1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 235 complaints · 6 recalls
Most-reported system: ENGINE (82 complaints · 34.9%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 9
  • Fires 19
  • Injuries 16
  • Deaths 2
Compare with 1995 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution ENGINE appears in 82 of 235 owner complaints (34.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. ENGINE: 82 complaints, 34.9% of reports ENGINE 82 · 34.9% · 8 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 21 complaints, 8.9% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 21 · 8.9% · 2 crash reports FUEL SYSTEM: 18 complaints, 7.7% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 18 · 7.7% STEERING: 18 complaints, 7.7% of reports STEERING 18 · 7.7% VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 16 complaints, 6.8% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 16 · 6.8% · 2 crash reports 4 fire reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 15 complaints, 6.4% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 15 · 6.4% POWER TRAIN: 13 complaints, 5.5% of reports POWER TRAIN 13 · 5.5% ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 12 complaints, 5.1% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12 · 5.1% · 3 fire reports SUSPENSION: 9 complaints, 3.8% of reports SUSPENSION 9 · 3.8% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 174 complaints, 74.0% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 174 · 74.0% · 6 crash reports 9 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
ENGINE 82 34.9% 0 crashes · 8 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 21 8.9% 2 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 18 7.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 18 7.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 16 6.8% 2 crashes · 4 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 15 6.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 13 5.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12 5.1% 0 crashes · 3 fires
SUSPENSION 9 3.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 174 74.0% 6 crashes · 9 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 1996; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 1996. 1996-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 1996-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 1997-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 1997-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 1997-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1997-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 1998-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 1998-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 1998-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 1999-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 1999-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 1999-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2000-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2000-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2000-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2001-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2001-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2001-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2002-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2002-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2002-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2003-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2003-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2003-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2004-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2004-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2004-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2004-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2005-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2007-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2008-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Apr 1996 Jan 2023 Recall campaign 96V070000 ◆ Recall campaign 96V070000 Recall campaign 00V157001 ◆ Recall campaign 00V157001 Recall campaign 00V157002 ◆ Recall campaign 00V157002 Recall campaign 07V336000 ◆ Recall campaign 07V336000 Recall campaign 08V051000 ◆ Recall campaign 08V051000 Recall campaign 15E082000 ◆ Recall campaign 15E082000 Investigation DP98007 ● Investigation DP98007 Investigation SQ01014 ● Investigation SQ01014 Investigation DP02007 ● Investigation DP02007 Investigation EA02025 ● Investigation EA02025 Investigation RQ03002 ● Investigation RQ03002 Investigation RQ03004 ● Investigation RQ03004 Investigation EA03012 ● Investigation EA03012
  • Campaign 96V070000 was reported 11 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 00V157001 was reported 1,141 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 00V157002 was reported 1,141 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 08V051000 was reported 3,052 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1996-Q2 Owner reports 2
1996-Q3 Owner reports 3
1996-Q4 Owner reports 7
1997-Q1 Owner reports 11
1997-Q2 Owner reports 5
1997-Q3 Owner reports 2
1997-Q4 Owner reports 8
1998-Q1 Owner reports 3
1998-Q2 Owner reports 3
1998-Q3 Owner reports 3
1999-Q1 Owner reports 3
1999-Q2 Owner reports 2
1999-Q3 Owner reports 7
1999-Q4 Owner reports 6
2000-Q1 Owner reports 3
2000-Q2 Owner reports 2
2000-Q3 Owner reports 7
2000-Q4 Owner reports 7
2001-Q1 Owner reports 4
2001-Q2 Owner reports 1
2001-Q3 Owner reports 3
2001-Q4 Owner reports 7
2002-Q1 Owner reports 3
2002-Q2 Owner reports 6
2002-Q3 Owner reports 7
2002-Q4 Owner reports 10
2003-Q1 Owner reports 4
2003-Q2 Owner reports 1
2003-Q3 Owner reports 8
2003-Q4 Owner reports 13
2004-Q1 Owner reports 6
2004-Q2 Owner reports 4
2004-Q3 Owner reports 7
2004-Q4 Owner reports 7
2005-Q1 Owner reports 2
2005-Q2 Owner reports 4
2005-Q3 Owner reports 2
2005-Q4 Owner reports 4
2006-Q1 Owner reports 2
2006-Q3 Owner reports 4
2006-Q4 Owner reports 1
2007-Q1 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 4
2007-Q4 Owner reports 2
2008-Q1 Owner reports 10
2008-Q2 Owner reports 2
2008-Q3 Owner reports 1
2008-Q4 Owner reports 2
2009-Q2 Owner reports 1
2009-Q4 Owner reports 3
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 2
2010-Q4 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2012-Q4 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2015-Q2 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 2
2017-Q3 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 96V070000
Recall campaign 1 00V157001
Recall campaign 1 00V157002
Recall campaign 1 07V336000
Recall campaign 1 08V051000
Recall campaign 1 15E082000
Defect investigation 1 DP98007
Defect investigation 1 SQ01014
Defect investigation 1 DP02007
Defect investigation 1 EA02025
Defect investigation 1 RQ03002
Defect investigation 1 RQ03004
Defect investigation 1 EA03012
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (6)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 00V157001

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE SERVICE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 00V157002

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE SERVICE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 13, 2000.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 07V336000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 08V051000

    Report date
    Component:
    VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
    Consequence:
    AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15E082000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the shafts separate during vehicle operation, a loss of steering control would result, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2015. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, option 5.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 96V070000

    Report date
    Component:
    LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
    Consequence:
    THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 235 complaints · page 1 of 10

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources