RoadVitals

1996 Ford Grand Marquis

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Sep 28, 2004
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Ford Grand Marquis, most frequently naming the engine, fuel system and airbags categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine541.7%
  • Fuel system325.0%
  • Airbags216.7%
  • Electrical18.3%
  • Suspension18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA03012ClosedEngineering Analysis

REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE

Opened Jul 25, 2003
Closed Apr 11, 2005

IN A LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 25, 2005, FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FORD) NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WOULD BE CONDUCTING A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (FORD NO. 04B26) TO CORRECT A REAR BRAKE LINE CHAFING CONCERN IN APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA AND GRAND MARQUIS NON-FLEET VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL THAT WEREBUILT AFTER MARCH 19, 1997.THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ADDITIONAL REAR BRAKE LINE AND A MASTIC PATCH CAUSING REDUCED CLEARANCE FROM A STIFFENING RIB IN THE FLOOR PAN.ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED HIGHER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY RATES RELATED TO REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURES IN THIS POPULATION THAN IN OTHER SUBJECT VEHICLES AND PEER MID-SIZED PASSENGER CARS THAT WERE EVALUATED DURING THE INVESTIGATION.VEHICLES INVOLVED IN FORD?S PROGRAM WILL HAVE THE REAR BRAKE LINES INSPECTED FOR CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR PAN STIFFING RIB.IF THERE IS CONTACT, BUT NO ABRASION OR LEAKAGE, THE BRAKE LINES WILL BE REPOSITIONED.IF THERE IS ABRASION OR A LEAK IS EVIDENT THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPAIRED.IF NECESSARY, BOTH OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES WILL BE REPLACED. THOUGH FORD DOES NOT ADMIT TO A SAFETY-DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT COMPONENTS, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE FACTS IN THIS INVESTIGATION SHOW OTHERWISE BECAUSE THE INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE IN THE ROUTING OF THOSE BRAKE LINES MAY RESULT IN LEAKS IN THOSE LINES THAT MAY RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.ODI IS DESIGNATING THE CAMPAIGN A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-086).BECAUSE OF THE LOW RATES OF BRAKE LINE FAILURES IN THE REMAINING SUBJECT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THOSE POPULATIONS AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS IN THOSE VEHICLES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUIDLed to recall 05V086000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 10
Fuel systemSuspension
Filed Sep 28, 2004

FW; 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS FUEL TANK PROBLEM. *BF THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE POSSIBLILITY OF THE FUEL TANK RUPTURING FOLLOWING A HIGH ENERGY REAR END COLLISION RESULTING IN SEVERE FIRES. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF POLICE AND CIVILIAN VERSIONS OF THE CROWN VICTORIA SHARE THE SAME FUEL SYSTEM AND REAR SUSPENSION GEOMETRY. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SOME HELP TRYING TO DECIDE HOW SAFE HER 1996 GRAND MARQUIS. *TC

NHTSA ID
10095208
Incident
May 27, 2004
Engine
Filed Jun 18, 2004

ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND SPILLED COOLANT INSIDE THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079495
Incident
Jun 18, 2004
Engine
Filed Oct 1, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DRIVER BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER FOUND A SERVICE PROGRAM WHICH WAS ISSUED FOR THE DEFECT AND BELIEVES THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED FREE UNDER THE PROGRAM. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID
10038404
Incident
Aug 24, 2003
Mileage
90,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 8, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS AN EXTREME LEAKAGE OF WATER FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, AND MAY CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
10002309
Incident
Dec 1, 2002
Mileage
65,250 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 7, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD BECAUSE OF PLASTIC MANIFOLD INTAKE CRACKED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
10002215
Incident
Jan 5, 2003
Mileage
94,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 4, 2002

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD COVER THAT WAS MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK, AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR JG *JB JG

NHTSA ID
8022124
Incident
Aug 24, 2002
Mileage
36,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 28, 2002

CONSUMER STATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WATER BEGAN LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
8002986
Incident
Jan 25, 2002
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jan 7, 2002
Fire reported

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD CONSUMER PULLED VELICLE OVER AND NOTICED COOLENT AND WATER SPRYING OVER ENGINE . VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
8001608

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

12154

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PATS (SECURILOCK) EXCEPT CERTAIN MODELS NOW HAVE AVAILABILITY OF FLEET KEYS THROUGH ROTUNDA. *MJS

12174

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A HARD START/LONG CRANK, COLD START STALL, COLD ROUGH IDLE CONCERN. *MJS

12178

POWER TRAIN

INFORMATION REGARDING TSB 98-5A-12 (TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE-VEHICLES TOWED BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES-RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES) DOES NOT LIST TOWING INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES. *MJS

98163

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

LOCKS FAILED. YD

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Grand Marquis by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007011—
2001602—
2000400—
1999500—
1998300—
1997190028.2
1996Viewing100144.3
1995201—
1994500—
1993601—
1992901—
1991200—
1990100—
1989200—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.