14 of the 63 complaints about the 1990 Mercury Grand Marquis are about the electrical system — 22% of everything reported for this model year.
14
Complaints
0
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE CONSUMER WAS SEEKING RECALL ON THE TFI MODULE WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TFI MODULE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT AND DEATH. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT DOES NOT FORCE A RECALL BUT ONLY COVERS REPLACEMENT COST AFTER FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #564849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER STATES DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THICK FILM IGNITION MOUDLE HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #564579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I WAS PROCEEDING HOME IN EVENING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR ENGINE QUIT INSTANTANEOUSLY. I WAS FORCED TO STOP IN THE RIGHT LANE OF TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH IN THE RIGHT LANE I COULD NOT PULL OFF OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THERE WAS A BARRIER WITH NO SHOULDER FOR ME TO PULL ONTO. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR ALTHOUGH I WAS SITTING WHERE TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP ABRUPTLY AND SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE CAR WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER. THE VEHICLE TRAFFIC WHERE I WAS STALLED ROUTINELY MOVES AT OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR WHICH LUCKILY FOR ME DID NOT RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #750972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE AND PARKED. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE OPERATOR NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, THE OPERATOR IDENTIFIED THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE AS THE ALTERNATOR. OPERATOR CONTINUED TO OBSERVE THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THE VOLUME OF SMOKE WAS INCREASING. AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES, THE ALTERNATOR BURST INTO FLAMES. ARCING WAS SEEN AND HEARD WITHIN THE ALTERNATOR. THE ALTERNATOR HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY FETTE FORD IN WAYNE, NJ IN SEPT 1999 AND, UPON SUBSEQUENT FAILURE, AGAIN IN APPROXIMATELY JAN 2000. FETTE FORD STATED THAT REBUILT FORD ALTERNATORS WERE USED IN BOTH CASES.
NHTSA complaint #738760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT, CAUSING ALL LIGHTS INSIDE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS TAIL LIGHTS AND PARK LIGHTS TO STAY ON. IN ADDITION, FUSE BURNED AND MELTED. REPAIRS MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #836106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT, CAUSING ALL LIGHTS INSIDE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS TAIL LIGHTS AND PARK LIGHTS TO STAY ON. IN ADDITION, FUSE BURNED AND MELTED. REPAIRS MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #836106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS FAILURE CAUSED FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #524961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHEN TRAVELING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #820625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
OWNER UNABLE TO DETECT HORN BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #804382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRCAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. COULD START A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #985582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEATS.
NHTSA complaint #504349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DIGITAL DASH DISPLAY; MAYBE TWICE A WEEK LIGHTS WILL DIM/GO OUT INCLUDING ABS LIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #978041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
FIRE ERUPTED UNDER HOOD WHILE DRIVING; DETECTED EXTREME AMOUNT OF FUMES; STOPPED VEHICLE, SHUT OFF IGNITION; FLAMES BURST OUT WITH LOUD NOISE; TOTALED. TT
NHTSA complaint #976459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN BUTTON DIFFICULT TO LOCATE IF WHEEL IS TURNED AND DIFFICULT ACCESS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #967398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.