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U.S. public vehicle records

Mercury MARQUIS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

298 owner complaints analyzed

18 distinct recall campaigns

64,119 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1973 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 111 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 298 complaints (7.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior4916.4%
Steering behavior3010.1%
Transmission and shifting113.7%
Electrical and battery issues113.7%
Engine operation103.4%
Fuel system concerns82.7%

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.

Vehicle Speed Control
23
Electrical System
16
Exterior Lighting
16
Engine And Engine Cooling
15
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
15
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
10
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
9
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control23
Electrical System16
Exterior Lighting16
Engine And Engine Cooling15
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe15
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch10
Power Train:Automatic Transmission9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip9

Vehicle Speed Control: 23; Electrical System: 16; Exterior Lighting: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 15; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 10; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 9

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
18
25,000 to 49,999
17
50,000 to 74,999
30
75,000 to 99,999
18
100,000 to 149,999
24
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00018
25,000 to 49,99917
50,000 to 74,99930
75,000 to 99,99918
100,000 to 149,99924
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 30; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 24; 150,000 and above: 4

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 187 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
20
1996
23
2000
31
2001
22
2002
36
2003
38
2004
24
2005
33
2006
14
2007
9
2008
8
2009
1
2010
4
2011
5
2012
2
2013
4
2014
9
2015
5
2016
3
2018
5
2019
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199520
199623
200031
200122
200236
200338
200424
200533
200614
20079
20088
20091
20104
20115
20122
20134
20149
20155
20163
20185
20192

1995: 20; 1996: 23; 2000: 31; 2001: 22; 2002: 36; 2003: 38; 2004: 24; 2005: 33; 2006: 14; 2007: 9; 2008: 8; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 9; 2015: 5; 2016: 3; 2018: 5; 2019: 2

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 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 501383 · 1996-02-14 (February 14, 1996)

BRAKE FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/LOSS OF CONTROL.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501383 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 478259 · 1995-01-05 (January 5, 1995)

BROKEN WIRE AT BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS/CRUISE CONTROL/HORN MALFUNCTIONS. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 478259 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 963774 · 1995-04-14 (April 14, 1995)

AFTER VEHICLE PARKED, STEERING AREA CAUGHT FIRE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 963774 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 986401 · 1996-07-02 (July 2, 1996)

ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT, CAUSED STALLING AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986401 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 729232 · 2000-08-26 (August 26, 2000)

THIS CAR HAS HAD THREE TRANSMISSION PUT IN IT THAT I KNOW OF AND SOMETHING IS STILL A WRONG WITH IT. THIS CAR HAS OTHER PROBLEM'S TO NUMEROUS TO MENTION,LIKE AIR CONDITIONER, DOOR LATCHES , REAR END AND BACK AXLES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 729232 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10103937 · 2004-12-16 (December 16, 2004)

THE LABELING ON THE FRONT OF THE CONTAINER STATES 5W30 MOTOR OIL: ON THE BACK OF THE CONTAINER STATES DEXTRON 111 TRANSMISSION FLUID, BECAUSE OF THIS MISLABELING OF THE CONTAINER OIL WAS POURED INTO THE TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF TRANSMISSION FLUID, WHICH DESTROYED IN ENGINE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS NEGOTIATING WHETHER TO TOTAL THE VEHICLE OR REPLACE THE PART, BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. MODEL NAME TRACK OIL DISTRIBUTED BY RACE TRACK DISTRIBUTORS INCORPORATED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10103937 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 730414 · 2000-09-06 (September 6, 2000)

VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. PULLED OVER AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPS THE CAR STARTED, BUT WHEN YOU PUT IT INTO GEAR IT WOULD LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER. AFTER INVESTIGATING, I FOUND THE IGNITION WIRING SEPARATED FROM ITS HOUSING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730414 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 978989 · 1996-02-09 (February 9, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CONTINUES TO BLOW FUSES. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 978989 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 557875 · 2000-12-05 (December 5, 2000)

VEHICLE STALLS AT TIMES, PERFORMED DIAG REPLACED PVC VALVE, HOSES & T CONNECTOR. *CJ

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 557875 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 958974 · 1995-01-20 (January 20, 1995)

GAS TANK HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE LEAKAGE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958974 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 866076 · 2000-07-26 (July 26, 2000)

WHILE DRIVING COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK AND THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. AFTER CHECKING WITH TECHNICIAN IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM. *AK WIRING IN TRUNK TO GAS SHUT OFF SWITCH AND WIRING INTO BULK HEAD TO FUEL PUMP BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED. THE DRIVER QUICKLY DISCONNECTED BATTERY AND SHUT OFF SOURCE OF POWER TO WIRING FOR SAFETY PURPOSE. THE CAUSE WAS LATER FOUND TO BE FAULTY INSERT MOLDING OF WIRES, BOTH HOT AND COLD SHORTING TOGETHER. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 866076 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

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

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1988
0
1989
0
1990
0
1991
0
1992
0
1993
0
1994
0
1995
0
1996
0
1997
1
1998
0
1999
0
2000
0
2001
0
2002
0
2003
0
2004
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19880
19890
19900
19910
19920
19930
19940
19950
19960
19971
19980
19990
20000
20010
20020
20030
20040

1988: 0; 1989: 0; 1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 1; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0

Year-by-year records

Mercury MARQUIS model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
197302Not available
1974020
197711Not available
197905Not available
198103Not available
198201-2
198312+1
198471-1
1985310
198620-1
1987200
1988500
1989700
1990500
1991400
19921000
19931400
19941800
19951400
19962100
1997421+1
1998180-1
19991900
20002300
20012600
20021100
20033300
20041200