U.S. public vehicle records

Mercury GRAND MARQUIS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

3,354 owner complaints analyzed

32 distinct recall campaigns

77,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1978 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,922 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 707 of 3,354 complaints (21.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	484	14.4%
Steering behavior	346	10.3%
Transmission and shifting	141	4.2%
Electrical and battery issues	137	4.1%
Engine operation	79	2.4%
Fuel system concerns	63	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.

Exterior Lighting

707

Vehicle Speed Control

310

Electrical System

244

Steering

211

Air Bags

151

Exterior Lighting:Headlights

129

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe

113

Seat Belts

103

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Exterior Lighting	707
Vehicle Speed Control	310
Electrical System	244
Steering	211
Air Bags	151
Exterior Lighting:Headlights	129
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	113
Seat Belts	103

Exterior Lighting: 707; Vehicle Speed Control: 310; Electrical System: 244; Steering: 211; Air Bags: 151; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 129; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 113; Seat Belts: 103

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

243

25,000 to 49,999

272

50,000 to 74,999

403

75,000 to 99,999

435

100,000 to 149,999

402

150,000 and above

167

Under 25,000: 243; 25,000 to 49,999: 272; 50,000 to 74,999: 403; 75,000 to 99,999: 435; 100,000 to 149,999: 402; 150,000 and above: 167

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (435). 1,432 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.

1995

174

1996

181

2000

197

2001

161

2002

181

2003

172

2004

169

2005

153

2006

2007

100

2008

134

2009

102

2010

160

2011

147

2012

131

2013

171

2014

224

2015

157

2016

140

2017

102

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	174
1996	181
2000	197
2001	161
2002	181
2003	172
2004	169
2005	153
2006	86
2007	100
2008	134
2009	102
2010	160
2011	147
2012	131
2013	171
2014	224
2015	157
2016	140
2017	102
2018	83
2019	59
2020	38
2021	22
2022	32
2023	31
2024	20
2025	22
2026	5

1995: 174; 1996: 181; 2000: 197; 2001: 161; 2002: 181; 2003: 172; 2004: 169; 2005: 153; 2006: 86; 2007: 100; 2008: 134; 2009: 102; 2010: 160; 2011: 147; 2012: 131; 2013: 171; 2014: 224; 2015: 157; 2016: 140; 2017: 102; 2018: 83; 2019: 59; 2020: 38; 2021: 22; 2022: 32; 2023: 31; 2024: 20; 2025: 22; 2026: 5

Pattern summary

Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 484 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 346 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 141 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 974514 · 1995-11-03 (November 3, 1995)

FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS LOCK UP. RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974514 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10142395 · 2005-11-10 (November 10, 2005)

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 94 IN CHICAGO, I ACCELERATED TO PASS A CAR. THE ACCELERATION DEVICE WITHIN THE ENGINE, NOT ONLY STUCK, BUT IT INCREASED SPEED. I TRIED TO BRAKE THE CAR WITH LITTLE RESPONSE. I GOT ON THE EXIT RAMP AND WITH 2 FEET ON THE BRAKES, COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. WE REAR ENDED A WOMAN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WE PUT THE BUMPER OF HER JEEP INTO HER BACK SEAT, THEN VEERED OFF HER CAR AND SMASHED INTO A CEMENT RETAINING WALL. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF MY CAR. ALTHOUGH NONE OF US WERE ABLE TO STAND AND WALK AWAY FRO…

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142395 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 800626 · 1996-08-07 (August 7, 1996)

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, THEN SUDDENLY FLAMES SHOT OUT OF STEERING COLUMN.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 800626 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 975041 · 1995-11-14 (November 14, 1995)

INTERIOR COMPARTMENT FIRE, STEERING COLUMN AND DASHBOARD CAUGHT FIRE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 975041 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10667662 · 2014-12-22 (December 22, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1983 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE GEAR LEVER NEEDED TO BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER FOR THE OVERDRIVE TO ACTIVATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 83V028000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 83V017000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667662 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 721584 · 2000-04-17 (April 17, 2000)

I BROUGT THIS CAR AT AN AUCTION. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. STATED AND RAN A FEW TIMES AND NOW IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO. PLEASE HELP. THANK-YOU I HOPE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721584 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 601426 · 1996-04-23 (April 23, 1996)

WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH TO IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED/BURNT. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 503744) *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 601426 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 502774 · 1996-03-28 (March 28, 1996)

DASHBOARD VINYL CRACKED, DETERIORATED AND DISINTEGRATED, FALLING INTO SPEAKER OPENINGS, CREATING POTENTIAL FOR ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502774 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11363336 · 2020-10-08 (October 8, 2020)

FUEL PUMP ISN'T WORKING RIGHT. I SEE IT'S BEEN RECALLED. HOW CAN I FIX IT? CAR WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, KEEP DYING ON ME... VERY UNSAFE FOR ME TO BE STALLING OUT. THE FUEL PUMP...

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11363336 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 486389 · 1995-05-09 (May 9, 1995)

ENGINE STALLS/HESITATES/ROUGH IDLE DUE TO EGR VALVE FAILURE (OTHER VEHICLE ON 479693). *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486389 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 968028 · 1995-06-30 (June 30, 1995)

VEHICLE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO A FUEL LEAK, FIRE CONSUMED (3) OTHER CARS AS WELL. P

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968028 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999