FaultScore

1989 Mercury Grand Marquis electrical problems

19 of the 69 complaints about the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis are about the electrical system — 28% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 29,000 miles.

F

19

Complaints

0

Crashes

13

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Switch 7 36.8%
Ignition 3 15.8%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 3 15.8%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 2 10.5%
Interior/Under Dash 2 10.5%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 5.3%
Wiring 1 5.3%

Electrical System across every Mercury Grand Marquis year

1985 13 2.5%
1986 11 2.1%
1987 25 4.8%
1988 46 8.9%
1989 19 3.7%
1990 14 2.7%
1991 23 4.4%
1992 44 8.5%
1993 21 4.1%
1994 10 1.9%
1995 23 4.4%
1996 17 3.3%
1997 12 2.3%
1998 15 2.9%
1999 16 3.1%
2000 18 3.5%
2001 13 2.5%
2002 10 1.9%
2003 52 10.0%
2004 40 7.7%
2005 76 14.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 29,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

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.

at 29,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

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.

N. Miami Beach, FL

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.

Mccomb, OH

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.

Albuquerque, NM Fire

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.

Taunton, MA

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.

Amsterdam, NY Fire

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.

Corsicana, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #514430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alexandria, LA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO CATCH 0N FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #800944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pitsburg, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CUT OFF.

NHTSA complaint #800800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Royal Oaks, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SAW BLACK SMOKE, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #983684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Royal Oaks, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SAW BLACK SMOKE, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #983684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Twin Falls, ID Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

AFTER PARKING THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, NEXT MORNING, NOTICED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BURNT COMPLETLY.

NHTSA complaint #983252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hammonton, NJ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THE IGNITON SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #983258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Hartford, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION FIRE, WHILE PARKED.

NHTSA complaint #983259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA complaint #983133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Springfield, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER SITTING DUE TO SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN OR DASH.

NHTSA complaint #979821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Springfield, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER SITTING DUE TO SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN OR DASH.

NHTSA complaint #979821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Binghamton, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHEN KEY WAS TURNED IN IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #484632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis problems

← Full 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis report