Most common 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis problems
Share of the 78 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercury Grand Marquis complaints by model year
Best Grand Marquis years: 2011, 2010, 2009. Years to avoid: 2005, 1997, 1996, 2003. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis:
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
What 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis owners say
Speed control & acceleration
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH at night, the cruise control mode malfunctioned, and the speed of the vehicle increased independently. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed several times to the floor, but the vehicle failed to stop. The contact turned off the vehicle, and the vehicle came to a stop. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated that he was afraid of driving the vehicle again. The contact unregistered the vehicle and turned the license plates of the vehicle to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. Additionally, the contact stated that the check engine and the low oil pressure warning lights had illuminated two days prior to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. …
?yrs.ago While backing out of parking space at Calaveras Lumber, after shifting into reverse, & removing my foot from the brake; the engine appeared to receive a huge burst of fuel which shot me backward like a rocket slamming my vehicle into and wedging it under the frame of a pickup truck parked in the same lot. I am glad I was parked and had my foot on the brake prior to this unit or system malfunction otherwise the injuries could easily have been fatal on the highway. I think this defect may be a contributing factor to the car dying recently while on my way to a Wedding Reception in Roseville, which left me stranded after dark for 41/2hrs and 71/2hrs. 2days later. I have not been able to start vehicle since and mechanics unable to diagnose why the engine is fuel starved when system parts tested appear to be in good working order. …
Suspension
The consumer stated the front end of the vehicle was lower than normal which caused damage to the front end when parking. The dealership provided a temporary fix by putting shims under the front end. While driving at 15 MPH in the rain, the vehicle suddenly lost power steering. The consumer had to use excessive force to steer. This resulted in injuries to the consumers arm. This failure was due to the tensioner pulley falling off. The parts were replaced. The driver side seat belt plate failed to lock in the buckle. The dealership replaced the entire seat belt assembly. Also, front rims have excessive brake dust. Dealer inspected brakes, but weren't able to duplicate concern of consumer.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the front ball joints detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was pending a diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000. The VIN was not available.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH at night, the cruise control mode malfunctioned, and the speed of the vehicle increased independently. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed several times to the floor, but the vehicle failed to stop. The contact turned off the vehicle, and the vehicle came to a stop. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated that he was afraid of driving the vehicle again. The contact unregistered the vehicle and turned the license plates of the vehicle to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. Additionally, the contact stated that the check engine and the low oil pressure warning lights had illuminated two days prior to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. …
I was leaving a shopping center parking lot when I started the car up and everything was okay. I shifted the car into reverse and immediately the engine started to race extremely fast causing the car to move backwards with my foot still on the brake. I tried to turn off the ignition, but I was too close to the car behind me and I hit it. I was moving about 10 to 20 miles per hour with my foot on the brake which failed to stop the vehicle. After the accident, the car ran okay. I took the car to the south hills Lincoln dealership where it had been purchased. They claim there is nothing wrong with the car. I have only 27,100 miles on the car. It is a 2002 model and I have owned it since it was new. I called Ford to try to get help but they said there is nothing they can do. The dealer had the car for four days and could not find anything wrong with it. …
2002 Mercury Grand Marquis engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis a good car?
Based on 78 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Grand Marquis rates better than average: 55% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Grand Marquis at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis?
The speed control & acceleration — 17 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cruise control. Next are the suspension (11) and engine & cooling (11).
How many recalls does the 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercury Grand Marquis?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2010 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 1997, 1996 and 2003. See the full Mercury Grand Marquis years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 52,000 miles; 44% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.