2003 Mercury GRAND MARQUIS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
362 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
85,194 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 289 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 188 of 362 complaints (51.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 41 | 11.3% |
| Braking behavior | 36 | 9.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 1.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 188 |
| Electrical System | 46 |
| Steering | 27 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Suspension | 16 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Suspension:Rear | 8 |
Exterior Lighting: 188; Electrical System: 46; Steering: 27; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 19; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Suspension: 16; Air Bags: 8; Suspension:Rear: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 35 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 50 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 62 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 73 |
| 150,000 and above | 34 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 50; 75,000 to 99,999: 62; 100,000 to 149,999: 73; 150,000 and above: 34
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (73). 73 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 28 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2010 | 39 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 28; 2004: 13; 2005: 9; 2006: 7; 2007: 9; 2008: 9; 2009: 20; 2010: 39; 2011: 20; 2012: 20; 2013: 20; 2014: 42; 2015: 25; 2016: 28; 2017: 21; 2018: 8; 2019: 8; 2020: 4; 2021: 4; 2022: 7; 2023: 7; 2024: 8; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 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 10006585 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
VEHICLE AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED VEHICLE 5 TIMES, BUT IS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009006 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK IN THE IDLE POSITION.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009596 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
RECALL REQUEST FOR A STEEL SHIELD BUILT BEHIND THE GAS TANK ON 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. *DT *JB. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012212 · 2003-03-21 (March 21, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HAS A VIBRATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIBRATION IS CAUSED BY THE SUSPENSION AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT UNTIL A NEW MODEL COMES OUT. CONSUMER INDICATED OF HAVING PROBLEM WITH A FOUR SET OF TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WHICH ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES MODEL #P225/60R16 MODEL. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014760 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)
NAR 02/28/2003 MR CONSUMER EXPERINCED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE SINCE DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 39 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014966 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
THE DRIVER DOOR STICKS WHEN OPENED, AND HAVE TO DO SO TWO TIMES, WITH BOTH HANDS TO GET OUT. (PASSENGER DOOR ALSO) THE PLASTIC HANDLE MAKES IT HARD AND WILL CUT YOUR HAND. THE TRIPLE TRACT SEAL ACTS AS IF IT WERE CRAZY GLUE. *JB SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017514 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE, WHEN THE VEHICLE IDLED. *JB THERE WAS A GENERAL CHASSIS VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OF 38 WHICH WAS ATTRIBUTED TO OUT OF ROUNDS TIRES.*TS
Owner-reported narrative. 39 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019974 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
WHEN THE CONSUMER PUT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. *NLM PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019974 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.
15V861000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 2015-12-22 (December 22, 2015)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured October 3, 2001, to August 2, 2005. The affected vehicles have a lighting control module (LCM) that may fail, resulting in a loss of headlights.
Consequence: A loss of headlights can reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the LCM, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S39.
NHTSA campaign record ↗