Most common 1997 Mercury Marquis problems
Share of the 53 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercury Marquis complaints by model year
Best Marquis years: 2004, 2002, 1995. Years to avoid: 1997. Compare all years →
1997 Mercury Marquis recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
On certain passenger vehicles built with electronic traction control, the rear brake line May chafe due to contact between it and a floor pan stiffening rib, and a brake fluid leak May occur.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the subject vehicles for contact between the brake tube and floor pan stiffening rib. If contact is evident, but no abrasion or leaks exist, the brake tube will be repositioned to preclude further…
What 1997 Mercury Marquis owners say
Engine & cooling all 21 →
Dt: the air bags deployed so badly that it slapped consumer's grandson''s face. He has a permanent scar from it. The air bags smoked up everything like the vehicle was on fire. Also, consumer's grand daughter was riding in the back seat on the passenger's side, and her teeth print was in the back of the seat. Both of the children were in their seat belts. Consumer felt the seat belts should have held up better. This happened on June 18, 2005. The intake manifold was replaced before the accident.
My 1997 Mercury grand Marquis overheated and blew steam and antifreeze throughout engine compartment and on to windshield. This was caused by the a crack in the water jacket portion of the intake manifold. I was told by the dealer that this is a common problem and manifold has been redesigned but is not covered by a recall and the repair expense ($989 plus tax) would be my responsibility. He also stated that this identical problem on police cars and some others is covered. A call to Ford motor company rendered same results. I bought this car new and it has only 60000 miles. I have the old manifold.
Suspension
(this complaint received via e-mail) my wife was driving today around 70 MPH or under on the freeway when she turned a corner and the car fell down low with a clung on the passengers side. She had to have it towed home, where I and the tow driver saw the most horrifying sight, the ball joint just came apart. The ball came right out of the socket. The socket should have been constructed so the ball, even if badly worn would never leave the socket. I went today to get 4 ball joint assemblies for her car, and while talking to a customer of the problem he told me his daughter almost had a bad accident when his 1995 cougars ball joint assemble let go. I'm speaking of the lower ball joints, on the passenger side. I have the ball joint and the bolts on the car if you need them. The lower ball joint. The consumer made the repairs himself.
While pulling into the garage right front ball joint broke. Dealer and manufacturer were notified. The consumer stated that the front ball joint failure caused the door frame, arm bushing and joint, spindle front wheel,front sensor assembly, front brake shield and tire to fall.
Brakes
When applying the brakes, the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I was able to stop the car and pull into a parking lot. I started the vehicle but was unable to take out of park. I then refered to the vehicle manual and found out that if this happens then I should check the brake lights. They were out so I checked the fuse and it was blown. I replaced it and the brakes, lights and transmission worked. I drove home (16 miles) and parked the car. About 30 minutes later the car was on fire. The fire department was called and we put out the fire but not until the 1/2 the hood was melted. I called Ford/Mercury and they took the information. A week later I got a letter stating that my car did not qualify for a program and therefore there was nothing they could do. I just wanted to find out if there was a problem with other cars. All I got from Ford was that they could not help me.
While in motion, the brakes went out completely. Consumer had to utilize the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. Brake fluid was leaking from the flexible stainless steel connector. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who explained that it made sense to replace both lines. One week later, the brakes failed again, same problem as previous.
1997 Mercury 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 1997 Mercury Marquis a good car?
Based on 53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Marquis rates avoid: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Marquis at the same age. It is one of the Marquis years we suggest avoiding. 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 1997 Mercury Marquis?
The engine & cooling — 21 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system › manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe. Next are the suspension (8) and brakes (6).
How many recalls does the 1997 Mercury Marquis have?
There is 1 recall for the 1997 Mercury Marquis, the most recent from March 14, 2005 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercury Marquis?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2002 and 1995. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997. See the full Mercury Marquis years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Mercury Marquis problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 63,000 miles; 29% 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.