1989 Mercury GRAND MARQUIS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
75,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 42 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 11.9% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 9.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 38 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 | 7 |
| 1996 | 19 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
1995: 7; 1996: 19; 2000: 6; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10006294 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE VEHICLE FRAME HAD APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET OF RUST AND CORROSION. THE RUST WAS ALSO NOTICED BY THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TRANSMISSION SUPPORT CROSS MEMBER. THE ENGINE OIL PAN RUSTED OUT WHICH CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. ALSO TWO OF THE TIRES HAD ACQUIRED BULGES. *JG *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 120,514 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011495 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046558 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
VEHICLE AXLE BROKE CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COME OFF THE VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE SPUN OFF THE ROAD AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THE WHEEL CROSSED LANES, SMACKED A CONCRETE BARRIER AND BOUNCED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE FORCING THAT VEHICLE TO THE ROAD SIDE. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089609 · 2004-08-24 (August 24, 2004)
THE PLASTIC BUSHING KICKBACK WIRING LOCATED ON TOP OF TRANSMISS HAS DETERIOATED AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME DAMAGED, AND WASNOT OPERATIONAL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 86,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094498 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL A BRAND NEW CRAFT SILVER 651 BATTERY IT STARTED SPARKING. THE RETAIL STORE WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY WILL STOP SPARKING ONCE INSTALLED. CONSUMER INSTALLED THE BATTERY AND IT BLEW UP THE ALTERNATOR. RETAIL STORE DISTRICT MANAGER WAS CONTACTED. HE INSPECTED THE ALTERNATOR, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE DAMAGE, BUT DID NOT ADMIT THAT THE BATTERY DESTROYED IT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121626 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1989 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE ENGINE REVVED UP WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE HE HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE FIRST TIME THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, HE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138416 · 2005-10-03 (October 3, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR IN PERFECT WEATHER, MY W/W MICHELIN XZ4 215/70/15M/S BLEW OUT ON MY GRAND MARQUIS FROM THE CENTER/TOP OF THE TIRE(NOT SIDEWALL). THERE WERE NO ROAD HAZARDS. THE TIRE HAS A LARGE GASH, AND EXTENSIVELY SPLAYED STEEL BELTS EXPOSED/TORN. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY A BLOCK FROM HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME TO CHANGE IT. I'VE NEVER SEEN EXTENSIVE TIRE DAMAGE LIKE THIS BEFORE AND AM CONCERNED B/C ALL THE TIRES ON THE CAR ARE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. IS THERE A DEFECT IN THE MICHELIN XZ4 SERIES?*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10138416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482460 · 1995-04-03 (April 3, 1995)
ABS BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSED MASTER CYLINDER AND PADS TO BURN. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482460 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗