Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Mercury Grand Marquis problems
Owners filed 372 complaints about the 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis with NHTSA between Nov 1996 and Apr 2020. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (146).
Complaints
372
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
16
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling146
- Fuel system, gasoline37
- Service brakes, hydraulic37
- Suspension34
- Vehicle speed control28
- Steering25
- Exterior lighting21
- Power train16
- Visibility13
- Electrical system11
- Seat belts7
- Tires6
- Structure6
- Latches/locks/linkages6
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
12
23
30
22
24
43
47
54
37
17
10
24
6
6
4
0
2
2
3
2
0
0
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 12 |
| 1998 | 23 |
| 1999 | 30 |
| 2000 | 22 |
| 2001 | 24 |
| 2002 | 43 |
| 2003 | 47 |
| 2004 | 54 |
| 2005 | 37 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
146 reports2 crashes3 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 114,000.”
Fuel system, gasoline
37 reports1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PIPE THAT EXTENDS FROM THE FENDER WHERE FUEL IS APPLIED HAS RUSTED OUT. THE FAILURE IS CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT HAS FOUND LARGE PUDDLES OF GASOLINE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT IT NEEDED A GAS FILLER PIPE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PART IS NO LONGER PRODUCED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
37 reports3 crashes2 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TAPPED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE'S BUMPER. WHILE HE AND THE OWNER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE ARGUING, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD A SECOND TIME. AS A RESULT, HIS PASSENGER SIDE DOOR STRUCK THE OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PANEL. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED ONTO A SIDE STREET WHERE IT WILL BE TOWED. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT THERE IS NO BRAKING ABILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED. HE REFERENCED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (EA03012 SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC). THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PROGRAM EXPIRED IN 2007. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.”
Suspension
34 reports
“I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN AND I SERVICE MANY VEHICLES DAILY. I CURRENTLY OWN A 97 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS AND HAVE NOTICED THAT PRACTICALLY MOST STEERING COMPONENTS ON MY VEHICLE ARE IN NEED OF REPLACING. SPECIFICALLY THE TIE ROD ENDS, CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINS ALL HAVE BLOWN BUSHINGS AND A PITMAN ARM.... THE STEERING SWAYS SO HARD ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT CUSTOMER'S VEHICLES THAT I HAVE WORKED ON THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE CROWN VIC, AND THE MARQUIS ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF STEERING COMPONENT CONCERN AS WELL. I SEE MORE FORDS WITH STEERING ISSUES THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I SERVICE. THE VEHICLES ALSO SEEM TO HAVE ISSUES WITH ANYONE SITTING IN THE BACK THAT THE BODY WILL SCRAPE THE TIRES AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO RIG MY VENT DOOR ACTUATOR AND I HAVE HAD TO INSTALL A SHUT OFF SWITCH DUE TO A PARASITIC DRAW THAT I CAN NOT LOCATE EVEN WITH A VOLT METER. AFTER RESEARCHING ON FORUMS AND WATCHING COUNTLESS YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF OWNERS STATING THESE KNOWN ISSUES I BELIEVE THAT IT IS BEYOND MAINTENANCE STANDARDS FOR THESE PARTS ALL TO BE FAULTY FROM THIS CAR MANUFACTURER.”
Vehicle speed control
28 reports4 crashes2 fires2 related recalls
“I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, THOUGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER I HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND TURN RIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND I HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR TO GET THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. I STOPPED AT MY DESTINATION A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER, POPPED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. IT ONLY LASTED A COUPLE OF MINUTES, BUT BURNED UP AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE NEXT DAY I HAD IT REPAIRED ACROSS THE STREET AT AN AUTO ELECTRICAL AND MARINE SHOP. THEY SAID IT WAS AT THE SWITCH OR VALVE THAT TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. MY CAR IS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. *TR”
Steering
25 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE DRIVER LOSS STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN UTILITY POLE, BOULDER AND FENCE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE STRUCTURE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000. THE DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR BOX IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.