RoadVitals

1988 Mercury Grand Marquis Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
34
Latest Jul 3, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
47%
of 73 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
20
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words

Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 3, 2002

FORD SAYS THE STARTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER THE STARTER SWITCH RECALL. THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH AGAIN. THE SWITCH HAS BURNED CONTACTS AND IS DEFORMED PROBABLY FROM HEAT. THE HARNESS CONNECTOR, THAT GOES TO THE SWITCH, IS MELTED , SPLIT AND DEFORMED. MY TURN SIGNALS AND A/C FAN MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. I ALSO GET ERRONEOUS ENGINE WARNING AND LOW OIL WARNING LIGHTING AT VARIOUS TIMES. THE SWITCH DOES GET VERY WARM AND IT WAS JUST THAT OR HOT UPON FAILURE. THE RECALL (96V071000) DID NOT ACTUALLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM. A SAFETY HAZARD REMAINS IN EXISTANCE WITH THESE VEHICLES. I WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IF THE SWITCH WAS BROKEN OR WORN OUT BUT THE SWITCH IS HEATING OR BURNING UP. THE RECALL SHOULD REMAIN EFFECTIVE FOR CHRONIC REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH UNLESS A ENGINEERING CORRECTION IS MADE ON THE VEHICLES IN QUESTION.*AK

NHTSA ID
763800
Incident
Jul 2, 2002
ElectricalSteering
Filed Nov 27, 2001

IGNITION SWITCH / STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN HEAT UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON 2 OCCASSION AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH UNDER RECALL.*SLC

NHTSA ID
899500
Electrical
Filed Aug 27, 2001

ON TWO OCCASIONS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND ROAD CONDITIONS VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. ANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
895194
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Aug 31, 2000

WHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL 96VO71000. ANOTHER CAR ALMOST REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, IT WAS RAINING AND COULD HARDLY SEE ANYTHING. *AK THE CAUSE FOR STALLING OF THE VEHICLE WAS A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. *YH

NHTSA ID
869230
Incident
Jul 27, 2000
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 21, 2000
Fire reported

AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE . SHE APPLIED BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. FRONT TWO TIRE WERE ON FIRE AT THAT TIME. FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ID
865843
Incident
Jul 20, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2000
Fire reported

WHILE IN BED HEARD AUTOMOBILE CRANKING BY ITSELF. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOOK OUT OF THE WINDOW, SAW SMOKE, AND THEN AUTOMOBILE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT BLAZE OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID
865237
Incident
Jul 7, 2000
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 20, 1999

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED BUT VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. NLM

NHTSA ID
547389
Heating & air conditioningElectrical
Filed Jun 10, 1999

IN 98 WE TOOK THIS CAR IN FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL WHEN WE RETURNED HOME THE SWITCH REFUSED TO ALLOW US TO TURN IT OFF WE CALLED THE FORD DEALER THAT HAD DONE THE REPLACEMENT WE HAD NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTILL THIS TIME THEN ONCE I GOT IT TURNED OFF AND WE WENT TO RESTART THE CAR IT WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE RUN POSITION OR ALLOW ANY OF THE LIGHTS OR ACCESSORIES TO WORK I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN LEAVE IT RUNNING AND THEY WOULD FIX IT AS SOON AS THEY COULD THIS WAS AT 5:00 P.M.ON A FRIDAY EVENING AND THEY WOULDNT BE RETURNING TO WORK UNTILL MONDAY MORNING I THEN CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO LEAVE THIS CAR RUNNING FOR 2 1/2 DAYS UNTILL THEY RETURNED TO WORK ON THE FOLLOWING ,MONDAY /////AIR CONDITIONER - THE AIR CONDITIONER ON THIS CAR SINCE WE BOUGHT IT REFUSES TO WORK UNTILL IT HAS BEEN RUN FOR ABOUT 1 HR THEN IT WILL WORK FINE IT HAS BEEN RECHARGED AND CHECKED TO SEE IF THAT IS THE TROUBLE 3 TIMES WE HAVE REPLACED THE CLIMATE CONTROL TEMP. SENSOR IT WILL THEN WORK FOR A WHILE AND THEN AGAIN BECOME AS IT WAS I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE FULL SIZE FORDS AND IT SEEMS NO ONE CAN SAY WHAT IT IS FOR SURE I HAVE TRIED ALSO REPLACING THE TEMPERATURE CONTROLS ON THE HEAT AND AIR SELECTOR SWITCH WITH NO LUCK AS WELL

NHTSA ID
707412
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Mar 25, 1999
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
544625
Incident
May 10, 1998
Electrical
Filed Oct 22, 1998

HORN BUTTONS SHRINK IN COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA ID
781525
Incident
Oct 22, 1998
Electrical
Filed Aug 6, 1998

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. PULLED VEHICLE OFF ROAD AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND NOTICED INSULATION ON WIRE WAS BURNING APPROXIMATELY 6-8 INCHES AWAY FROM ALTERNATOR; CONNECTOR SHOWED SIGN OF BURNED AND MELTED INSULATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
826384
Incident
Aug 4, 1998
Body & structureElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Oct 4, 1997

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA ID
524145
Incident
Jun 20, 1996
Electrical
Filed Aug 12, 1997

WHEN GOING TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AFTER DRIVING, THE KEY IS VERY HOT AND BURNS DRIVER'S FINGER. *AK

NHTSA ID
815288
Incident
Aug 7, 1997
Electrical
Filed Nov 27, 1996
Fire reported

THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE AS CAR WAS BEING PARKED.

NHTSA ID
511829
Incident
Oct 31, 1996
Electrical
Filed Nov 15, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

NHTSA ID
511406
Incident
Jun 17, 1993
Electrical
Filed Nov 14, 1996
Fire reported

RECALL -96V071000 (IGNITION SWITCH). THE SERVICE WAS DONE IN AUGUST OF 1996. ON OCT. 20TH 1996, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AND SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE, UNDER THE HOOD. RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
805035
Incident
Oct 20, 1996
Electrical
Filed Oct 8, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
510516
Incident
Aug 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 1996

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO THE REPAIR UNTIL OCTOBER.*AK

NHTSA ID
800355
Electrical
Filed Jul 24, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL. *AK

NHTSA ID
987260
Incident
Feb 14, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jul 24, 1996

BATTERY REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL.

NHTSA ID
506750
Incident
Jul 3, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jul 3, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON DASHBOARD DUE TO POSSIBLE SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID
986460
Electrical
Filed Jun 25, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
986135
Incident
Jan 21, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 18, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM BELOW THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
985770
Incident
Jun 18, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 1, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES BETWEEN THE WINDSHEILD AND THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983893
Incident
Apr 16, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 1, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, DASH BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID
983888
Incident
Apr 1, 1994

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .