2004 Mercury GRAND MARQUIS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
348 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 281 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 185 of 348 complaints (53.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 69 | 19.8% |
| Braking behavior | 32 | 9.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 2.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 1.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.6% |
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 | 185 |
| Steering | 62 |
| Electrical System | 38 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 21 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 |
| Interior Lighting | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
Exterior Lighting: 185; Steering: 62; Electrical System: 38; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 21; Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Interior Lighting: 6; Air Bags: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 35 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 64 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 69 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 59 |
| 150,000 and above | 34 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 64; 75,000 to 99,999: 69; 100,000 to 149,999: 59; 150,000 and above: 34
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (69). 67 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 33 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 36 |
| 2014 | 50 |
| 2015 | 40 |
| 2016 | 31 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 14; 2005: 17; 2006: 6; 2007: 6; 2008: 5; 2009: 11; 2010: 22; 2011: 33; 2012: 14; 2013: 36; 2014: 50; 2015: 40; 2016: 31; 2017: 20; 2018: 15; 2019: 5; 2020: 4; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 5; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 69 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 32 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 10083265 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 58 MPH AND FASTER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE 5 TIMES, IN WHICH THEY BALANCED THE TIRES, ROTATE THE TIRES AND MADE AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO INDICATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MEETS FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS AND THE SHAKE IS MINIMUM. *LA THE DEALER ROTATED AND BALANCED THE SYSTEM BUT THE SHAKING PERSISTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE TIRES AND WHEELS WERE REPLACED WITH CAST ALUMINUM THE SHAKING WAS NO LONGER FELT. THE CONSUMER FEEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197330 · 2007-07-24 (July 24, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID, AND THE FLUID WAS AT THE PROPER LEVEL. A MECHANIC POWER FLUSHED THE POWER STEERING FLUID; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. AS OF JULY 24, 20007, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,900. UPDATED 0201/08. *LJ THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED WITH A RE-BUILT PUMP. UPDATED
Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061644 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE DRIVER ALSO PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064646 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF. THE MORE HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE FASTER VEHICLE WENT. HE AND HIS WIFE NARROWLY ESCAPED A COLLISION. CONSUMER TOOK FEET OFF THE BRAKES, AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, WHICH CAUSED IT TO SLOW DOWN. THEN, HE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, WHO TOLD HIM TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080564 · 2004-07-08 (July 8, 2004)
THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS STALLING ON UPGRADES.. IT STALLS ON GRADES AFTER THE FIRST WEEK...THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HOLD UP UNDER PRESSURE....IT CONTINUES TO LOSE PRESSURE...POWER...IT MUST BE RECALLED.. THE FIRST ONE I HAD I THOUGHT SHOULD BE RECALLED BUT THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME ANOTHER AFTER 8 MONTHS....IT IS DOING THE SAME THING PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP I WILL GO EVERYWHERE I KNOW AND MAKE THIS PUBLIC UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088779 · 2004-08-29 (August 29, 2004)
NEW 2004 MERCURY MARQUIS. HAD CAR FOR ONE DAY. ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A QUICK LEFT TURN BY DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR. MOTOR STARTED REVVING UP BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. LET OFF GAS AND TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. AFTER MAKING THE TURN,STOPPED THE CAR, STILL IN DRIVE, PUT THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE WENT INTO HIGH REVS AND THE CAR MOVED VERY SLOW,RELEASED THE GAS AND THE TRANSMISSION ONCE AGAIN ENGAGE. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 375 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10263234 · 2009-03-27 (March 27, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD. THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND, SO HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE BOX WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429174 · 2011-10-08 (October 8, 2011)
MY MERCURY MARQUIS IS UNSAFE! BOTH OF MY NIGHT-TIME HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. ALL OTHER LIGHTS WORK FINE INSIDE AND OUT. THE HEAD-LIGHTS NOW ONLY WORK IF I HOLD THE HIGH-BEAM BAR, HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT WORK IF I LET GO OF THE CONTROL BAR. I DRIVE MY VEHICLE VERY LITTLE, AND MOSTLY DURING THE DAY; HOWEVER, I DO TAKE 70 MPH INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TRIPS RETURNING AT NIGHT. THERE IS NO FUSE FOR THE HEAD LIGHTS OR THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULE IN EITHER THE FUSE BOX ABOVE THE BRAKE PEDAL, OR UNDER THE HOOD. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,234 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429174 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334762 · 2010-06-05 (June 5, 2010)
2004 MERCURY MARQUIS 4.6 L ENGINE. SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, CREATING SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER AND PRESENCE OF COMBUSTIBLE GASOLINE FUMES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 108,090 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10371083 · 2010-12-17 (December 17, 2010)
FUEL PUMP AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR BOTH WENT OUT ON VEHICLE AT SAME TIME. REPAIR OF CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS A $400 AND FUEL PUMP REPAIR WAS $740. DOORS DO NOT LOCK PROPERLY WHEN USING THE KEY REMOTE AND LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON CONTROLS FLICKER ON AND OFF. HEATING ELEMENT IN LEATHER SEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE HAS NEVER WORKED AND HAD TO REPLACE TIRES DUE TO UNUSUAL WEAR AND TEAR. COST TO REPLACE TIRES WAS $478. DRIVER SIDES DOOR WILL NOT SHUT ALL THE WAY DUE TO ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS AND THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. HAD TO REPLACE FUEL FIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10371083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496607 · 2013-02-06 (February 6, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,015.
Owner-reported narrative. 45,015 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496607 at NHTSA ↗