It was driving fine one day until I went to start it. It said etc engine fail safe mode, check parking brake and something about the gears. It starts sometimes, I've had it shut down while doing 50 MPH and lose steering and bad braking. This is a potential hazard for my newborn in the car. Now it wont start and no one knows what the problem is. How can they sell a car that they cant find out the…
2005 Lincoln LS powertrain problems
moderate 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 16 powertrain complaints filed for the 2005 Lincoln LS, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2005 Lincoln LS powertrain shows a pattern of critical failures affecting the transmission, throttle body, and electronic throttle control—even on low-mileage vehicles—with repeated repairs failing to resolve issues and manufacturer assistance scarce. Expect potential safety risks including sudden limp mode on highways, hard transmission shifts, and unexplained power loss.
Owners consistently describe a wrench light triggering limp mode, where the engine abruptly cuts to 10–20 mph on highways running 35–65 mph, creating rear-end collision hazards. Mechanics point to codes P2107 and P2110; throttle body replacement is common, but failures recur within days or weeks. One owner replaced the throttle body and PCM with no resolution; Ford dealership diagnostics turned up nothing.
Transmission problems start early—some owners report hard, jerky shifts and gear slipping as early as 20,000 miles, long before normal wear would explain it. Vehicles jump gears, stall after stops, and hesitate hard when accelerating. One owner couldn't exceed 55 mph at 53,000 miles. Hard shifts from park to reverse appear across multiple vehicles. One owner had the transmission replaced at 74,000 miles; the same problem returned within 300 miles.
Additional failures include multiple ignition coil replacements (codes P0301, P0304, P0354), a catalytic converter issue (P0420), and an unexplained ETC fail-safe mode that shuts the engine down at 50 mph with no check engine light. One vehicle rolled backward from park on an incline. Throughout, dealers either cannot diagnose the fault or decline assistance on warranty grounds or build-date technicalities.
Failure modes owners describe
Limp Mode / Throttle Body Failure
Vehicle suddenly enters limp mode (reduced RPM operation) triggered by wrench warning light, dropping speed from highway speeds (35–65 mph) to 10–20 mph. Diagnostics show codes P2107 and P2110. Multiple owners report replacing the throttle body, but problem recurs within days to weeks. One owner replaced throttle body and subsequently the PCM, with Ford dealership unable to resolve the issue.
When: Various mileages and driving conditions; occurs during highway driving at sustained speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Wrench warning light appears on dashboard; Vehicle drops speed from 55–65 mph to 10–20 mph without driver input; Abrupt loss of power; Vehicle enters limp mode per owner's manual; Restarting engine temporarily clears warning light and restores normal operation; Problem recurs intermittently (once a week to several times)
Codes mentioned: P2107, P2110
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement reported by multiple owners ($525 cited in one case); did not resolve issue. One owner also replaced PCM without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford dealership ran diagnostics and could not identify root cause. One narrative references TSB 05612 but dealership offered no assistance due to vehicle build date.
Hard Transmission Shifts and Gear Slipping
Transmission exhibits hard, jerky shifts and gear slipping, especially between 30–35 mph or when accelerating. Some narratives describe hard lumps when shifting into gear, intermittent surging over 2–3k miles, and inability to exceed certain speeds (e.g., 55 mph). Low-mileage vehicles (20k–53k miles) exhibit these symptoms. One owner reports transmission slipping at 49,837 miles; another reports hard shift from park to reverse with lurch and thud at 20,300 miles.
When: As early as 20,300 miles; widespread issues reported at 39,000–53,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hard, jerky shifts from one gear to another; Transmission gear slipping; Inability to exceed 55 mph (gears 4–5); Hard reverse with lurching; Sudden lurch when shifting from park to reverse; Vehicle pauses during acceleration then hard shift with lurch forward; Intermittent surging during acceleration; Stalling after stops or when not responding to gas pedal
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs mentioned include new transmission (at 39,000 miles, owner two weeks out of warranty); one narrative speculates cost could be $4,500–$6,500 for transmission solenoid or complete fuel/computer/ignition system work. One owner had transmission replaced at 74,000 miles; failure recurred within 300 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer replaced transmission in one case; failure recurred within 300 miles. No warranty assistance offered in multiple narratives; dealership cited TSB 05612 as related but declined further assistance.
Ignition Coil Failures
Multiple ignition coil failures within one year, with additional coils requiring replacement. Diagnostics show codes P0354, P0301, and P0304 (cylinder misfire codes).
When: Owner purchased vehicle in 2009 with under 50,000 miles; first coil failures reported within that timeframe
Symptoms owners cite: Engine misfires; Multiple ignition coils failing sequentially
Codes mentioned: P0354, P0301, P0304
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple ignition coil replacements required; costs not specified.
Catalytic Converter Failure
Catalytic converter failure diagnosed via code P0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold).
When: At mileage when other transmission and ignition issues present
Symptoms owners cite: Code P0420 triggered
Codes mentioned: P0420
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Fail-Safe Mode Without Diagnostic Codes
Vehicle enters ETC engine fail-safe mode with dashboard message referencing parking brake and gears, yet no diagnostic trouble codes appear. Vehicle shuts down while driving at 50 mph, causing loss of steering and brake assist. Vehicle subsequently fails to start. Mechanics unable to diagnose root cause.
When: Occurs during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: ETC engine fail-safe mode message on dashboard; Message about parking brake and gears; Engine shutdown while driving at 50 mph; Loss of steering assist; Loss of brake function; Vehicle will not start
Repairs/costs cited: No repair identified or completed
Vehicle Rolls Backward When Shifted to Park
Vehicle rolls backward independently after shifting into park and releasing brake pedal. Dealer replaced transmission; failure recurred within 300 miles.
When: At approximately 74,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward when in park on an incline; No driver input; vehicle moves independently
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replaced; no resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer replaced transmission; failure recurred within 300 miles.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The transmission shift abruptly and very hard gear shifts at times. I also had the car loose complete power while driving at low speeds. I would press the accelerator but the car would not respond to the throttle input. *tr
Had powertrain trouble with your 2005 Lincoln LS?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Lincoln LS?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 39,000 and 62,000 miles, with the median around 58,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 39,000; a quarter make it past 62,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Lincoln/LS.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.