2001 Mercury Grand Marquis Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Engine
  7
• Cooling system
  3
• Engine › Gasoline
  2
• Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  420%
• 25k–50k
  315%
• 50k–75k
  00%
• 75k–100k
  315%
• 100k–150k
  840%
• 150k+
  210%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated he noticed coolant fluid on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact started the vehicle and noticed that the high engine temperate warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted but was not able to diagnose the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 100,000. The contact stated that the vehicle is at the service dealer awaiting repairs.

PLEASE NOTE: This complaint/issue pertains to many nearly identical plastic intake manifolds sold as OEM, new or replacements for cars made in the last ten years- Dangerous perhaps fatal fires are likely not getting reported due to the nature of the cause. My car has a plastic manifold. When a fuel injector or fuel regulator fails, raw gasoline can collect in the plastic bottom. If more than a few drops collects, turning over the engine can cause, and did in my car, a massive explosion. Fortunately the blue & white cloud of smoke that filled my two-car garage did not ignite. Had it ignited my son and I might not have survived and our home may have burned. Not that your organization takes all complaints seriously, particularly when thousands of cars might be involved, but these cheap plastic manifolds present a real danger I believe could have already caused deaths and property damage. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle was jerking and the ABS and the check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle had a drastic reduction in speed. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions where it was repaired but the repair details were unknown. The repairs failed to remedy the vehicle. The contact stated the service engine warning light continued to illuminated and the vehicle jerked violently, reduced speed and attempted to stall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 136,037. Updated 12/03/15

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the steering shaft was damaged. When turning, the vehicle traveled in the opposite direction of where the contact steered. The vehicle also failed to drive in a straight line and swayed from one side of the road to the other. Also, the check oil indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to fairway Ford (366 w main st, canfield, oh 44406, [phone]), but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was diagnosed, but not repaired because the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact planned to call the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 80,000.

The 1996-2001 Mercury Grand Marquis with a 100% plastic intake manifold is known for engine overheating, even with normal use, and a coolant leak from the front of the manifold. This will often trigger the check engine light and low engine coolant warning light. The engine coolant leak is from a factory defect, which causes cracking on the front coolant passage of the intake manifold. In a very short time, this leak will lead to engine overheating issues, especially while the vehicle is idling. This is exactly what happened. I think the car part should have been replaced by Ford when they new about the plastic intake manifold.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the intake manifold was leaking antifreeze onto the coil pack on cylinder number eight. The contact stated that there was a manufacturer warranty that was placed on these vehicles regarding the failure. The contact spoke with davis Ford (2111 n main st, canton, il 61520, [phone]) and was informed to call the manufacturer to have the vehicle serviced under warranty. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact to call NHTSA to enforce the manufacturer warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 133,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that white smoke appeared from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the failure was due to the intake manifold. The vehicle was taken to malouf Ford Lincoln, inc (2210 us-1, north brunswick township, nj 08902, [phone]) where it was suggested the plastic defective intake manifold was the cause of the failure. The contact called the manufacturer and asked to speak to a case manager. The manufacturer was to call the contact back or mail a response. The failure mileage was 135,000.

My father in law was driving my vehicle when a GMC yukon pulled out in front of him. My father in law hit the side of the yukon and only one air bag deployed which was the passanger side,my father in law was taken to the hospital bc of no feeling below his waist and the paramedics were unable to stabilize his blood pressure.

While driving my 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis I heard a noise from the engine compartment immediately the engine sounded very loud as if there was an exhaust leak, the engine started running very rough and the check engine light came on, after checking found that the rear spark plug on the right side of the engine had been blown out of its socket and it broke the ignition coil, gas would spray out of the spark plug cavity creating an unsafe condition, I had to buy a repair tool kit and a new coil and spark plug to repair the problem because the dealer (nick mayer in west lake, ohio would not fix it even though I only had the car for 6 days, they said that it was a used car with no warranty so they would not work with me, it ended up costing me over $100.00 to fix a problem that the dealer or manufacturer should had been force to correct.

While driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle shimmied in the front. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, where the mechanic re-balanced and aligned the tires. The problem still existed after being taken to an independent mechanic. This was an on going problem since the beginning of purchase. The consumer had an adjudication to take the vehicle back to the dealership. The vehicle had been back to the dealer on many occasions for the shimmy in the front. The dealership replaced all four tires and the driveshaft assembly. The vehicle developed an oil leak that was also ongoing, so the dealer replaced the oil pan/oil pan gasket and the rear main crank shaft seal. The ignition coil assembly had to be replaced as well. When the weather was cold, the hood would not pop open and the right front door did not close properly.

NHTSA investigations

Engine complaints in other Grand Marquis years