2004 Lincoln LS

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

66/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Lincoln LS, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	12	13%
Engine and engine cooling	11	12%
Power train	10	11%
Electrical system	7	8%
Vehicle speed control	6	7%
Engine and engine cooling	4	4%
Engine and engine cooling	3	3%
Fuel system	3	3%
Service brakes	3	3%
Fuel system	2	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

THE TRANSMISSION IN THESE CARS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THEY WILL STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. YOU WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER AND ONCE YOU PULLOVER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IT WILL NOT LET
NHTSA complaint: Power train

HI. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AND I KEPT SMELLING GAS VERY BAD. TO THE POINT THE WHOLE HOUSE SMELT AND WHEN I PARK THE CAR I CAN SMELL IT. I FIGURED THERE HAD TO BE A PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. I DECIDED TO LOOK ONLINE A
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

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. DU
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

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 K
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

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 DRIV
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON A DRIVEWAY, THE PASSENGER CEILING AIR BAG DEPLOYED FROM THE FRONT SEAT TO THE BACK SEAT. THE CAR DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. PASSENGER WAS INJURED. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTI
NHTSA complaint: Engine

BRAND NEW BATTERY IN CAR. COME OUT TO START CAR. BATTERY IS DEAD. MY MECHANIC HAS CAR FOR THREE DAYS. HE TRIED TO FIND A SHORT. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO MAKE SURE ALL DOORS ARE COMPLETELY CLOSED AND LIGHTS ARE ALL OUT.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

The seven scores

Reliability raw	76	good
Longevity est.	75	good
Maintenance	75	good
Depreciation	52	average
Performance	59	average
Efficiency	36	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 34% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 38% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 51% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 22% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 76: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 75: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2004 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 75: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2004 Lincoln LS?

Owners have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 12 of them (13%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 2004 Lincoln LS reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2004 Lincoln LS last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2004 Lincoln LS?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.