Problems · NHTSA complaints
2008 Mercury Grand Marquis problems
Owners filed 80 complaints about the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis with NHTSA between Sep 2007 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is steering (23).
Complaints
80
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering23
- Vehicle speed control15
- Electrical system9
- Structure9
- Exterior lighting5
- Service brakes5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Engine4
- Seat belts3
- Power train3
- Air bags3
- Equipment3
- Fuel system, gasoline2
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
5
6
3
8
6
5
8
6
6
6
0
4
4
3
5
1
1
0
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
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
Steering
23 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“total collapse of upper immediate steering shaft resulting on total separation/failure and complete loss of steering. this literally separated/fell apart in my hand when i was cleaning the front seat carpeting. i had just finished driving back from a 100 mile trip. if this would have happened on the freeway, i would have lost all steering of the vehicle resulting in catastrophic injury or death TO myself or others. i called ford and told them what happened. i found out there was a recall on this item. i found out this car was service for this before. even though this car went in for the recall, this item (upper steering shaft) has totally failed again. i have seen that this is COMMON for this steering to fail even after the initial recall "repair". this could have easily resulted in death and ford is willing to do nothing about it. one would think that of all components of a vehicle, the steering system would be safe and reliable. apparently ford does not care. they are aware of my auto failure and that it could cause certain death, but they are not interested in repairing this component that should be safe under all normal driving circumstances.”
Vehicle speed control
15 reports5 crashes1 fire
“I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AND SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR CORNER, AFTER BRAKING MY CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND MADE THE CAR JUMP FORWARD. I HAD TO SLIGHTLY RELEASE THE BRAKE SND BRAKE HARDER TO STOP AND AVOID GOING INTO THE INTERSECTION.”
Electrical system
9 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLANK WHILE EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION A FEW MINUTES AFTER FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.”
Structure
9 reports
“TOOK CAR THROUGH CAR WASH AFTER WINTER AND A LARGE SECTION OF PAINT CAME OFF THE HOOD..THIS IS A FLORIDA CAR..IT WAS THE SECOND WINTER IN BUFFALO..ALSO FOUND OTHER SPOTS ON CAR WHERE PAINT IS COMING OFF...WAS LOOKING FOR A NEWER GRAND MARQUIS AND A LOT OF THEM ALSO HAD PAINT COMING...ALL WERE THE SILVER BIRCH ...THE PAINT DOESN'T APPEAR TO ADHERE TO THE PRIMER...”
Exterior lighting
5 reports
“The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the wiring harness for the brake pedal sensor was faulty, causing the exterior brake lights to fail to illuminate. The failure almost caused a collision. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to bring the vehicle in to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.”
Service brakes
5 reports
“THANK GOODNESS, THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT. RATHER, I HEARD THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE EVERY 50,000 MILES. HOWEVER, MY CAR IS SO LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE THAT I DECIDED I SHOULD HAVE THE CABLE CHECKED ANYHOW. THEN, I HEARD THAT MANY OF THE AFTERMARKET EMERGENCY CABLES ARE DEFECTIVE. THANKFULLY, MY SON, [XXX] , KNOWS SOMEONE WHO CAN CHECK THE CABLES. WE TESTED CABLES FROM TWO AUTO PARTS RETAIL STORES. ONE FAILED TO HOLD PRESSURE. THE OTHER CABLE EXPLODED RATHER DRAMATICALLY. FORTUNATELY, THE PEOPLE MY SON KNOWS MAKE EMERGENCY CABLES. FROM OUTWARD APPEARANCE, THE CABLE THEY MADE WAS DEFINITELY SUPERIOR. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN THEY TESTED THE CABLE, IT HELD PRESSURE WITHOUT DROPPING AT ALL. MY SON ONCE PICKED UP HIS CAR FROM AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP (ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO) AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES DONE. APPARENTLY, THE EXTRA PRESSURE NEW BRAKE PADS PUT ON THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED ONE BRAKE LINE TO SNAP BY THE BACK OF THE CAR. RICH COMPLETELY LOST HIS BRAKES AT 40 MPH. FORTUNATELY, WHEN HE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, IT DID THE JOB. HE SAID THERE WAS A CAR TURNING RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM AND ON-COMING TRAFFIC ON THE LEFT. WITHOUT A GOOD EMERGENCY BRAKE, HIS…”
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.