FaultScore

1991 Mercury Grand Marquis electrical problems

23 of the 106 complaints about the 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis are about the electrical system — 22% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 74,000 miles.

F

23

Complaints

0

Crashes

12

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Alternator/Generator/Regulator 10 43.5%
Ignition 4 17.4%
Wiring 4 17.4%
Electrical System 2 8.7%
Front Underhood 1 4.3%
Switch 1 4.3%
Cables 1 4.3%

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.

Branchburg, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1991 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE AFTER MARKET ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. *LD THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW STARTER SOLENOID RELAY, BWD SELECT BRAND BY STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS INC., AFTER ABOUT 10 DAYS, IT SHORT-CIRCUITED. DUE TO THIS THE STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE FLYWHEEL WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. IT MADE A VERY LOUD METAL GRINDING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW STARTER RELAY.

NHTSA complaint #11112648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,988 miles Susanville, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND TURNED OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10060038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 74,000 miles West Allis, WI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY CONSUMER WAS EMPTYING THE TRUNK AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A FIRE SOON ERUPTED FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE UNDER THE HOOD, AND WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED. AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE RESULTS, IT WAS DETERMINED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND THE CABLE HARNESS CAUSED THE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10034051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 74,000 miles West Allis, WI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY CONSUMER WAS EMPTYING THE TRUNK AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A FIRE SOON ERUPTED FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE UNDER THE HOOD, AND WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED. AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE RESULTS, IT WAS DETERMINED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND THE CABLE HARNESS CAUSED THE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10034051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cuyahoga Falls, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

FORD MOTOR CO. SAID THEY ARE WAITING FOR A JUDGE DECISOIN ON A PROGRAM TO REPLACE. THEY SHOULD JUST RECALL AFFECTED VEHICILES. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.

NHTSA complaint #752100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cherry Hill, NJ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE WHEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #895593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philladephia, PA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM HOOD AREA. WHEN TRYING TO PULL TO SIDE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND DUE TO WIRES THAT WERE BURNIG UNDER THE HOOD. THESE WERE THE ALTENATOR WIRES THAT SHORTED OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE FIRE FROM THE TERMINALS DAMAGED ALL THE INSULATION AND THE WIRING OF THE ALTERNATOR TERMINALS UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA complaint #873465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Susanville, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THIS PART IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN SAN FRANCISCO IN THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERIOIR COURT. JUDGE MICHAEL BALLACHEY HAS ISSUED A PRELIMINARY DECISION TO ORDER A RECALL ON AS MANY AS 2 MILLION VEHICLES MODEL YEARS 1983-95. UNFORTUNATELY, I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE RECALL SINCE MY VEHICLE HAD STALLED TWICE IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. I FELT I HAD TO PAYFOR A ARTIAL CORRECTION (NEW PART RELOCATED IN THE SAME SPACE) AND WAIT OUT THE RESULTS OF THE LAW SUIT. IF A RECALL IS ORDERED AND IF FORD DOESN'T APPEAL, I WILL NEED TO HAVE THE PART RELOCATED TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE ENGINE SINCE OVERHEATING CAUSES EVENTUAL PART FAILURE. MY MECHANIC DID NOT WANT TO RELOCATE THE PART WITHOUT DIRECTIONS FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

NHTSA complaint #730341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Susanville, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THIS PART IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN SAN FRANCISCO IN THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERIOIR COURT. JUDGE MICHAEL BALLACHEY HAS ISSUED A PRELIMINARY DECISION TO ORDER A RECALL ON AS MANY AS 2 MILLION VEHICLES MODEL YEARS 1983-95. UNFORTUNATELY, I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE RECALL SINCE MY VEHICLE HAD STALLED TWICE IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. I FELT I HAD TO PAYFOR A ARTIAL CORRECTION (NEW PART RELOCATED IN THE SAME SPACE) AND WAIT OUT THE RESULTS OF THE LAW SUIT. IF A RECALL IS ORDERED AND IF FORD DOESN'T APPEAL, I WILL NEED TO HAVE THE PART RELOCATED TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE ENGINE SINCE OVERHEATING CAUSES EVENTUAL PART FAILURE. MY MECHANIC DID NOT WANT TO RELOCATE THE PART WITHOUT DIRECTIONS FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

NHTSA complaint #730341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

White Stone, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

WAS AT RED LIGHT. NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD & LIFTED HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES AROUND THE ALTERNATOR. ANOTHER MOTORIST SMOTHERED FLAMES WITH BACK PACK. VEHICLE TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC ALTERNATOR & WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE CHANGED TO ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE & MELTED WIRES.

NHTSA complaint #850479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Naples, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE WHICH STARTED IN THE ALTERNATOR. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT FIRE AND SAVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #831165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Weslaco, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BLEW UP. THE IGNITION HAD NOT BEEN TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #821420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shreveport, LA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #513418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stuart, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ALTERNATOR, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA complaint #807704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stuart, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ALTERNATOR, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE PART ON TWO OCCASION DUE TO A ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #807705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reno, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO BURN OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #805931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittsburg, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE DRIVING DURING ANY WEATHER CONDITION THE ABS BRAKES WILL LOCK UP EVERY SIX MONTHS. *AK FRONT DOOR LOCKS FREEZE IN THE WINTER LEAVING THEM INOPERABLE. CONSUMER STATES SOME WIRES BURNED CAUSING BLACK SMOKE TO FILL UP VEHICLE. BRAKES VERY ROUGH WHEN APPLIED. OIL LEAK. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #804220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Valhalla, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

STARTED ENGINE, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM TRUNK AREA, SHUT OFF ENGINE, REMOVED MAT OUT OF TRUNK, WIRING HARNESS BURNT, NO FLAMES.

NHTSA complaint #801276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orland Park, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN PULLING KEY OUT OF IGNITION SYSTEM OR WHILE DRIVING KEY GETS HOT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #801155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lauderhill, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM HOOD, ALTENATOR PLUG FAILED RESULTING IN ALTERNATOR CATCHING FIRE. KT

NHTSA complaint #971111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapolis, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS INDICATOR LIGHTS, POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTION. TT

NHTSA complaint #970494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sterling, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN TRUNK DUE TO A WIRE UNDERNEATH THE JACK. JACK SOME HOW RESULTED IN WIRE SHORTING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #969828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, POWER WINDOWS AND DOORS NOT FUNCTIONING. TT

NHTSA complaint #959306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis problems

← Full 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis report