FaultScore

FaultScore report

1988 Mercury Marquis problems

Owners have filed 14 complaints about the 1988 Mercury Marquis with NHTSA between 1995 and 2000. The largest single group is the electrical system.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

14

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

3

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

How 1988 compares with every other Mercury Marquis

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1988 Mercury Marquis

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 5 35.7%

0 crashes, 3 fires

Lights 4 28.6%
Seat Belts 1 7.1%
Tires 1 7.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 7.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Brakes 1 7.1%
Engine & Cooling 1 7.1%

When owners complained

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.

Apr 1995 peak 4 Mar 2000

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Woburn, MA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PUT CAR INTO REVERSE AND CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT A WALL . PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #804584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raytown, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #984030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, OH Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION FIRE STARTED AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE DUE TO A SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #983000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, OH Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION FIRE STARTED AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE DUE TO A SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #983000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

College Point, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILING TO OPERATE UNLESS EXTREME PRESSURE IS APPLIED ON THE PEDAL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #858871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashtabula, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

THEORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED ALTHOUGH WE HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT AT ALL. I DID TAKE INTO A FORD DEALER [PAT MASSUCCI GENEVA FORD GENEVA OHIO] THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH, AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE WENT TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER STARTING AND THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN BACK TO THE RUN POSITION. THIS WAS ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT LEAVE IT, AND WHEN THEY GOT A CHANCE THEY WOULD REPAIR IT THE NEXT WEEK !THERE IS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO DRIVE MY CAR 10 MILES WITH NO TAIL LIGHTS /BRAKE LIGHTS/OR TURN SIGNALS, AND THEN LEAVE IT RUNNING WITHA FULL TANK OF GAS OVER THE WEEKEND. I THEN CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE LINE AND WAS TOLD TO DO THE SAME THING AS WELL OR HAVE IT TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO THE DEALER THAT MESSED THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH UP TO BEGIN WITH. I COULD FIND NO OTHER DEALER OPEN ANY WHERE SO I RETURNED TO THE CAR, TOOK A PAIR OF PLIARS AND FORCIBLY TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO RUN. THEN TO THE OFF POSITION. IT NOW DOES SEEM TO WORK BETTER . BUT NOT AS IT SHOULD OR AS THE ORIGINAL DID BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE SWITCH NOW FAILS TO RETURN OR DOES NOT LET THE TAILIGHTS WORK WE HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF THEN RESTART THE CAR FOR THE ACCESSORIES TO WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #705202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashtabula, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

THEORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED ALTHOUGH WE HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT AT ALL. I DID TAKE INTO A FORD DEALER [PAT MASSUCCI GENEVA FORD GENEVA OHIO] THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH, AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE WENT TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER STARTING AND THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN BACK TO THE RUN POSITION. THIS WAS ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT LEAVE IT, AND WHEN THEY GOT A CHANCE THEY WOULD REPAIR IT THE NEXT WEEK !THERE IS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO DRIVE MY CAR 10 MILES WITH NO TAIL LIGHTS /BRAKE LIGHTS/OR TURN SIGNALS, AND THEN LEAVE IT RUNNING WITHA FULL TANK OF GAS OVER THE WEEKEND. I THEN CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE LINE AND WAS TOLD TO DO THE SAME THING AS WELL OR HAVE IT TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO THE DEALER THAT MESSED THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH UP TO BEGIN WITH. I COULD FIND NO OTHER DEALER OPEN ANY WHERE SO I RETURNED TO THE CAR, TOOK A PAIR OF PLIARS AND FORCIBLY TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO RUN. THEN TO THE OFF POSITION. IT NOW DOES SEEM TO WORK BETTER . BUT NOT AS IT SHOULD OR AS THE ORIGINAL DID BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE SWITCH NOW FAILS TO RETURN OR DOES NOT LET THE TAILIGHTS WORK WE HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF THEN RESTART THE CAR FOR THE ACCESSORIES TO WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #705202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashtabula, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THEORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED ALTHOUGH WE HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT AT ALL. I DID TAKE INTO A FORD DEALER [PAT MASSUCCI GENEVA FORD GENEVA OHIO] THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH, AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE WENT TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER STARTING AND THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN BACK TO THE RUN POSITION. THIS WAS ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT LEAVE IT, AND WHEN THEY GOT A CHANCE THEY WOULD REPAIR IT THE NEXT WEEK !THERE IS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO DRIVE MY CAR 10 MILES WITH NO TAIL LIGHTS /BRAKE LIGHTS/OR TURN SIGNALS, AND THEN LEAVE IT RUNNING WITHA FULL TANK OF GAS OVER THE WEEKEND. I THEN CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE LINE AND WAS TOLD TO DO THE SAME THING AS WELL OR HAVE IT TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO THE DEALER THAT MESSED THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH UP TO BEGIN WITH. I COULD FIND NO OTHER DEALER OPEN ANY WHERE SO I RETURNED TO THE CAR, TOOK A PAIR OF PLIARS AND FORCIBLY TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO RUN. THEN TO THE OFF POSITION. IT NOW DOES SEEM TO WORK BETTER . BUT NOT AS IT SHOULD OR AS THE ORIGINAL DID BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE SWITCH NOW FAILS TO RETURN OR DOES NOT LET THE TAILIGHTS WORK WE HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF THEN RESTART THE CAR FOR THE ACCESSORIES TO WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #705202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashtabula, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

THEORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED ALTHOUGH WE HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT AT ALL. I DID TAKE INTO A FORD DEALER [PAT MASSUCCI GENEVA FORD GENEVA OHIO] THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH, AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE WENT TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER STARTING AND THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN BACK TO THE RUN POSITION. THIS WAS ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT LEAVE IT, AND WHEN THEY GOT A CHANCE THEY WOULD REPAIR IT THE NEXT WEEK !THERE IS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO DRIVE MY CAR 10 MILES WITH NO TAIL LIGHTS /BRAKE LIGHTS/OR TURN SIGNALS, AND THEN LEAVE IT RUNNING WITHA FULL TANK OF GAS OVER THE WEEKEND. I THEN CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE LINE AND WAS TOLD TO DO THE SAME THING AS WELL OR HAVE IT TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO THE DEALER THAT MESSED THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH UP TO BEGIN WITH. I COULD FIND NO OTHER DEALER OPEN ANY WHERE SO I RETURNED TO THE CAR, TOOK A PAIR OF PLIARS AND FORCIBLY TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO RUN. THEN TO THE OFF POSITION. IT NOW DOES SEEM TO WORK BETTER . BUT NOT AS IT SHOULD OR AS THE ORIGINAL DID BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE SWITCH NOW FAILS TO RETURN OR DOES NOT LET THE TAILIGHTS WORK WE HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF THEN RESTART THE CAR FOR THE ACCESSORIES TO WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #705202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detroit, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ENGINE WOULD CRANK, REFUSED TO START, TOWED TO DEALER, THICK-FILM IGNITION MODULE WHICH CARRIES ELECTRICAL PULSES TO THE SPARK PLUGS.

NHTSA complaint #816351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IT WOULD STALL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. WOULD LOSE ALL POWER. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD & WAITED & THEN RESTARTED. TOOK TO THE DEALER & HAD TFI MODULE REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #817185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woburn, MA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PUT CAR INTO REVERSE AND CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT A WALL . PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #804584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raytown, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #984030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, OH Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION FIRE STARTED AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE DUE TO A SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #983000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, OH Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION FIRE STARTED AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE DUE TO A SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #983000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Deltona, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS: WHEN APPLIED, BRAKES HAS GRAB LIKE FEEL; FRONT END SWAYS; DRAGS. ALSO, HARD TO UNLOCK SHOULDER BELT. TT

NHTSA complaint #966833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Deltona, FL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

ABS: WHEN APPLIED, BRAKES HAS GRAB LIKE FEEL; FRONT END SWAYS; DRAGS. ALSO, HARD TO UNLOCK SHOULDER BELT. TT

NHTSA complaint #966833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VAN Nuys, CA

TIRES

GOODYEAR INVICTA TIRES WEAR/CUP PREMATURELY. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #481294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.