RoadVitals

1989 Mercury 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.
58
Latest Oct 3, 2005
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.
2
Latest Aug 27, 2007
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.
25
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 58 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 28 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

  • Electrical1524.6%
  • Engine69.8%
  • Brakes69.8%
  • Fuel system58.2%
  • Transmission46.6%
  • Tires & wheels34.9%
  • Interior & seats23.3%

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

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Aug 27, 2007
34,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
The risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Apr 25, 1996
7,900,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE91125ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

BRAKE LINE PUNCTURES

Opened Sep 11, 1991
Closed Jan 15, 1992

There is no summary currently available

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 3, 2005

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR IN PERFECT WEATHER, MY W/W MICHELIN XZ4 215/70/15M/S BLEW OUT ON MY GRAND MARQUIS FROM THE CENTER/TOP OF THE TIRE(NOT SIDEWALL). THERE WERE NO ROAD HAZARDS. THE TIRE HAS A LARGE GASH, AND EXTENSIVELY SPLAYED STEEL BELTS EXPOSED/TORN. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY A BLOCK FROM HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME TO CHANGE IT. I'VE NEVER SEEN EXTENSIVE TIRE DAMAGE LIKE THIS BEFORE AND AM CONCERNED B/C ALL THE TIRES ON THE CAR ARE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. IS THERE A DEFECT IN THE MICHELIN XZ4 SERIES?*JB

NHTSA ID
10138416
Incident
Oct 3, 2005
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 8, 2005
Crash reported

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1989 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE ENGINE REVVED UP WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE HE HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE FIRST TIME THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, HE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB *SC

NHTSA ID
10121626
Incident
Apr 18, 2005
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2004

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL A BRAND NEW CRAFT SILVER 651 BATTERY IT STARTED SPARKING. THE RETAIL STORE WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY WILL STOP SPARKING ONCE INSTALLED. CONSUMER INSTALLED THE BATTERY AND IT BLEW UP THE ALTERNATOR. RETAIL STORE DISTRICT MANAGER WAS CONTACTED. HE INSPECTED THE ALTERNATOR, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE DAMAGE, BUT DID NOT ADMIT THAT THE BATTERY DESTROYED IT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10094498
Incident
Sep 15, 2004
Mileage
29,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 24, 2004

THE PLASTIC BUSHING KICKBACK WIRING LOCATED ON TOP OF TRANSMISS HAS DETERIOATED AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME DAMAGED, AND WASNOT OPERATIONAL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10089609
Incident
Aug 2, 2004
Mileage
86,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 5, 2003
Crash reported

VEHICLE AXLE BROKE CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COME OFF THE VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE SPUN OFF THE ROAD AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THE WHEEL CROSSED LANES, SMACKED A CONCRETE BARRIER AND BOUNCED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE FORCING THAT VEHICLE TO THE ROAD SIDE. *PH

NHTSA ID
10046558
Incident
Jul 9, 2003
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 18, 2003
Crash reported

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10011495
Mileage
64,000 mi
Body & structureEngineTires & wheels
Filed Feb 12, 2003

THE VEHICLE FRAME HAD APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET OF RUST AND CORROSION. THE RUST WAS ALSO NOTICED BY THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TRANSMISSION SUPPORT CROSS MEMBER. THE ENGINE OIL PAN RUSTED OUT WHICH CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. ALSO TWO OF THE TIRES HAD ACQUIRED BULGES. *JG *JB

NHTSA ID
10006294
Incident
Nov 1, 2002
Mileage
120,514 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 30, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE. PULLED OUT OF WAY OF TRAFFIC. STOPPED VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM TIRE. CONTACTED TRIPLE AAA AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED.

NHTSA ID
8021916
Incident
Oct 12, 2002

Manufacturer communications

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

02107

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

TRANSFER SERVICE TIPS FOR THE FRONT WIPER MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET AND DEPRESSED PARK OUTPUT ARM. *TT

01157

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

01156

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

002310

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT

0015

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS

99222

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT

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

Mercury Grand Marquis by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2011920
2010242057.8
2009262049.6
2008783157.6
2007963253.9
20061433157.0
20054875460.3
20043472556.3
20033622658.2
2002782154.1
20011575363.8
20001628361.5
19991645361.9
19981437362.0
19973165760.6
19962396764.7
19951797664.2
19941563566.8
19931443564.7
19922553766.4
1991822164.4
1990561152.2
1989Viewing582166.1
1988733168.9
1987435272.1
1986212269.6
1985211161.1
1984152166.5
1983731
1982310
1981210
1980020
1979010
1978100
1977110

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.