Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Lincoln LS, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling25
- Power train19
- Electrical system18
- Vehicle speed control15
- Air bags15
- Equipment7
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Fuel system, other4
- Seats4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 2004 LS vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2004 Lincoln LS failed the safety check 2.15% of the time — 3% less often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 94,508 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 2004 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 11.5–13.6 L/100 km (about 17–20 mpg US), CO₂ 265–313 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| LS SST · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.2 | 9.4 | 11.5 |
| LS · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 9.8 | 11.8 |
| LS SST · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.2 | 10.4 | 13.0 |
| LS · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.6 | 11.1 | 13.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2004 Lincoln LS.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Lincoln told its dealers about the 2004 Lincoln LS: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636096 | EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CURRENT DRAW WHICH COULD RESULT IN A DISCHARGED BATTERY AND A NO CRANK CONDITION. *TT SERVICE TIPS. *TT |
| 10177863 | 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 and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. |
| 10156863 | 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 replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10155551 | 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 replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10109070 | The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer |
| 10048099 | FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: MAY HAVE SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THROTTLE BODY LEADING TO LESS AIRFLOW OR ENGINE IDLING RPM FLUCTUATION AND HARD STARTS OR BATTERY DISCONNECT OR DEAD BATTERY AFTER KEEP ALIVE MEMORY (KAM) CLEAR. MODELS 2003-05 THUNDERBIRD, 05-06 MUSTANG, 06-08 FUSION, 04-05 EXPLORER, 05-06 EXPEDITION, 05-07 F-150; 2003-06 LS, 06 ZEPHYR, 05-06 NAVIGATOR; 06-08 MILAN. *PE |
| 10026402 | FORD/LINCOLN MERCURY: CERTAIN 2003-2005 MODEL YEAR LINCOLN LS AND FORD THUNDERBIRD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.9L ENGINE WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE ON IGNITION COIL ASSEMBLIES AND ON 2003 MY VEHICLES ONLY , ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKETS. *PE |
| 10025342 | LINCOLN SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. CERTAIN 2003-2005 LINCOLN LS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DURATEC 3.0L 4V ENGINE. PCV HOSE ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. CSC WAS RECEIVED. *PE |
| 10022299 | PARKING AID SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE - DTC C1983. *KB |
| 10020702 | PARKING AID SYSTEM INOPERATIVE - DTC C1983. *KB |
| 10018968 | PARKING AID SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. *AK |
| 10018745 | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT |
| 10017925 | WATER/MOISTURE IN COP WELLS - DTC P0301-P0308 - 3.9L ENGINE - VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 5/1/2004. *TT |
| 10017917 | UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE OR ENGINE KNOCK CONCERNS DUE TO REGULAR FUEL. *TT |
| 10017908 | INTERMITTENT STUMBLE ON RAPID TIP-IN FROM STEADY SPEED, GENERALLY BETWEEN 20-50 MPH (32-80 KM/H) ACCOMPANIED BY A INDUCTIVE BACKFIRE AFTER THE TIP-IN. *TT |
| 10017903 | NO START, ROUGH IDLE, OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0171, P0174, P0173, P2195, P2197, P0420, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306. *TT |
| 10017898 | DELAYED OR HARSH REVERSE ENGAGEMENTS - 5R55S TRANSMISSION - VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 09/23/2004. *TT |
| 10014674 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 04B20. REAR SEAT LATCHES AND OWNER GUIDE LABEL FOR VEHICLES THAT MAY HAVE A REAR SEAT LATCH THAT IS DIFFICULT TO LATCH AND SUPPLEMENTAL LATCH VERIFICATION INSTRUCTION LABEL WHICH SHOULD BE AFFIXED TO THE OWNER GUIDE. *TT |
| 10014672 | DAY TIME RUNNING LAMPS. *EH |
| 10014594 | VIBRATION FELT FOR A FEW MILES OF DRIVING AFTER PARKING. *EH |
| 10014165 | ALUMINUM CORROSION - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10014138 | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10014062 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
| 10013401 | DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) C1145 AND/OR C1155 STORED IN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)