FaultScore

1988 Mercury Grand Marquis acceleration problems

14 of the 98 complaints about the 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis are about the throttle and cruise control — 14% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,000 miles.

F

14

Complaints

9

Crashes

2

Fires

5

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 11 78.6%
Accelerator Pedal 3 21.4%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Mercury Grand Marquis year

1988 14 3.4%
1989 16 3.8%
1991 12 2.9%
1992 32 7.7%
1993 19 4.6%
1994 33 7.9%
1995 23 5.5%
1996 19 4.6%
1997 24 5.8%
1999 12 2.9%
2000 13 3.1%
2001 27 6.5%
2002 17 4.1%
2003 27 6.5%
2004 23 5.5%
2005 39 9.4%
2006 38 9.1%
2007 13 3.1%
2008 15 3.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 90,000 miles Monee, IL Crash 3 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 FROM THE ACCIDENT, OUR INJURIES INCLUDE SOFT TISSUE AND MUSCLE DAMAGE. WE ALL SPENT THE NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL AND RECEIVED MORPHINE FOR THE EXTREME PAIN WE WERE IN. I WANT TO FILE SUIT AGAINST FORD, BUT HAVE NOT FOUND A LAWYER WHO WILL TAKE THE CASE. I WILL FILE ON MY OWN BEHALF. PAIN, SUFFERING AND OVER $50,000 HOSPITAL AND VEHICLE DAMAGE IS NOW ON MY RECORD BECAUSE OF THIS MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #10142395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orchard Park, NY Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF APPROX. 45 -50MPH ON RT.219 IN ORCHARD PARK, N Y, WHEN MY 1988 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS WAGON STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON LEVEL GROUNG TO APPROX. 60 MPH. CONTINUOUS BRAKING ONLY SLOWED THE CAR TEMPORARILY. I MANAGED TO BRAKE THE CAR ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE EXIT RAMP AND ONLY WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BY RIDING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUTTING THE CAR INTO N. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE SPEED PEDAL WAS NOT "STUCK" DOWN. I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. IN MORE TRAFFIC OR IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #725753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orchard PK, NY Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE . SHE APPLIED BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. FRONT TWO TIRE WERE ON FIRE AT THAT TIME. FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #865843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Port Charloette, FL Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND& IT SHOT BACK ACROSS A SMALL INTERSECTION INTO A DITCH, IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF, CONSUMER THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A THROTTLE PROBLEM,DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *AK *ML *SLC

NHTSA complaint #862307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aransas, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AND COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE CONTINUES TO THROTTLE. EXCCESSIVE EFFORT INVOLVED TO STOP.

NHTSA complaint #810657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Douglaston, NY Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

CONSUMER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELARATED IN REVERSE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #806519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Rich, TX Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE/ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #485787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Havre Degrac, MD Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, APPLIED ACCELEATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, ACCELETOR PEDAL STUCK, IMPACT 12:00 SPEED UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #983889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Havre Degrac, MD Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, APPLIED ACCELEATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, ACCELETOR PEDAL STUCK, IMPACT 12:00 SPEED UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #983889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Richla, TX Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DIENGAGE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. TT

NHTSA complaint #967173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Schenectad, NY Crash 3 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #489443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Largo, FL Crash 2 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TWICE, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #481696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Largo, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED ON THREE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA complaint #481696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cocanut Cree, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING WITHOUT PRESSING GAS PEDAL, FROM 35-70MPH ACCELERATING, TO STOP TURNED OFF IGNITION. TT

NHTSA complaint #958979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis problems

← Full 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis report