1988 Mercury GRAND MARQUIS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
94,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 50 complaints (26.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 18.0% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 10.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 8.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Tires:Tread/Belt: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 48 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1996 | 25 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
1995: 12; 1996: 25; 2000: 7; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2005: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10048673 · 2003-11-25 (November 25, 2003)
THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW ROLLED DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048673 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 480897 · 1995-01-23 (January 23, 1995)
TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FAILED TO DOWNSHIFT UPON BRAKING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD/FAST IDLING. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481139 · 1995-02-11 (February 11, 1995)
GAS TANK LEAKS DUE TO STRAPS RUBBING HOLES IN TANKS. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 479625) *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481696 · 1995-02-20 (February 20, 1995)
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED ON THREE OCCASIONS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485787 · 1995-07-10 (July 10, 1995)
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE/ACCIDENT. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487293 · 1995-10-06 (October 6, 1995)
SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT, CAUSING IT TO BE LOOSE, PRIOR TO RECALL.(88V028000)*DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489443 · 1995-04-16 (April 16, 1995)
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489443 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
88V028000 · Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
Reported: 1988-03-08 (March 8, 1988)
AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR FOR SEAT BELTS FOR DUAL FACING REAR SEATS MAY BE INSTALLED IN AN IMPROPER LOCATION.
Consequence: SEAT BELT COULD BIND BETWEEN SEAT CUSHION AND SEAT BACKCAUSING THE RETRACTOR TO BE SLUGGISH OR UNABLE TO TAKE UP EXCESS BELT SLACK.
Remedy: REMOVE AND PROPERLY INSTALL THE RIGHT AUXILIARY SEAT BELTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗