Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 11% | 70,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 8% | 50,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 4% | 10,000 miles |
| 2008 | 3 | 4% | 63,000 miles |
| 2007 | 6 | 6% | 61,000 miles |
| 2006 | 37 | 26% | 73,000 miles |
| 2005 | 67 | 14% | 54,000 miles |
| 2004 | 6 | 2% | 65,000 miles |
| 2003 | 11 | 3% | 8,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 4% | 130,000 miles |
| 2001 | 19 | 12% | 52,000 miles |
| 2000 | 6 | 4% | 125,000 miles |
| 1999 | 5 | 3% | — |
| 1998 | 4 | 3% | 66,000 miles |
| 1997 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 1996 | 6 | 3% | 187,000 miles |
| 1995 | 10 | 6% | 98,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I have a 2008 mecury Grand Marquis ,I was in a wreck in December 10,2017 frontal impact my air bags did not go off or work during my wreck also my seat belts did not work as well. I got hurt in the wreck because non of my safety equipment work. I bought the car used from Ford dealership airbags we're replaced when previous owner had the car he tap a pole in a parking lot. I complaint with Ford and dealership I don't know what airbag is in my car . I think it's a Takata air bag that is in my car dealership sold me a unsafe car and knew about it. Ford motor company knows about my matter and has done nothing about it. Also shop who worked on car when previous owner had the car. Cuss me out for asking what been done on the car . I ask Ford I want my car fixed and repaired for it to be safe so I am still waiting on them. …
Takata recall the passenger side of car, when a passenger is setting in the car seat and the car is moving, I have taken note that the airbag light on dash panel will go off and own. I have not seen the light go off and own.
About 3 years ago my air bag light came on and has been on ever since. I took my car to my dealership, marshall brothers. I told the service guy that the light stays on. He said that he has been seeing this problem in other mercuries and that they should be issuing a recall. He said that both seats in the front had to be taken out and that it would cost $1500 for the repair. While waiting for the recall, marshall brothers went out of business. I am still waiting for the recall while driving around with this air bag light on. When will this be recalled? Does this mean anything is wrong with the actual air bag? Is this a Takata air bag? As long as the engine is running the air bag light is on.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis. When the vehicle was started, the passenger side air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained lit. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (miracle automotive group, gallatin, tn 37066) where it was diagnosed that the air bag was defective and needed to be repaired at the owner's expense. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was 61,000.
5/9/2021 The SRS dashboard light came on with a bell warning. Bell quits after a short time but the light stays on solid. When turning ignition on, light and bell comes on, blinks 3 times, does this 6 times and then stays on solid. When driving hear bell for 5 times, this repeats later for a total of 5 times. After turning the ignition switch on/off I hear a sound from under the driver or passenger seat. The passenger side air bag light does light. I bought this car new.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis. While driving at an unknown speed with the cruise control activated, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The rear brakes locked when the failure occurred. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The front seat passenger was injured and received medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 38,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while the vehicle was started, the driver's side air bag warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a driver's air bag pretensioner fault and that the seat belt pretensioner needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,842.
Passenger seat belt pre-tensioner has malfunctioned. Air bag check light flashing code 34. My mechanic informs me the entire SRS will not function in a crash. He was informed by Ford that a replacement part is no longer available. The vehicle mileage is around 43,000. No rust and no collision damage. With the numerous complaints about this same problem why hasn't a safety recall be issued? Why hasn't Ford been required to stock replacement parts for a longer time?
Related recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Vehicle description: minivans and passenger vehicles. A restraint control module (rcm) or a side or front crash sensor May have been assembled with one or more of the screws that mount the circuit board in the housing missing. If some or all of the screws are missing, the performance of the occupant restrains could be affected.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rcm and crash sensors and, if necessary, replace them.
Air bags
Certain passenger vehicles, limousines, and Mini vans were built with a newly designed restraint control module (rcm). In some cases, the rcm does not recognize certain system faults that could result in an air bag or seat belt pre-tensioner unexpectedly activating during the self-test sequence at vehicle start-up.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rcm in these vehicles. Owner notification began September 14, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…
Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles May have been built with lower than the intended level of torque on the bolts that attach the air bag electronic crash sensor module to the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the air bag electronic crash sensor attaching bolts.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercury Grand Marquis years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (67), 2006 (37), 2001 (19), 2003 (11) and 1995 (10) model years. Airbag complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Mercury Grand Marquis airbag problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 00V-412 (sensor/control module-inactive, Dec 6, 2000); 00V-270 (air bags, Sep 13, 2000); 00V-050 (frontal, Feb 17, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mercury Grand Marquis airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles; 37% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (43 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (3).
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.