U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Mercury GRAND MARQUIS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

157 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

71,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 86 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 157 complaints (14.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	28	17.8%
Steering behavior	15	9.6%
Transmission and shifting	7	4.5%
Electrical and battery issues	7	4.5%
Engine operation	4	2.5%
Fuel system concerns	3	1.9%

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.

Vehicle Speed Control

Seat Belts

Air Bags:Frontal

Engine

Air Bags

Electrical System

Exterior Lighting

Engine And Engine Cooling

Vehicle Speed Control: 23; Seat Belts: 16; Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Engine: 9; Air Bags: 8; Electrical System: 8; Exterior Lighting: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 10

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 71 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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2000: 1; 2001: 22; 2002: 24; 2003: 16; 2004: 14; 2005: 9; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 7; 2009: 7; 2010: 7; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 4; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 4; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 4; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 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 10007689 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)

MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 2001 WITH PEDAL ADJUSTER RAISED IN UP POSITION CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE A BURNING BRAKE SMELL. WHEN THE PEDALS ARE IN A RASIED POSITION, AND THE CAR IS DRIVEN FOR 30 TO 60 MINUTES, THE SMELL IS THAT OF BURNING BRAKES. DEALER HAS CHECKED ONCE AND CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 17,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007689 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10053692 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)

WHEN STOPPING OR BRAKING THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. *AK THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE DEALER SHOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THE ORIGINAL DEFECT OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053692 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10019858 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019858 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10115553 · 2005-04-18 (April 18, 2005)

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHICH RESULTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND GEAR SHIFT LOCKING UP. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER GOT OUT OF CAR AND ROCKED IT BACK AND FORTH FOR A FEW MINUTE. HET GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND TRIED TO MOVE BOTH THE WHEEL AND THE GEAR SHIFT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF THIS THEY BOTH UNLOCKED AND THE CAR WAS OK FOR 5-6 MONTHS. *BF

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115553 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10066285 · 2004-04-16 (April 16, 2004)

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CAUSING STALLING.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 39,770 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066285 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10184020 · 2007-03-02 (March 2, 2007)

MY SISTER AND I'M WRITING THIS REPORT ON HER BEHALF. HER CAR IS A 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. LAST MONTH, (FEB '07) WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR'S ENGINE SHUT DOWN SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME SHE HEARD A "BEEP" AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON- CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL AND ANOTHER SHE CAN'T RECALL. AFTER A MINUTE OR SO, THE ENGINE WOULD START NORMALLY. SHE TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER, SAWGRASS FORD IN SUNRISE, FL. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND SHE AGAIN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE LAST TIME THEY FOUND A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND REPAIRED IT. (THE TRA…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184020 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068991 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH TURN SIGNAL AND AIR-CONDITIONING MALFUNCTION. FUSE BLOWS-NO TURN SIGNAL OR AIR CONDITIONING. POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND SAFETY/FIRE HAZARD. CERAME DEALERSHIP IN ST. LOUIS, MO HAS NOT BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SERVICE HAS REPLACED ONE WIRE AND A SENSOR. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO RESOLVE 6/23/03.

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068991 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10079038 · 2004-06-29 (June 29, 2004)

THIS MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS HAS HAD 4 FAILURES OF COIL PACKS. THESE CAN CAUSE SERVIOUS DAMAGE TO AUTO BY PUTING THE AUTO OUT OF BALANCE OR STRANDING YOU ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS AUTO HAS HAD SEVERAL FAILURES THAT RESULTED IN COSTLY REPAIRS, AND NO RECALL EXISTED WHEN IN FACT THIS IS A VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL MARQUES. RESEARCH SAYS THAT ALL FORDS MADE IN CANADA HAVE SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DUE TO INFERIOR PARTS WHICH I PRESUME ARE IMPORTED. I DO HAVE OLD PARTS FOR YOUR INSPECTION FROM ONE OF THE REPLACED COILS. ONE DEALER IN DALLAS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079038 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10057415 · 2004-02-03 (February 3, 2004)

SPORADICALLY WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD AND STALLS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057415 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10279190 · 2009-08-03 (August 3, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT IT WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,000. UPDATED 09/04/09.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279190 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11447930 · 2022-01-18 (January 18, 2022)

PLEASE NOTE: This complaint/issue pertains to many nearly identical plastic intake manifolds sold as OEM, new or replacements for cars made in the last ten years- Dangerous perhaps fatal fires are likely not getting reported due to the nature of the cause. My car has a plastic manifold. When a fuel injector or fuel regulator fails, raw gasoline can collect in the plastic bottom. If more than a few drops collects, turning over the engine can cause, and did in my car, a massive explosion. Fortunately the blue & white cloud of smoke that filled m…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11447930 at NHTSA ↗