Most common 2003 Mercury Marquis problems
Share of the 33 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 →
What 2003 Mercury Marquis owners say
Lights
I have read many complaints about this. My headlights go off about 3 blocks from home and then I have to pull the lever back and hold it to put on bright lights. I have been lucky and not been far from home and have to hold brights on, steer and operate blinkers all at one time. I cannot believe this has not caused a serious accident. I am in process of having an expensive lighting module put in my car. I totally resent them not doing a recall on this. What are they waiting for? It is an expensive procedure and I will be waiting to get a refund when they finally admit there is a widespread problem. Hate for them to wait until there are x number of deaths or serious injuries. Shame on them.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Mercury Marquis. The contact stated that the headlights and turn signals failed while he was driving. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the headlight module was defective. It was replaced several times but the failure continued. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 3,000 and the current mileage was 70,000.
Speed control & acceleration
In Firestone store parking area perpendicular to service for attendant to fill the rt frt tire. Pulled up to attendant , applied brakes and veh surged ahead, struggled to control to no avail. Made diffucult u turn to avoid drv into street traffic, crashed other veh, cont'd on jumping 2 inside pk curbs stopping as frame stopped res on curb
Dt: the contact complained about intermittent sudden acceleration. It occurred when the climate was hot, and the engine was warm. When taking foot off of the accelerator to move it to the brake pedal the engine revved and the ripens warehouse. The dealer completed diagnostic testing, and the problem could not be duplicated. No repairs have been made.
Brakes
While driving in bumper to bumper traffic, the vehicle's brakes failed. The pedal was extremely hard to press which resulted in a rear end collision. Suspected the brake/gas pedal raised to the same level when switch was activated, possible depressing brake and gas at the same time. (californiahighway patrol)
Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to apply brake pressure the vehicle accelerated. The dealership was alerted however no repairs have been made. The consumer believed the brake and accelerator were designed too close together. Updated 04/06/06.
2003 Mercury Marquis engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Mercury Marquis a good car?
Based on 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Marquis rates average: 1.2× 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 2003 Mercury Marquis?
The lights — 8 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about headlights. Next are the speed control & acceleration (5) and brakes (4).
How many recalls does the 2003 Mercury Marquis have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 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 2003 Mercury Marquis problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 61% 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.