1990 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 1990 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
- Electrical1220.3%
- Airbags915.3%
- Driver assistance915.3%
- Brakes813.6%
- Transmission610.2%
- Engine46.8%
- Body & structure35.1%
- Visibility23.4%
- Fuel system23.4%
- Interior & seats23.4%
- Tires & wheels11.7%
- Steering11.7%
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
THE CONSUMER WAS SEEKING RECALL ON THE TFI MODULE WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TFI MODULE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT AND DEATH. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT DOES NOT FORCE A RECALL BUT ONLY COVERS REPLACEMENT COST AFTER FAILURE. *YH
CONSUMER STATES DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THICK FILM IGNITION MOUDLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE 'AIR BAG' LIGHT ON MY DASH IS LIGHTING UP. IT DOESN'T STAY ON CONSTANTLY, BUT IT DOES FLASH, WHICH CONCERNS ME. IT DOESN'T GO ON EVERY TIME MY CAR IS ON, BUT IT DOES FLASH ABOUT 95% OF THE TIME. I SAW THE RECALL AND WANT TO KNOW IF MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED AND IF IT WAS FIXED.*AK
I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE AIR BAG IN MY CAR, WHICH IS A 1990 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT COMES ON. IT DOESN'T STAY ON CONSTANTLY, BUT IT DOES 'FLICKER' OR IT WILL STAY ON FOR A FEW SECONDS. THERE ARE TIMES WHERE IT DOESN'T COME ON AT ALL, BUT I AM STILL CONCERNED. I WAS WONDERING, SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PART OF THE AIRBAG, IF I SHOULD HAVE IT LOOKED AT. *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
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER TO GO FORWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION COST OVER $1000.00. *AK *CB
OWNER HAD STARTED VEHICLE & PUT FOOT ON BRAKES BEFORE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF & HIT A TREE & THEN A BUILDING. A POLICEMAN HAD WITNESSED. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON. NO SKID MARKS. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH, LOSS OF REAR BRAKES. ALSO EMERGENCY BRAKE FROZEN AND INOPERABLE. *JB
THE VEHICLE LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO STATED THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED. *JB
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONING.*MR WHEN THE VEHICLES ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED IT BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE INSULATOR CAP FELL OFF. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLE. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY FROM THE FIRST GEAR, WONT SHIFT. DEALER NOTIFIED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT SHOP AND OVERHAULED. TRANSMISSION AT COST OVER $1000.00 *AK *CB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE OCCASIONALLY SURGES WHEN PLACED INTO REVERSE. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RACES AND THE CAR EVEN CONVULSES. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPS IT IS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THIS IS MY MOM'S CAR AND SHE RARELY DRIVES IT.
VEHICLE FIRE.
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
OWNER STATES WHEN ELECTRIC DOOR SYSTEM LOCKS FAIL ON FRONT DOORS, THERE IS NO WAY OF LOCKING THE CAR DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW. *AK PLASTIC LOCK INDICATOR BREAKS OFF WHEN TRYING TO LOCK THE DOOR FROM INSIDE. FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE LIMITED THE ABILITY TO ACCELLERATE THE VEHICLE. *YH
FRONT DOORL LOCKS INOPERATIVE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY ON DASH, TURN ON HEAT , AND THE AIR CONDITIONER COMES ON WHICH IS VERY ANNOYING IN COLD WEATHER
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
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
I EMBARKED ON A ROUTINE TRIP TO DINNER IN MY MOTHER'S 1990 MERCURY MARQUIS. I STARTED THE ENGINE WHICH IDLED NORMALLY, AS USUAL. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I ENGAGED THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE R POSITION WHICH RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE ACCELLERATION IN A REVERSE DIRECTION. I SWERVED THE CAR TO THE LEFT TO AVOID CHILDREN ACROSS THE STREET AND RAMMED A VEHICLE PARKED ON THE STREET. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON IMPACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE AND RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED. I PLACE THE CAR IN D AND RETURNED IT TO THE DRIVEWAY WHERE IT REMAINED UNTIL WE COULD DELIVER IT TO OUR FAMILY MECHANIC. HE PLACED THE ENGINE ON HIS ANALYZER - DID OTHER INSPECTIONS OF BRAKES, CRUISE CONTROL AND OTHER THROTTLE RELATED SYSTEMS AND FOUND NOTHING.
FUEL PUMP FAILED.
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
WHEN ADJUSTING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT, THE SEAT DOES NOT LATCH IN PLACE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD WHEN BRAKING. *AK
DIGITAL DASH DISPLAY; MAYBE TWICE A WEEK LIGHTS WILL DIM/GO OUT INCLUDING ABS LIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
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
GOODYEAR INTEGRITY P215/75R15. SIDEWALL BLOWOUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED (45-55 MPH.) TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON 08/27/2001, AND HAD 36,000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED, HAD NO PRIOR DAMAGE, AND TIRE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS PRIOR TO FAILURE. FAILURE WAS SPONTANEOUS AND CATASTROPHIC. T IS IRONIC THAT A TIRE WITH THE BRAND NAME OF "INTEGRITY" SHOULD SPONTANEOUSLY DISINTEGRATE.*AK
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
IN SNOW WEATHER THE STEERING IS HARD TO TURN, NO CONTROL, SOMETIME CAN'T STOP CAR, HAVE DISC BRAKE. TT
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 .