FaultScore report
Owners have filed 69 complaints about the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis with NHTSA between 1995 and 2005. The largest single group is the electrical system.
69
Complaints
10
Crashes reported
19
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
86,500 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
29%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 2 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 86,500 mi
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 120,514 mi
0 crashes, 2 fires
Median failure at 120,514 miles
Median failure at 120,514 miles
0 crashes, 1 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
BRAKE LINE PUNCTURES
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
Risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Electrical
A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DEVELOP IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE OR UNATTENDED. CORRECTION: IGNITION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED DESIGN SWITCH.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
NHTSA complaint #10121626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10046558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. *TS
NHTSA complaint #10011495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHICH WAS THE RESULTS OF A VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #843863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION AND INJURIES. MJS
NHTSA complaint #545982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN. MELTED WIRES AND PLASTIC COVERING ON STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #822211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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?
NHTSA complaint #10138416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
NHTSA complaint #10121626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10094498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
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.
NHTSA complaint #10094498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE PLASTIC BUSHING KICKBACK WIRING LOCATED ON TOP OF TRANSMISS HAS DETERIOATED AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME DAMAGED, AND WASNOT OPERATIONAL.
NHTSA complaint #10089609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10046558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. *TS
NHTSA complaint #10011495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
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
NHTSA complaint #10006294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
NHTSA complaint #10006294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
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
NHTSA complaint #10006294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING 70MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE. PULLED OUT OF WAY OF TRAFFIC. STOPPED VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM TIRE. CONTACTED TRIPLE AAA AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED.
NHTSA complaint #8021916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON THE 6TH OF JULY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM OCALA TO BELLEVIEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS PLASTIC) AND HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A METAL ONE, BUT BY THIS DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER IT CAUSED THE TRANMISSION TO HAVE TO BE REBUILT AT A COST TO ME OF $748.24. I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT I SHOULD HAVE A REFUND OF THE COST CAUSED THE TRANMISSION TO HAVE TO BE REBUILT, AT A COST TO ME OF $ 748.24.
NHTSA complaint #748282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
STOP LIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR. CONNECTOR OVERHEATED/MELTED AND LOST STOP LIGHTS. I SAVED THE DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR.
NHTSA complaint #746643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING GEARS SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. DEALER HAD TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION.*AK WHILE DRIVING A SMALL PART DROPPED OUT FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSEING THE ENGINE TO SURGE AND THE GEARS TO LOCK. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED AS THE RESULT.
NHTSA complaint #872852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
PE00 020; REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT HOLD WHEN PUTTING SEATBELTS IN THE RETRACTOR .BUTTON IS DEFACTIVE, IT WILL NOT HOLD. *AK FRONT DRIVERS BUCKLE DOES NOT HOLD JUST POPS OUT. ODOMETER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #872494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PE00 020; REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT HOLD WHEN PUTTING SEATBELTS IN THE RETRACTOR .BUTTON IS DEFACTIVE, IT WILL NOT HOLD. *AK FRONT DRIVERS BUCKLE DOES NOT HOLD JUST POPS OUT. ODOMETER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #872494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PE00 020; REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT HOLD WHEN PUTTING SEATBELTS IN THE RETRACTOR .BUTTON IS DEFACTIVE, IT WILL NOT HOLD. *AK FRONT DRIVERS BUCKLE DOES NOT HOLD JUST POPS OUT. ODOMETER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #872494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL LINE RUSTED OUT AND LEAKED GASOLINE ONTO PAVEMENT, UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS EVENT WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT, AND DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS EVENT DID CREATE A FIRE HAZARD, BUT IT WAS CAUGHT IN TIME. MY CAR IS IN THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP 13+ DAYS NOW AND STILL AWAITING REPAIR, BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER (FORD) HAS THE NEW FUEL LINE PART ON "NATIONAL BACK ORDER" AND REFUSES TO FULFILL MY DEALER'S ORDER FOR A NEW PART. PLEASE HELP ME GET MY CAR FIXED. PLEASE NOTE ALSO THAT THIS SAME CAR MODEL WAS INVOLVED IN A PRIOR MANDATORY RECALL IN 1996 FOR A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING A FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THIS SAME CAR WAS ONE OF THE CARS REPORTED TO YOU THAT HAD ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. FORD REFUSES TO RECALL THIS CAR. I THINK ANOTHER MANDATORY RECALL FOR THIS NEW PROBLEM IS NEEDED NOW.
NHTSA complaint #726949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH-BEAM THE LIGHTS START TO GO ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY. I HAVE TO PUT THE HEAD-LIGHTS ON LOW-BEAM AND THEN THEY STAY ON. IF I PUT THEM BACK ON HIGH-BEAM THEY START TO GO ON AND OFF AGAIN. IT SEEMS AS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #718860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LATCHES BROKK OFF FROM DOOR PANEL. ALL DOOR LATCHES ARE BROKEN, AND PREVENT DOORS FROM BEING PROPERLY SECURED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #856338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
OIL LEAK. CANNOT FIND WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. CAR SMOKES AND SMELLS FROM OIL. MECHANIC IS ABSOLUTELY MYSTIFIED. HE CANNOT LOCATE WHERE MOTOR OIL LEAK IS COMING FROM. UNDERCARRIAGE IS WET WITH OIL.
NHTSA complaint #717377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHICH WAS THE RESULTS OF A VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #843863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE A "STALLING FORD" AND WOULD LIKE TO FORCE A RECALL. FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IN 1997 MY CAR STALLED FOR NO REASON. MECHANIC TRIED MANY THINGS--EVEN KEPT MY CAR TO DRIVE AROUND FOR OVER A WEEK. I WAS WITHOUT A CAR AND SPENT SEVERAL HUNDREDS IN REPAIRS, THOUGH THE REAL PROBLEM WAS NEVER FOUND AS CAR WOULD STALL OUT MANY TIMES, THEN WOULD BE OK THE NEXT. PROBLEM IS OCCURING AGAIN AND I DO NOT WISH TO SPEND MORE MONEY WHEN I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT MY CAR IS ON THE LIST THAT HAS DEFECTIVE DISTRIBUTOR MOUNTED TFI MODULES. FORTUNATELY I WAS NEVER DOING HIGH SPEEDS WHEN THE CAR STALLED, ALTHOUGH I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES AS A RESULT OF THE UNPREDICTABLE STALLING. I WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT MYSELF AND OTHERS FROM BEING KILLED OR CRIPPLED BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH BY FORD MANY YEARS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #708540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION AND INJURIES. MJS
NHTSA complaint #545982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ENGAGED IN CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #544646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.