1996 Mercury Grand Marquis

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.

ODI HAS RECEIVED 40 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, INCLUDING 8 THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THIS YEAR.AN ADDITIONAL 192 REPORTS AND 478 WARRANTY CLAIMS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM FORD.A LEAK IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE CAN CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.A SEARCH OF ODI'S COMPLAINT DATABASE FOR PEER VEHICLE COMPLAINTS, USING THE SAME BRAKE LINE FAILURE CRITERIA AS FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE SAME MODEL YEARS (1995-97), IDENTIFIED ONLY 1 COMPLAINT INVOLVING GENERAL MOTORS CAPRICE/IMPLALA/88/98/REGAL VEHICLES AND ONLY 2 COMPLAINTS INVOLVING CHRYSLER LH-CARS.THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER EVALUATE THE FREQUENCY, SCOPE, AND CAUSAL FACTORS RELATED TO REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

BASED ON THE LOW RATE OF FIRE INCIDENTS (2.5 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES SOLD) WHERE FAILURE OF THE SCDS IS INVOLVED AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLES ? 7 TO 11 YEARS ? A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED 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.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

The contact owns a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH the instrument panel began started flashing off and on before going black. The contact stated that he was headed to an off ramp the head lights stopped functioning. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had stopped driving the vehicle for several days and then tested the head lights and stated that the functionality had returned. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 225,000.

NHTSA ID

11509717

Incident

Feb 25, 2023

Mileage

225,000 mi

The contact owns a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH at night, the headlights became inoperable. While driving for approximately 30 more miles and exiting the off ramp, the headlights started to flicker. The headlights momentarily worked but then became inoperable again. The instrument panel warning lights illuminated and were flashing. The contact also detected an abnormal clicking noise from the steering column. The contact stated that the windshield wipers became stuck in the on position. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 210,000.

NHTSA ID

11508567

Incident

Feb 18, 2023

Mileage

210,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AND TURN TO LEFT VEHICLES STEERING WANTS TO LOCK UP

NHTSA ID

11015706

Incident

Jul 27, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME VERY DIM AND HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10871600

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE GASKET PAN. THERE WAS NO FLUID VISIBLE ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION PUMP, AND PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION REAR MAIN SEAL AND DRIVE SHAFT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10863133

Incident

Jan 13, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AS AN INTERIM REPAIR UNTIL THE INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS BECAME AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVE THE SPEED CONTROL ACTIVATION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V051000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. ....UPDATED 07/22/15 *BF UPDATED 10/11/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10713897

Incident

Aug 3, 2007

Mileage

114,000 mi

ON 9/17/2003 @ 11:23 PM, MY 1996 GRAND MARQUIS CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED WHILE SITTING IDLE IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. THE HENRICO COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. I HAVE THE FIRE REPORT, WHICH INDICATES THAT NO CAUSE FOR THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED. IN JUNE 2014, I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATING THAT MY 1996 GRAND MARQUIS HAS A POTENTIAL UNDER HOOD FIRE RISK. THE ISSUE AS STATED WAS THAT "FORD CANNOT BE CONFIDENT THAT AFTER MANY YEARS IN SERVICE, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IN YOUR VEHICLE WILL NOT LEAK, POSING THE RISK OF AN UNDER HOOD FIRE. UNTIL THIS REPAIR IS PERFORMED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME. A FIRE CAN OCCUR EVEN IF THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION, AND CAN OCCUR EVEN IF THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM IS NEVER USED." AFTER RECEIVING THE LETTER, I FILED A REPORT WITH FORD TO POSSIBLY GET SOME FORM OF COMPENSATION FOR MY CAR SINCE I MY CAR WAS INSURED FOR LIABILITY ONLY. FORD RESPONDED BACK THAT MY CLAIM WAS CLOSED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I KNOW LONGER OWNED THE CAR, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO INSPECT IT. I FIND THIS TO BE ABSURD SINCE THE CAR WAS TOTALED, AND NOT AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631764

Incident

Sep 17, 2013

Mileage

190,000 mi

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE BECOME YELLOWED AND CLOUDY. THIS HAS SEVERELY REDUCED NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY ON UNLIT STREETS, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS EXPENSIVE AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS THAT WILL SUPPOSEDLY RESTORE LENS CLARITY. I BOUGHT AND USED ONE OF THESE PRODUCTS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE FULL LENS CLARITY. I'M GUESSING THAT THE CLOUDINESS WILL RETURN AND I'LL HAVE TO REPEAT THE "RESTORATION" PROCESS. I WENT TO A NEARBY SHOPPING MALL AND NOTICED NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH CLOUDY HEADLIGHTS, ALL WITH PLASTIC LENSES. THIS SAFETY ISSUE WAS A NON-ISSUE WHEN ALL HEADLIGHTS WERE REQUIRED TO USE GLASS LENSES. PLEASE RESTORE THE REQUIREMENT THAT, FOR SAFE NIGHTTIME DRIVING OVER THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE, ALL HEADLIGHTS USE GLASS LENSES. OR, REQUIRE AUTO MAKERS TO REPLACE OR RESTORE CLOUDY PLASTIC LENSES AT NO CHARGE FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595320

Incident

May 31, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

FORD/LINCOLN MERCURY: CERTAIN 1992-2001 MODEL YEAR CROWN VICTORIA, GRAND MARQUIS, AND TOWN CAR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF WISCONSIN AND CONNECTICUT UPGRADE MODIFICATIONS FOR HIGH SPEED REAR IMPACTS. *PE

EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM 05N04 - EXTENDED COVERAGE FOR COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS PROGRAM IS BEING PROVIDED AS A SETTLEMENT TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT EXTEND THE COVERAGE OF THE ALL-COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO 7 YEARS FROM THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY START DATE OF THE VEHICLE, WITH NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF MILES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN. *TT

REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT

NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT

NEW SERVICE PART - NUMBER 5 NEEDLE BEARING AND RACE KIT - 4R70W TRANSMISSION - SERVICE TIP. *TT

CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH