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Lincoln LS VIN Check

NHTSA holds 789 owner complaints on the Lincoln LS from 169 production runs; the worst run has 24, the typical one 4.7.

NHTSA complaint records · 789 complaints · 169 runs · 2000–2006 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported LS run is 1LNHM87AXYY (2000 builds) with 24 complaints, 5.1× the typical run. Suspension problems make up 30% of reports; 2000 is the worst model year at 6.7 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for LS model years 2000–2005.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Lincoln LS has 169 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 13% of every LS complaint on file.

FIG.01·Lincoln LS — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
1LNHM87AXYY••••••2000242—
1LNHM87A3YY••••••2000221—
1LNHM87A9YY••••••200019——
1LNHM87A0YY••••••20001921
1LNHM87A21Y••••••2001183—
1LNHM87A6YY••••••2000183—
1LNHM87A61Y••••••2001172—
1LNHM87A71Y••••••200116——
1LNHM87A7YY••••••200016——
1LNHM87A81Y••••••200116——
1LNHM87A4YY••••••2000161—
1LNHM87A5YY••••••2000151—
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 157 LS runs has 15 complaints or fewer.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Lincoln LS the gap between build years is 6.7×: a 2000 car draws 6.7 complaints per run, a 2006 one 1.

FIG.02·Lincoln LS — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
2006113132
20053.373224
20043.271228
20032.759223
20023.7882413
20016.41973119
20006.72884317
ROWS 7·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2000 at 6.7 complaints per run; lightest is 2006 at 1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 30% of everything Lincoln LS owners report: Suspension, 241 of 789 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Lincoln LS — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Suspension241131
Engine And Engine Cooling1105—
Air Bags10723—
Power Train9532
Electrical System8062
Vehicle Speed Control6017—
Service Brakes5910—
Hydraulic458—
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 3 recall campaigns on the Lincoln LS; the 3 below cover build years 2000 to 2005. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Lincoln LS — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
00V359001Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint2000–2001
05V113000Fuel System, Gasoline:storage2005
03V136000Wheels2003
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

The LS against its rivals

The LS draws 4.7 complaints per production run; the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 3.7, the Buick Century 2.7 and the Cadillac Seville 1.9. That is the highest rate of the 4.

FIG.05·Lincoln LS VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Lincoln LS7891694.78.4%
Chevrolet Monte Carlo1,6894543.76.5%
Buick Century1,3484942.77.9%
Cadillac Seville6493471.96.8%
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 789 reports on the Lincoln LS, 8.4% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·Lincoln LS — complaint severity
OutcomeLincoln LSAll vehicles
Complaints filed7891,115,966
Involved a crash66 (8.4%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire3 (0.4%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported4758,013
Deaths reported22,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 45% above the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Lincoln LS share of that is 789 complaints over 169 runs, 0.07% of everything on record.

Everything on the Lincoln LS
Recalls7 campaignsFuel economy21 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems1,008 complaintsCargo space13 cu ftUsed prices84 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2000–2006

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Lincoln LS VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 789 NHTSA complaints from 169 LS runs and 3 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which LS production run has the most complaints?

1LNHM87AXYY, a 2000 build, with 24 complaints, 2 of them after a crash. The typical LS run has 4.7.

Which LS years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2000 is heaviest at 6.7 complaints per run and 2006 lightest at 1.

Does the LS get more complaints than the Chevrolet Monte Carlo?

Yes: 4.7 complaints per production run for the LS against 3.7 for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

How many LS complaints involve a crash?

8.4% of 789 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 3 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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