FaultScore report
Owners have filed 40 complaints about the 1996 Mercury Marquis with NHTSA between 1996 and 2007. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 12 worst.
FaultScore 61/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mercury Marquis.
How this is worked out40
Complaints
3
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
91,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
0%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
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.
Median failure at 70,000 miles
2 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 119,000 mi
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.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DURING A 15 MPH VEHICLE COLLISION DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. CONSUMER'S HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10095190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD DEFECTIVE.CAUSED STEAM AND VAPORIZED ANTI-FREEZE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10066227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE DEFECT. *MR *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10044150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON A ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, VEHICLE RODE OVER A SHEET OF ICE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL, VEHICLE LANDED ON TOP OF A ROCK, DEPLOYING AIR BAGS, CONSUMER RECEIVED INJURIES FROM AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
NHTSA complaint #828309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TILT STEERING COLUMN POINTED DOWNWARD. TRAVELING MINIMAL SPEED VEHICLE SLID OFF RAMP AIR BAG DEPLOYED HITTING DRIVER UNDER THE NECK.
NHTSA complaint #982657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THE INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER (05S28) IN AUGUST OF 2007 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH AND STATED THAT THE OTHER FAILURES WERE UNRELATED. THE COST FOR A DIAGNOSTIC WOULD BE $900. THE CURRENT AND FAILURES MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10204731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING TODAY 4/12/2006 RESULTING IN COOLANT SPRAYING AND REDUCING MY VISIBILITY ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD RESULTING IN A NEAR HEAD ON MISS TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE MANIFOLD HAS A KNOW DEFECT BY FORD WHICH WITHOUT MY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OR NOTIFICATION AGREED TO THE SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT. DUE THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT I HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED - WHICH IS ONE REASON FOR WRITING THIS MESSAGE. HOWEVER, THE MORE IMPORTANT REASON IS THE KNOWN POTENTIAL DANGER OF THIS DEFECT ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS WITHOUT HAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. TODAY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL INJURY AND THE FORD COMPANY IS JUST LOOKING AT THE DOLLAR SIZE INSTEAD OF DOING THE RESPONSIBLE THING. IT'S A REAL SHAME AND I HOPE ODI CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I WAS LUCKILY TODAY, BUT OTHERS MAY NOT BE IN THE FUTURE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL - THAT WOULD HAVE BE THE RESPONSIBLE THING FOR FORD TO DO. SOMEONE HAS TO FORCE THEM TO TAKE A MORE COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO THESE TYPES OF MATTERS - IT DOESN'T MAKE GOOD BUSINESS SENSE OR GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS NOT TO. I AM COUNTING ON YOU TO HELP DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND HELP SAVE FUTURE LIVES AND INJURIES. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED 100 MILES AND THE COST OF REPAIRS IS GOING TO BE CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TOTAL. DUE TO THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT (WWW.FORDMANIFOLDSETTLEMENT.COM), NOT ONLY DOES FORD GET AWAY WITH NOT REIMBURSING ME FOR MY COST, PUT MY LIFE IN JEOPARDY, BUT ALSO HAVING OTHERS OUT THERE WITH TICKING TIME BOMBS IN THERE CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10155226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DURING A 15 MPH VEHICLE COLLISION DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. CONSUMER'S HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10095190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD DEFECTIVE.CAUSED STEAM AND VAPORIZED ANTI-FREEZE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10066227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK. DEALER REPLACED THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD WITH AN ALUMINUM MANIFOLD. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10055638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS PRODUCED A THICK FILM COVERING THE LENS. AS A RESULT VISIBILITY HAD BEEN IMPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10048340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE DEFECT. *MR *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10044150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1996 MERCURY MARQUIS. *PH THE VEHICLES ENGINE/COOLING SYSTEM FAILED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10038174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE.*MR THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FORD TO REIMBURSE HIM FOR ALL EXPENSES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, MR. MORAN WANTED THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE WHY HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT LISTED AS PART OF THEIR "BAD BATCH LIST." *PH
NHTSA complaint #10034470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT. THE DEALER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED BUT ONLY FOR POLICE VEHICLES. *JB PH
NHTSA complaint #10022463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. *JB...THIS MANIFOLD WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM.OWNER NOTIFICATION ON SOME MODELS 97M91.
NHTSA complaint #10014974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WE OWN A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED ON 2/28/02 WITH 70,089 MILES ON IT AND THE "96 CROWN VICTORIA AND "97 MERCURY COUGAR HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OF A FAILURE OF THE "COMPOSITE" ONE AND OURS WAS NOT. WE ENDED UP BEING TOWED 130 MILES. TS
NHTSA complaint #10002846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CONSUMER STATES' VEHICLE WEAVES ALL OTHER THE ROAD IF THERE IS A DIP OR RAISE IN ROAD ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. MR
NHTSA complaint #8024174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WEAVES ALL OVER ROAD. CONSUMER STATES' IF THERE IS A RAISE OR DIP IN ROAD THERES A TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8024137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE INTAKE VALVE CRACKED AND LEAKED FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT AND STALL OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8019521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WHILE DRIVING UNDER STORMY CONDITIONS, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND WINDOW WOULD NOT GO DOWN. SECOND TIME, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE REPAIR PROVIDER STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL CAUSING THE FAILURE WAS OF INFERIOR QUALITY.
NHTSA complaint #8012805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT FOR BELT HAD SNAPPED, TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE. FIRESTONE, FR480, P215/70, R15 DOT#VM31LT. TIRE WAS PURCHASED WITH VEHICLE. PREVIOUSLY REAR LEFT TIRE ALSO BLEWOUT WHICH WAS REPORTED, AND WAS ONE OF ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED WITH VEHICLE. MERCURY, GRAND MARQUIS, 1996. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #886536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MUSHY BRAKE PEDAL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACED BOOSTER ASSEMBLY, AND CONDITION STIL OCCURRING. *AK BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY FAILED TWICE. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL NOISY AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACING DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #869092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
MUSHY BRAKE PEDAL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACED BOOSTER ASSEMBLY, AND CONDITION STIL OCCURRING. *AK BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY FAILED TWICE. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL NOISY AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACING DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #869092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING STEERING JERKS VERY HARD LEFT TO RIGHT, MAKING THE VEHICLE HARD TO STEER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #865776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THERE IS A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #828932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH DRIVER 'S SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILING TO OPERATE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHEN UNABLE TO CLOSE OR UNABLE TO SECURE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #852963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE CABLE WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO LOSE ACCELERATION TO THE PEDAL CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO GO UNDER THE HOOD AND PULL ON THE CABLE TO RESTORE ACELLERATION. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONSDD, CABLE WAS REROUTED AND ADJUSTED, AND PROBLEM STILL GOES UNRESOLVED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #851473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, THE WINDOW GEARS BROKE AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING. IN ADDITION, THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION/ IT IS VERY HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND BANGS INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. ELECTRICAL FAILURES AS WELL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #830547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, THE WINDOW GEARS BROKE AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING. IN ADDITION, THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION/ IT IS VERY HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND BANGS INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. ELECTRICAL FAILURES AS WELL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #830547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.