Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 86 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.
The 25 most recent of 86, in the owner's own words
THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN FELT DIFFERENT WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY, KIND OF SLUGGISH AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE TEMP ROSE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO LET COOL DOWN I COULDN'T START IT UP AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. NOT WORTH REPAIRING. HAD IT TOWED BACK HOME AND ITS BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY EVER SINCE. *TR
A CRACK IN MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING COOLANT TO SPRAY ALL OVER UNDER MY HOOD AND NOW MY ENGINE OVERHEATS..THANKS FOR USING PLASTIC PARTS FORD . *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK IN THE EVENING, THE CAR STARTED TO PUTTER, THEN SMOKE CAME POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE HOOD BLOCKING MY VIEW FROM THE ROAD CAUSING CARS TO RACE AROUND ME AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT...ALSO STARTED COMING IN THE VENTS OF THE CAR, MAKING ME NAUSEA. EXTREME DANGER AND FEAR. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED $65.00 AND THE REPAIR ESTIMATE CAME IN AT $900.00. CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. ??PLASTIC?? WHO DOES THAT? I HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED AND ONLY ABLE TO GET PART TIME EMPLOYMENT. I CAN'T AFFORD THIS REPAIR SO I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE...ANOTHER $65.00. THE CAR ONLY HAS 85,218 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN KEPT IMMACULATE. I CONTACTED MERCURY/FORD AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IN RESEARCHING, I SPENT HOURS READING HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS REGARDING THE SAME SITUATION...AND ALSO, THE SAME CAR, FORD CROWN VICTORIA HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A "SILENT RECALL" WHERE ONLY GOVERNMENT FLEET/POLICE CARS WERE TAKEN CARE OF. HOW NICE! THE REPLACEMENT WAS WITH A METAL PART, WHICH IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING. THIS IS AN EXTREME NEGLECT ON FORD/MERCURY PART. I BELIEVE THAT THE INVESTIGATION AND ACTION SHOULD BE BASED ON THE QUANTITY OF BOTH THE CROWN VICTORIA AND GRAND MARQUIS COMBINED, SINCE THEY ARE THE EXACT SAME CAR MANUFACTURED. PLEASE HELP! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS STEAM EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 1996 INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD UNTIL WE HAD IT REPLACED. *TR
CAR CAUGHT FIRE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN THE PAST DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES PARKED AND TURNED CAR OFF AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE PARKED IN THE RESIDENCE CARPORT, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE MASSIVE FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE HOME. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. AT THIS TIME THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND INSURANCE COMPANY WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,000.
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON A 1996 FORD GRAND MARQUIS 4.6 LITER V-8. APPARENTLY THERE WAS SOME SETTLEMENT OFFER FROM FORD TO REPLACE THIS PART WITH AN ALUMINUM INTAKE HOWEVER DUE TO THE CAR NOT BEING DRIVEN MUCH, 70,000 MILES IN 12 YEARS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DID NOT FAIL UNTIL RECENTLY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OPTIONS I HAVE IN FIXING THIS PART AND POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE $800 OR MORE IT WILL COST ME TO FIX IT. *TR
HAD JUST TURNED OFF FREEWAY WHEN WARNING CHIME FOR OVERHEATED ENGINE SOUNDED. STOPPED CAR WITHIN ONE BLOCK & TURNED OFF MOTOR. TOWED TO MECHANIC. TURNS OUT TO BE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, COMMON TO FORDS (MINE IS 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, 71K MILES.) AM NOW RUNNING COMPRESSION TEST TO SEE IF ANY ENGINE DAMAGE, IF THERE IS NO DAMAGE THEN I WILL HAVE TO FIX MANIFOLD AT A COST OF APPROX. $1036. IF THERE IS ENGINE DAMAGE THEN I WILL HAVE TO JUNK A PERFECTLY FINE CAR IN EXCELLENT CONDITION (APART FROM THIS). FORD DOES NOT OFFER ANY REDRESS. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, NOR ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS I HAD JUST EXCITED A FREEWAY WHEN THE WARNING BEEP SOUNDED. I HAVE RECEIVED ALL OTHER RECALL INFO ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE COMPLIED W. RECALL. IN FACT VEHICLE HAD BEEN FULLY CHECKED BY DEALER ONLY 6 DAYS WHEN TAKEN IN FOR THE SECOND PART OF THE SWITCH RECALL ON THIS MODEL. DEALER NEVER INFORMED ME OF ANY POTENTIAL MANIFOLD PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A DEFECTIVE PART ISSUE. AT THE VERY LEAST, OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED THAT THIS IS A COMMON CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN DRIVING 55-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. THE VIBRATION ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO ADD WATER TO THE ANTIFREEZE RECEPTACLE EACH DAY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT WOULD HEAR A RUSTLING SOUND AS IF SOMETHING WAS RUBBING TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, THE REAR WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD GO DOWN, BUT WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE BLINKERS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND CRUISE CONTROL HAVE FAILED. SHE ALSO RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE POWERTRAIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,647 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
SAME OLD STORY PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED LOST ALL WATER COST 900.00 TO FIX WITH TOW. 92,000 MILES COME ON FORD GET REAL STEP UP AND FIX THIS. *TR
REGARDING MY 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. ENGINE FIRE ON AUGUST 15,2007 IN MY DRIVEWAY. KEY OFF, VEHICLE DRIVEN AND PARKED 1/2 HOUR BEFORE INCIDENT. I RECEIVED FORDS RECALL NOTICE ON SEPT. 4, 2007. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE VALVE MELTED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,021. THE DEALER STATED 1 SET OF DISC PADS, 2 NEW ROTORS, AND CLUTCH FAN. UPDATED 09/25/07 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE THEN NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE COOLANT HAD LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT LATER FOUND A RECALL THAT APPLIED TO THE FAILURES HE WAS EXPERIENCING. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED. THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,336 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS A HAIRLINE CRACK ON THE REAR HEATER HOSE INLET. ANTI-FREEZE IS SEEPING OUT INTO THE #4 SPARK PLUG CAUSING MISFIRING. THIS PLASTIC MANIFOLD WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BEFORE THE RECALL TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE MANIFOLDS. THIS IS THE REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD WITH A SEPARATE ALUMINUM HOT WATER CROSS OVER IN FRONT. *JB
I WAS DRIVING MY 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS WHEN STEAM STARTED POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED AND LEARNED THAT THE INTAKE-MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED, CAUSING COOLANT TO POUR ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE GARAGE REPLACED THE UNIT FOR A CHARGE OF $692 AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS THEN FINE. HOWEVER, BEFORE I GOT HOME, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE VERY REPUTABLE AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP THAT I USE AND UPON CHECKING, THEY SAID THE WIRES, POINTS, AND PLUGS NEEDED REPLACING, NO DOUBT CAUSED FROM THE PRIOR INCIDENT. THIS WORK COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $425.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BECAME INOPERABLE, AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS NOTICED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *AK
1996 GRAND MARQUIS INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED, MECHANIC DETERMINED THIS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS *JB
MY CAR WAS NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY ONE DAY, SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND ANTI-FREEZE IN THE CYLINDERS. HE SAID THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE BLEW THROUGH PASSAGE ON INTAKE MANIFOLD INTO THE PISTONS, AND I HAD TO REPLACED THE ENTIRE MOTOR AND THE INTAKE WHICH COST ME $3400.00 ENABLE TO FIX. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY USED A PLASTIC PART ON THE MOTOR. *NM
DT: WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE LINES FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE OWNER CAME OUTSIDE AND SAW THE BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND AND REALIZED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED. THE OWNER DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPAIRED IT. THEN THE OWNER REALIZED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED.*AK THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE WIPER MOTOR, WIPER SWITCH, DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR SWITCH AND ROTORS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH , TAIL LIGHT , CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINTS AND SHOCKS WERE BAD. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB
DT: THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CAR WAS SMOKING WHILE DRIVING. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAD 90,000 MILES ON IT. THE OWNER WAS AWARE THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE OWNER WAS UPSET WITH THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD SPLIT DURING TRAVEL THROUGH MOUNTAINS CAUSING ALL OF THE COOLANT TO SPEW OUT. OVERHEATING OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. FORD HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 02-2-2 DATED 1/17/2002 AND SUBSEQUENTLY REDESIGNED PART. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY COMMUNICATED TO THE CONSUMER RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE COST TO THE CONSUMER WITH AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT.
1996 MERCURY MARQUIS ,,CRACKED COMPOSITE INTAKE HEAD...$ 1100.00 REPAIRED. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A FLEET RECALL FOR THIS, BUT NOT FOR PERSONALLY OWNED VEHICLES.I FEEL CHEATED...THE COMPOSITE HEADS ARE DEFECTIVE. *AK
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS ON THE ENGINE IN MY CAR FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS REPAIR BEING DONE UNDER RECALL. THEY USED THEIR RESOURCES TO OBTAIN DOCUMENTATION OF RECALLS BEING ISSUED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CORP. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE WHO TOLD ME THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR HAD NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THE REPEATED OCCURENCE OF THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED BY ME THROUGH SEVERAL INSTANCES OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THE INTERNET. THE EXACT PROBLEM IS WITH A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH DEVELOPS A CRACK NEAR THE THEMOSTAT AND LEAKS COOLANT.*AK
1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS SUFFERED INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE.*MR *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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