2004 Mercury GRAND MARQUIS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
348 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 281 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 185 of 348 complaints (53.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 69 | 19.8% |
| Braking behavior | 32 | 9.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 2.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 1.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.6% |
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 | 185 |
| Steering | 62 |
| Electrical System | 38 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 21 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 |
| Interior Lighting | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
Exterior Lighting: 185; Steering: 62; Electrical System: 38; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 21; Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Interior Lighting: 6; Air Bags: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 35 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 64 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 69 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 59 |
| 150,000 and above | 34 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 64; 75,000 to 99,999: 69; 100,000 to 149,999: 59; 150,000 and above: 34
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (69). 67 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 33 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 36 |
| 2014 | 50 |
| 2015 | 40 |
| 2016 | 31 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 14; 2005: 17; 2006: 6; 2007: 6; 2008: 5; 2009: 11; 2010: 22; 2011: 33; 2012: 14; 2013: 36; 2014: 50; 2015: 40; 2016: 31; 2017: 20; 2018: 15; 2019: 5; 2020: 4; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 5; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 69 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 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 10051597 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *JB THE TURN SIGNAL RACED EXTREMELY FAST THAT THE LIGHTS FLICKER INSTEAD OF BLINKING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED 30 TIMES SINCE DEC. 2003. FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT HAVE A FIX. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 7,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061644 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE DRIVER ALSO PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064646 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF. THE MORE HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE FASTER VEHICLE WENT. HE AND HIS WIFE NARROWLY ESCAPED A COLLISION. CONSUMER TOOK FEET OFF THE BRAKES, AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, WHICH CAUSED IT TO SLOW DOWN. THEN, HE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, WHO TOLD HIM TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065251 · 2004-03-30 (March 30, 2004)
WITH THE CONSUMER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED AND STARTED SHAKING. (NAR) *PH *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080564 · 2004-07-08 (July 8, 2004)
THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS STALLING ON UPGRADES.. IT STALLS ON GRADES AFTER THE FIRST WEEK...THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HOLD UP UNDER PRESSURE....IT CONTINUES TO LOSE PRESSURE...POWER...IT MUST BE RECALLED.. THE FIRST ONE I HAD I THOUGHT SHOULD BE RECALLED BUT THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME ANOTHER AFTER 8 MONTHS....IT IS DOING THE SAME THING PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP I WILL GO EVERYWHERE I KNOW AND MAKE THIS PUBLIC UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082165 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *LA *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083265 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 58 MPH AND FASTER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE 5 TIMES, IN WHICH THEY BALANCED THE TIRES, ROTATE THE TIRES AND MADE AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO INDICATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MEETS FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS AND THE SHAKE IS MINIMUM. *LA THE DEALER ROTATED AND BALANCED THE SYSTEM BUT THE SHAKING PERSISTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE TIRES AND WHEELS WERE REPLACED WITH CAST ALUMINUM THE SHAKING WAS NO LONGER FELT. THE CONSUMER FEEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088779 · 2004-08-29 (August 29, 2004)
NEW 2004 MERCURY MARQUIS. HAD CAR FOR ONE DAY. ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A QUICK LEFT TURN BY DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR. MOTOR STARTED REVVING UP BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. LET OFF GAS AND TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. AFTER MAKING THE TURN,STOPPED THE CAR, STILL IN DRIVE, PUT THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE WENT INTO HIGH REVS AND THE CAR MOVED VERY SLOW,RELEASED THE GAS AND THE TRANSMISSION ONCE AGAIN ENGAGE. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 375 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088779 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 ↗