it!”

    NHTSA complaint #10416930, filed 2011-08, 117,000 miles

Buying note. A 2004 Lincoln LS can be a pleasant driver, but the complaints suggest checking the throttle body, ignition coils, transmission behavior and airbag history carefully before buying, and asking for service records. A pre-purchase inspection that scans for stored codes is worth the cost on this model year.

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 91 consumer complaints for the 2004 Lincoln LS. 80 of the complaints include a mileage, and 41% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 59,925 miles. Of all complaints, 8 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 12 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 38 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: Exterior lighting (3), Electronic stability control (2), Steering (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Interior lighting (1), Other or unknown (1), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “My 2004 Lincoln LS has never been in an accident. Approximately 60 days ago my check engine light came on after getting bad gas. Was able to reset by removing the battery and reinstalling. No engine light on all the time. No acceleration, and today got etc engine failure mode. Stopped car, restarted and would then go more than the 15 MPH in failure mode . But still doesn't accelerate like it should.”

NHTSA complaint #10343506, filed 2010-07, 49,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “My 2004 Lincoln LS v6 sedan loses power and stalls. The wrench appears in the window and the engine light comes on. I have taken the vehicle to the dealer several times. Once the coils were replaced; most recently I took the car and the dealer was unable to diagnose the problem. This morning I was on the turnpike in high speed traffic and the car lost power, the wrench appeared and the engine light is on. I'm frustrated that a car with only 45k miles and in otherwise good condition can not be driven without fear of causing a major accident. …”

NHTSA complaint #10382739, filed 2011-02, 45,187 miles

Electrical system: “Recall 2004 Lincoln LS had ignition coil plm and happen again , throttlebody repair, traction controls, and I knew it will happen again ignition due not replace all new one when I buy from chevy blossom, ford captio city want me to pay for diagnosis test machine to check what wrong , it was fine before worst odd warning light on traction control, it is not dependable car for me.”

NHTSA complaint #10261350, filed 2009-03, 76,000 miles

Air bags: “While driving in the evening, on a slightly winding, smooth, gravel road at about 30 to 35 MPH, temperature about 34 degrees f, the airbag in the passenger seat deployed. There was not any form or type of collision. During the time I have had the car, about 2 years, there has not been any form of collision damage, as far as I know there was not any prior history of any type of collision damage. There was an occupant in the seat, his shoulder felt sore and his hearing was affected at the time.”

NHTSA complaint #11053793, filed 2017-12, 121,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

41% of the 80 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,000 and 86,000 miles.

13%0–1010%10–2519%25–5025%50–7515%75–10014%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (80 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 59,925 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.

’05’07’0918’11’13’15’17’20
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 2004 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 / 4———

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 2004 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 automatic182521$3,900
LS RWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172420$4,100
LS RWD3.9L 8-cyl5-speed automatic152118$4,550
LS RWD3.9L 8-cyl5-speed automatic152318$4,550

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 2004 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. 38 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 38 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 2004 Lincoln LS?

Owners of the 2004 Lincoln LS most often describe ignition coil and throttle body problems that put the car into a reduced-power "ETC engine failsafe" mode, sometimes with stalling or surging. The issues reported most often: Airbags deploying without a crash; ETC failsafe / reduced power from throttle body; Misfire, rough running and stalling (ignition coils).

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Lincoln LS have?

NHTSA recorded 91 consumer complaints for the 2004 Lincoln LS as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2004 Lincoln LS is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 25 complaints (27% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 19.

Has the 2004 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 2004 Lincoln LS get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Lincoln LS (LS, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Lincoln LS reported?

Among the 80 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 59,925 miles and the middle half falls between 30,000 and 86,000 miles; 41% 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.