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2004 Lincoln LS

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 LS.

Body PASSENGER CAR

Classified as a passenger car, the 2004 Lincoln LS requires 6.6 quarts of 5W-20 API engine oil. Ownership records show 90 total complaints for this model year with air bags cited as the top complaint area, although there were zero recalls. Contextualized within a 2000-2006 model history where complaints ranged from a high of 368 in 2000 to a low of 18 in 2006, the 2004 model occupies a middle ground in the vehicle's reliability history by falling well below the initial peak while remaining above the final low.

Model year2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 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 sizeP225-55VR16OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	194.1 in
Overall width	73.2 in
Overall height	55.9 in
Wheelbase	114.6 in
Curb weight	3682 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.6 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	52/48

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
2003	Sport Sedan 3.9L V8	6.50 sec	14.90 sec	280 hp	RWD
2003	Sport Sedan 3.9L V8	6.70 sec	15.10 sec	280 hp	RWD
2003	Sport Sedan 3.9L V8	6.80 sec	15.02 sec	280 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
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

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.6 qt of 5W-20 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

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	11.8
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.6 qt
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.9 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

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

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)	680 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	20 rpm
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.042-0.046 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft

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
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	39.0-55.0
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	39.0-65.0

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	25 ft-lbs / 76 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	76 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1.13 in / 0.52 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.12 in / 0.502 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

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

59 ft. lbs., step 2: 720 degrees, step 3: 37 ft. lbs., step 4: 90

59 ft. lbs

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

37 ft. lbs., 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 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 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 Hoses (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · 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 2004 Lincoln LS marks a stabilization point in the generation’s reliability trajectory, with 90 federal complaints—down sharply from the 368 reported in 2000 but slightly elevated compared to the 68 in 2003. Notably, it avoided recalls entirely, unlike the single recall issued in 2003 and 2005, suggesting Ford addressed major safety or compliance issues preemptively that year. Complaint trends reveal persistent concerns in air bags (12 reports) and engine/cooling systems (11), mirroring broader generation-wide patterns, though crash-related complaints (8) and a lone fire report indicate no acute safety outliers. The decline in TSBs from 81 in 2003 to 68 in 2004 further implies incremental refinements to common failure points. While not the quietest year in the lineup—2006’s 18 complaints set the benchmark—2004’s balance of lower complaints than early models and no recalls makes it a comparatively sound choice. **Takeaway: The 2004 LS is a prudent used buy within this generation, offering improved reliability over earlier years without the uncertainty of later-model wear.**

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

8 involved a crash · 1 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 90 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags12

Engine & Engine Cooling11

Power Train10

Electrical System7

Vehicle Speed Control6

Engine & Engine Cooling,Electrical System4

Engine & Engine Cooling,Power Train3

Fuel System, Other3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 68 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…
SSM 46085	2016-09-21	Engine And Engine Cooling	The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing…
TSB-12-8-1	2012-08-01	Electrical System	FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: MAY HAVE SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THROTTLE BODY LEADING TO LESS AIRFLOW 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 6.6 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 2004 LS take?

6.6 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2004 LS have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.