Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1989 vs 1990 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 443 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 3.5% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1989 share 1990 share Share change
AIR BAGS not reported 16.1% ▲ 16.1 pts larger share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 24.1% 12.5% ▼ 11.6 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 8.6% 3.6% ▼ 5.1 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27.6% 23.2% ▼ 4.4 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 8.6% 12.5% ▲ 3.9 pts larger share
ENGINE 10.3% 7.1% ▼ 3.2 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 1.7% 3.6% ▲ 1.9 pts larger share
VISIBILITY not reported 1.8% ▲ 1.8 pts larger share
STEERING 1.7% not reported ▼ 1.7 pts smaller share
TIRES 3.5% 1.8% ▼ 1.7 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 10.3% 10.7% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
PARKING BRAKE 1.7% 1.8% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 65.5% 78.6% ▲ 13.1 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1989 2

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1990 1

Campaign components: AIR BAGS

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
17 → 5
◆ Injuries
3 → 2