Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Mercury Marauder problems
Owners filed 60 complaints about the 2003 Mercury Marauder with NHTSA between Mar 2003 and Nov 2017. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (16).
Complaints
60
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Exterior lighting16
- Power train11
- Suspension10
- Electrical system6
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Tires5
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Steering4
- Air bags3
- Structure3
- Equipment3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Visibility3
- Seats2
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 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
12
10
5
2
4
1
7
3
3
2
2
4
1
2
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 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
Exterior lighting
16 reports
“I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN YOU TRY TO USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. IT SEEMS MY ISSUE WOULD FIT UNDER THE LCM RECALL FOR 2003-2005 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHEN YOU ENTER THE VIN IT SHOWS NO RECALLS. I'M HOPING THIS IS AN OVERSIGHT SINCE THE MARAUDER IS A VERSION OF GRAND MARQUIS.”
Power train
11 reports
“NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 IS LISTED FOR THE 2003 FORD CROWN VIC'S AND LINCOLN'S BUT NOT THE MERCURY'S??? I HAVE AN 03 MERCURY MARAUDER THAT HAS THE SAME REAREND AS THE OTHERS LIST IN THIS RECALL BUT MY CAR IS NOT LISTED. I JUST HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT IS LISTED IN THE CAMPAIGN AND HAD TO SPEND $1100 TO HAVE MY AXLES, BEARINGS, CARRIER AND WHAT EVER ELSE IS INCLUDED IN THE REBUILD. IS THERE A REASON THAT FORD DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS THE SAME CAR WHICH THEY ARE!!!!!!! *TR”
Suspension
10 reports
“SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN 2004 WITH 10K MILES ON IT, I'VE PUT 120K ON IT. IT'S EATEN THRU 5 SETS OF TIRES. I'VE HAD THEM ALIGNED EVERY TIME I CHANGED TIRES.. HAD TWO AXLE ROD'S BREAK. RADIO FAILED. AC WILL CONSTANTLY TURN ON RANDOMLY. *TR”
Electrical system
6 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT REPLACED UNKNOWN WIRING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT, BUT THE LIGHT STILL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
6 reports2 crashes
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS FAILED WHEN STUDDED SNOW TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO SIGNIFY THAT IT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,800.”
Tires
5 reports
“I AM AN OWNER OF A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE VEHICLE OEM REAR TIRES MANUFACTURED BY BF GOODRICH ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. BFG IS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES THIS SIZE TIRE(245/15/18) THIS TIRE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECOMMENDS FOR THIS CAR AND THE USE OF ANOTHER SIZE COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A HANDLING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THESE TIRES HAVE BEEN ON BACK-ORDER FOR A YEAR AND WITH OVER 11,000 MARAUDERS ON THE ROAD, THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE A SAFETY ISSUE . *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.