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2001 Lincoln LS

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 LS.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2001 Lincoln LS is a passenger‑car that uses a 5W‑30 API‑specified engine with a 6.0‑quart oil capacity, fitting within the model’s 2000‑2006 production span. It endured a single recorded recall and amassed 253 owner complaints, a total that sits between the 368 complaints recorded for 2000 — when suspension issues dominated — and the 18 complaints logged by 2006, indicating a gradual reliability gain. This trajectory places the 2001 model at a transitional stage, moving the LS toward the lower‑complaint years that followed.

Model year2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 66 · 650 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 66 · 650 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-60VR16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	194.1 in
Overall width	73.2 in
Overall height	56.3 in
Wheelbase	114.6 in
Curb weight	3574 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.6 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	51/49

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the LS of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.5–9.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.50 sec — 2003 Sport Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2000	V8 Sedan 3.9L V8	7.20 sec	15.40 sec	252 hp	RWD
2000	V6 Sedan 3.0L V6	7.40 sec	15.70 sec	210 hp	RWD
2000	V8 Sedan 3.9L V8	7.40 sec	15.70 sec	252 hp	RWD
2000	V6 Sedan 3.0L V6	8.50 sec	16.60 sec	210 hp	RWD
2000	V6 Sedan 3.0L V6	9.00 sec	16.80 sec	210 hp	RWD
2002	Sport Sedan 3.0L V6	7.80 sec	16.00 sec	210 hp	RWD
2002	Sport Sedan 3.0L V6	7.90 sec	16.10 sec	210 hp	RWD
2003	Sport Sedan 3.9L V8	6.50 sec	14.90 sec	280 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 17.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.9 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	DOHC Step 1: 74 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	13.0-16.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	17.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	221 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-2-5-3-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	740 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	760 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	10 rpm
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.042-0.046 in
Spark Plug Torque	7.0-15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.75 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	7.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	66
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	650 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	66

Service checks

Pressure Test	13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	187-194 °F
Pressure Test	13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	190-198 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	35.0-55.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	35.0-55.0

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	76 ft-lbs / 25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	95 ft-lbs / 76 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.080; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in / 0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.181 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.181 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.102 in / 0.728 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

37 ft. lbs., step 2: 90

37 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

Prep Coat bolt threads with clean engine oil.

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	Loosen bolts 360 degrees	360 degrees
4	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
5	90 degrees	90 degrees
6	90 degrees	90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
At 45,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 100,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2001 Lincoln LS saw 253 complaints and one recall, a notable drop from the 368 complaints in 2000 but still higher than the 121 complaints recorded in 2002. Across the 2000‑2006 span, the trend shows a steep decline in complaints and recalls, with 2001 positioned near the peak of the downward arc, suggesting that early‑year issues were still being addressed. In 2001 the most frequent complaint categories were Suspension (87), Air Bags (22), Engine & Engine Cooling (19), and Vehicle Speed Control (11), indicating that the vehicle’s mechanical and safety systems were the primary concerns that year. The data does not specify root causes for these complaints, and there were only 23 crash‑related and 4 fire‑related complaints, both relatively low. Overall, 2001 is a transitional year with fewer problems than 2000 but more than later years; if you can find a well‑maintained example with addressed suspension and air‑bag issues, it may still be a reasonable purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

135

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

253

Owner complaints

23 involved a crash · 4 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’00’01’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 253 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension87

Air Bags22

Engine & Engine Cooling19

Vehicle Speed Control11

Visibility10

Steering,Suspension9

Electrical System9

Power Train8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

00V359001Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball JointReported 03/11/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS WHEN THEY WERE ATTACHED TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE TWO BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS. VEHICLES WITH LOOSE BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS WILL EITHER HAVE THE FASTENERS TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION, OR…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 135 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TSB 20-2233	2020-07-13	Structure	This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000…
TSB 19-2026	2019-02-07	Structure	Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
TSB 19-2026	2019-02-07	Structure	Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
0295	2005-11-14	Electrical System	EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CURRENT DRAW WHICH COULD RESULT IN A DISCHARGED BATTERY AND A…
041601	2005-11-14	Engine And Engine Cooling	WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific LS. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 66 battery Vehicles taking 6.0 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 LS take?

6.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 LS have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.