2003 Mercury GRAND MARQUIS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
362 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
85,194 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 289 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 188 of 362 complaints (51.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 41 | 11.3% |
| Braking behavior | 36 | 9.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 188 |
| Electrical System | 46 |
| Steering | 27 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Suspension | 16 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Suspension:Rear | 8 |
Exterior Lighting: 188; Electrical System: 46; Steering: 27; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 19; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Suspension: 16; Air Bags: 8; Suspension:Rear: 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 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 35 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 50 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 62 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 73 |
| 150,000 and above | 34 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 50; 75,000 to 99,999: 62; 100,000 to 149,999: 73; 150,000 and above: 34
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (73). 73 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 28 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2010 | 39 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 28; 2004: 13; 2005: 9; 2006: 7; 2007: 9; 2008: 9; 2009: 20; 2010: 39; 2011: 20; 2012: 20; 2013: 20; 2014: 42; 2015: 25; 2016: 28; 2017: 21; 2018: 8; 2019: 8; 2020: 4; 2021: 4; 2022: 7; 2023: 7; 2024: 8; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10032718 · 2003-08-13 (August 13, 2003)
STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED UPSIDE DOWN. THIS PLACES THE AIRBAG IN THE WRONG POSITION. WILL BE REPAIRED TODAY BY DEALER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034536 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
VEHICLE VIBRATES AT ANY SPEED, GETTING WORSE AS SPEED INCREASES. WHEN HITTING A BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL TWISTS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, SAID HE FELT THE VIBRATION, AND IT WAS A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASED.DEALER SAID THAT VIBRATION WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020373 · 2003-05-21 (May 21, 2003)
NAR 05/21/2003 *MR WITH LESS THAN 250 MILES THE CONSUMER BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY SANK TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL THE VEHICLE AND FIX THE BRAKE PROBLEM. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 241 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030987 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
AFTER STARTING AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE THE ENGINE RACED AND THERE WAS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP EVEN WHILE APPLYING BRAKE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AFTER CRASH AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SOUND LIKE IT WAS RUNNING. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040021 · 2003-09-16 (September 16, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING UNDER RAINING CONDITIONS CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. INSTRUMENT LIGHTS PANEL WAS OFF, AND WINDSHIELD WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACED TWO COMPUTERS IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111348 · 2005-03-02 (March 2, 2005)
THE ENGINE REVVED IN FULL THROTTLE WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE FROM PARK; RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. THIS OCCURRED WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN THE CAR WASH LINE. THE REPAIR SHOP FAILED TO DETERMINED WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT THE CONSUMER FEELS DUE THROUGH THEIR OWN RESEARCH THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/CRUISE CONTROL. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078621 · 2004-06-22 (June 22, 2004)
RENTAL AUTO WAS PARKED FACE OUT IN HOTEL PARKING LOT. DRIVER STARTED AUTO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER PUT ON SEAT BELTS; WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, DRIVER SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED A A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (TIRES SMOKING) ACROSS PARKING LOT DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED CARS IN OPPOSITE PARKING SPACES. BOTH PARKED CARS WERE DRIVEN BACK APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 FEET, ONE OF THE AUTOS WENT THROUGH HEDGES AND CRASHED INTO A CAR PARKED AT THE STREET. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP CAR, AND FINALLY TURNED OFF IGNITION AFTER COLLISION. WITNESS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10078621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034532 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLED AT ANY SPEED, STALLED 25 TIMES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER 4 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT DEALER A TOTAL OF 36 DAYS. PRIMARY COMPUTER WAS RESET, THEN REPLACED BY DEALER. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064268 · 2004-03-31 (March 31, 2004)
2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUES STALLS AT OR NEAR IDLE SPEED. HAS STALLED WHEN BACKING UP, WHEN STARTING FORWARD FROM STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER, RAY PEARMAN LINCOLN MERCURY 4 TIME FOR A TOTAL OF 9 DAYS. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM AS OF YET. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A STALLING PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. EACH TIME THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD IT FIXED AND HAD ME TAKE THE CAR, IT HAS STALLED AGAIN. ONE TIME IT STALLED AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DEALER SERV…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,890 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009596 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
RECALL REQUEST FOR A STEEL SHIELD BUILT BEHIND THE GAS TANK ON 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. *DT *JB. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149116 · 2006-01-31 (January 31, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HEARING THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S OFFER TO REPLACE THE GASOLINE STORAGE TANK ON POLICE VEHICLES DUE TO A RISK OF FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS OR HAD ANY EXISTING FAILURES, THE CONTACT INSTRUCTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK STORAGE ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY HE HAD TO PAY FOR SERVICE WHEN THE POLICE VEHICLE WERE BEING REPAIRED FOR FREE. UPDATED 02/27/06. *JB UPDATED 4/6/2006 - THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 54,698 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149116 at NHTSA ↗