1997 Mercury GRAND MARQUIS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
261 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
80,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 125 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe is the most frequently named component, appearing in 55 of 261 complaints (21.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 33 | 12.6% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 55 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 24 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 20 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 16 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 8 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 55; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 24; Engine And Engine Cooling: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 20; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 16; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 35 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 43 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 43; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 7
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 136 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 16 |
| 2001 | 23 |
| 2002 | 37 |
| 2003 | 40 |
| 2004 | 48 |
| 2005 | 28 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 16; 2001: 23; 2002: 37; 2003: 40; 2004: 48; 2005: 28; 2006: 14; 2007: 6; 2008: 22; 2009: 5; 2010: 6; 2011: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10041418 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
A REAR BRAKE LINE ON OUR 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS TOTALLY FAILED. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE CAR JUST BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. FORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND NOT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN NOVEMBER 1996 AND HAD ONLY 47,441 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AN INSPECTION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES SHOWED THEY WERE BOTH EXTREMELY CORRODED ALONG THEIR ENTIRE LENGTH. THE MERCURY DEALER HAD TO REP…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,441 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054256 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
BRAKE LINE FAILURE...RUBBING/EXTREME CORROSION FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER 6 YEARS AND IS CAUSED BY ROUTING/RETAINERS/RUBBER INSULATORS/EXTREMELY POOR CORROSION PROTECTION ON THE EUROPEAN METRIC BUBBLE FLARE LINES. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON OUR PREVIOUS GRAND MARQUIS-1993 AFTER 6 YEARS. IN THIS CASE VEHICLE RESIDED IN SYRACUSE ONLY 2 YEARS AND SPENT 4 MORE IN S.E. MASSACHUSETTS. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS TYPE VEHICLE(1990-1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA/MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS) A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE INVESTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011911 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HOT, WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095856 · 2004-10-16 (October 16, 2004)
SUDDEN FAILURES OF BALL JOINTS AND STEERING LINKAGES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095856 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009443 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016440 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
I OWN A 1997 GRAND MARQUIS WITH 36,000 MILES. WHEN EXITING MY CAR I WOULD SMELL PLASTIC BURNING. THIS HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN I DROVE LONGER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH COVERED MOST OF THE COST, BUT I STILL NEEDED TO PAY FOR PARTS THAT WEREN'T COVERED. WHEN ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH A CAR HAVING SUCH LOW MILEAGE, THEY HAD NO ANSWER, JUST THAT IT HAPPENS. I HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER OF …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219484 · 2008-02-22 (February 22, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE STUCK ON ICE AT 1 MPH. THE CONTACT SLID INTO A CURB AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE'S MAINTENANCE WAS UP-TO-DATE. THE ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ACTUAL BRAKE FAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220131 · 2008-03-05 (March 5, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2007; HOWEVER, THEY DISCONNECTED THE WIRING HARNESS. WHEN DECEMBER ARRIVED, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH OF 2008. WHEN MARCH ARRIVED, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE OF 2008. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10220131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10076111 · 2004-07-30 (July 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONSUMER'S HOUSE. HOWEVER, CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY NOTICED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, AND NEED TO BE REPAIRED. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS ONLY PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS ON FLEET VEHICLES. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10076111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10382605 · 2011-02-14 (February 14, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED AND HELD DOWN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IF HE PRESSED GENTLY ON IT AND RELEASED IT, THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE WITHIN THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM OR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10382605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112136 · 2005-02-24 (February 24, 2005)
REGULAR USE OF CAR ON A 90 DEGREE DAY. ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT SHOW ON DASH. ALL COOLANT WAS LOST. REAR INTAKE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND INJECTOR CLEANED, COOLANT REPLACED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 59,995 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10417427 · 2011-08-02 (August 2, 2011)
MOVING SLOWLY IN PARKING LOT. SHARP NOISE UNDER CAR, GAS TANK HAD FALLEN DIRECTLY ONTO ROAD AND WAS BEING DRAGGED. BOTH GAS TANK STRAPS HAD BROKEN
Owner-reported narrative. 198,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10417427 at NHTSA ↗