1989 Mercury Grand Marquis Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1524.6%
- Driver assistance1423.0%
- Engine69.8%
- Brakes69.8%
- Fuel system58.2%
- Transmission46.6%
- Tires & wheels34.9%
- Interior & seats23.3%
- Body & structure23.3%
- Powertrain (other)23.3%
- Steering11.6%
- Seat belts11.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
STOP LIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR. CONNECTOR OVERHEATED/MELTED AND LOST STOP LIGHTS. I SAVED THE DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR. *AK
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. *TS *JB
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
OIL LEAK. CANNOT FIND WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. CAR SMOKES AND SMELLS FROM OIL. MECHANIC IS ABSOLUTELY MYSTIFIED. HE CANNOT LOCATE WHERE MOTOR OIL LEAK IS COMING FROM. UNDERCARRIAGE IS WET WITH OIL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO SAME BRAKING PROBLEM WITH CONSUMER'S 1987 GRAND MARQUIS. *AK *ML
PARKING BRAKE WON'T RELEASE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL LINE RUSTED OUT AND LEAKED GASOLINE ONTO PAVEMENT, UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS EVENT WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT, AND DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS EVENT DID CREATE A FIRE HAZARD, BUT IT WAS CAUGHT IN TIME. MY CAR IS IN THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP 13+ DAYS NOW AND STILL AWAITING REPAIR, BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER (FORD) HAS THE NEW FUEL LINE PART ON "NATIONAL BACK ORDER" AND REFUSES TO FULFILL MY DEALER'S ORDER FOR A NEW PART. PLEASE HELP ME GET MY CAR FIXED. PLEASE NOTE ALSO THAT THIS SAME CAR MODEL WAS INVOLVED IN A PRIOR MANDATORY RECALL IN 1996 FOR A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING A FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THIS SAME CAR WAS ONE OF THE CARS REPORTED TO YOU THAT HAD ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. FORD REFUSES TO RECALL THIS CAR. I THINK ANOTHER MANDATORY RECALL FOR THIS NEW PROBLEM IS NEEDED NOW.
GAS TANK HAS TWO HOLES AT THE BOTTOM WHERE SUPPORT STRAPS WERE RUBBING. IT LOOKS LIKE STRAPS WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED. THERE IS NO SIGN OF RUST INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE TANK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PLASTIC BUSHING KICKBACK WIRING LOCATED ON TOP OF TRANSMISS HAS DETERIOATED AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME DAMAGED, AND WASNOT OPERATIONAL.*AK
ON THE 6TH OF JULY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM OCALA TO BELLEVIEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS PLASTIC) AND HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A METAL ONE, BUT BY THIS DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER IT CAUSED THE TRANMISSION TO HAVE TO BE REBUILT AT A COST TO ME OF $748.24. I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT I SHOULD HAVE A REFUND OF THE COST CAUSED THE TRANMISSION TO HAVE TO BE REBUILT, AT A COST TO ME OF $ 748.24. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DOOR LATCHES BROKK OFF FROM DOOR PANEL. ALL DOOR LATCHES ARE BROKEN, AND PREVENT DOORS FROM BEING PROPERLY SECURED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER SITTING DUE TO SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN OR DASH. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35MPH, THE COACH ROOF TOP BLEW OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
PE00 020; REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT HOLD WHEN PUTTING SEATBELTS IN THE RETRACTOR .BUTTON IS DEFACTIVE, IT WILL NOT HOLD. *AK FRONT DRIVERS BUCKLE DOES NOT HOLD JUST POPS OUT. ODOMETER FAILED. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
PE00 020; REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT HOLD WHEN PUTTING SEATBELTS IN THE RETRACTOR .BUTTON IS DEFACTIVE, IT WILL NOT HOLD. *AK FRONT DRIVERS BUCKLE DOES NOT HOLD JUST POPS OUT. ODOMETER FAILED. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .