Most common 1998 Mercury Marquis problems
Share of the 29 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 →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Mercury Marquis:
Inertia fuel shut off switch
There is no summary currently available
What 1998 Mercury Marquis owners say
Suspension
The front end is very squeaky loud and when you make hard turns to left or right it makes a loud spring popping sound. The steering is feel lose and cause the car to seem as though it is wobbling side to side and holding it in the road is a little tough.
While driving approx. 40mph suddenly front wheels kept swerving from side to side. Had no steering control. Went over an embankment & flipped upside down. Had 2 injuries. Emergency rm treatment. The pavement was dry.
Steering
The front end is very squeaky loud and when you make hard turns to left or right it makes a loud spring popping sound. The steering is feel lose and cause the car to seem as though it is wobbling side to side and holding it in the road is a little tough.
98 Mercury grand Marquis 50,000 miles driving 10 MPH the ps tierod end fell off losing all control. Car towed to Ford dealer all tie rod ends replace with greasable ends cost $400.00 this is a sealed tie rod end requiring no grease (manufactures defect requiring recall,I still have old parts. The car had just been inspected nys.
Wheels & tires
The front end is very squeaky loud and when you make hard turns to left or right it makes a loud spring popping sound. The steering is feel lose and cause the car to seem as though it is wobbling side to side and holding it in the road is a little tough.
At first I thought it was just bad luck to loose a 6 month old tire. When I started to see the reports on tv, my failure was so nearly identical that I decided it should be reported. I was on the first day of a vacation trip and had checked everything. The person at the tire store told me my pressure had gone down, and that had caused the failure, but the didn't ring true. Had it been a front tire it could have been catastrophic as I was in a center lane in morning rush hour traffic in st. Louis. Thanx.( dot number: unk tire size: p225/60r16 )
1998 Mercury Marquis engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Mercury Marquis a good car?
Based on 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Marquis rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the 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 1998 Mercury Marquis?
The suspension — 4 complaints, 14% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the steering (4) and wheels & tires (4).
How many recalls does the 1998 Mercury Marquis have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Mercury Marquis. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 1998 Mercury Marquis problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 11% 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.