Mercury Grand Marquis Problems by Year

We compared every Mercury Grand Marquis model year from 1995–2011 using 3,015 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 21 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2005, 1997, 1996 and 2003, which drew far more complaints than other Grand Marquis years at the same age. The best years are 2011, 2010 and 2009.

17model years
3,015complaints
21recalls
2005, 1997worst years
2011, 2010best years

Complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’1117923931614316416215778362348488143968026259
Owner complaints per model year, Mercury Grand Marquis. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
20119−92%2ElectricalGood
201025−81%2SteeringGood
200926−79%2BrakeGood
200880−46%3SteeringGood
200796−30%3Wheel & TireAverage
2006143−21%2AccelerationAverage
20054882.6×4HeadlightAvoid
20043481.3×1HeadlightAverage
20033621.5×1HeadlightCaution
200278−55%—AccelerationGood
2001157typical3EngineAverage
2000162typical6EngineAverage
1999164typical3EngineAverage
1998143typical5EngineAverage
19973162.3×4EngineAvoid
19962391.7×5EngineCaution
19951791.3×5BrakeAverage

* Complaints compared with the median Grand Marquis year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Mercury Grand Marquis problems

Latest Mercury Grand Marquis recalls

Exterior lighting › Headlights

NHTSA recall 15V-861 · Dec 22, 2015 · 296,004 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured October 3, 2001, to August 2, 2005. The affected vehicles have a lighting control module (LCM) that may fail, resulting in a loss of headlights.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the LCM, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S39.

Steering › Rack and pinion › Pinion shaft

NHTSA recall 14V-704 · Nov 5, 2014 · 36,888 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during…

Remedy: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385.

Steering

NHTSA recall 13V-385 · Aug 29, 2013 · 355,000 vehicles

Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,…

Remedy: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have…

Vehicle speed control › Cruise control

NHTSA recall 08V-051 · Feb 4, 2008 · 225,000 vehicles

Ford is recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 econoline, my 1993-1995 taurus sho, my 1992-1998 crown victoria, my 1993 bronco, f-series, my 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998 Mercury grand marquis, and my 1992-1995 Lincoln town car vehicles.

Remedy: Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on February 18, 2008. Owners May contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

Vehicle speed control

NHTSA recall 07V-336 · Aug 3, 2007 · 3,600,000 vehicles

On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch May, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.

Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected…

All 21 Mercury Grand Marquis recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Mercury Grand Marquis should you avoid?

2005, 1997, 1996 and 2003 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Grand Marquis years at the same age, led by lights problems in the 2005.

What is the best year for the Mercury Grand Marquis?

2011 has the fewest complaints compared with other Grand Marquis years at the same age, followed by 2010 and 2009. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Mercury Grand Marquis problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the lights (857), engine & cooling (422) and electrical system (312). Headlight complaints peak in the 2005 model year.

How many recalls has the Mercury Grand Marquis had?

21 recalls across 1995–2011. The model year with the most is 2000. See all Mercury Grand Marquis recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.