1996 Mercury Grand Marquis Steering Problems

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

THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE, AND IT SQUEAKS ALOT. I AM UNABLE TO ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL HEIGHT ANY MORE. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL HAZARD, AND RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF STEERING FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395908

Incident

Apr 14, 2011

Mileage

94,100 mi

I OWN A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOCKING UP AT A CERTAIN SPOT WHEN TURNING. THIS WOULD CAUSE ME TO PUSH THE STEERING WHEEL INTO THE TURN A LITTLE HARDER WHICH UNLOCKED THE STEERING CAUSING ME TO VEER LEFT OR RIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO DIFFERENT SHOPS. THEY WOULD LIFT THE CAR AND CHECK THE SUSPENSION AND GIVE IT A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND GOT MUCH WORSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO YET ANOTHER SHOP AND INSISTED THEY TAKE IT OUT AND DRIVE IT A LONG DISTANCE. THE MECHANIC DIDN'T GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, CAME BACK AND MADE ME LEAVE THE CAR. HE INSISTED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING BOX AND THIS WAS REPLACED. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON A FRIDAY AND ON SATURDAY DROVE OVER THE MOUNTAINS. IT WAS A HAIRY RIDE, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED AND THE CURVY ROADS MADE DRIVING DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AT MY DESTINATION AND HE INSPECTED THE CAR BUT THIS TIME HE DISCONNECTED THE TIE ROD ENDS SO HE COULD ROTATE THE WHEELS WITH WEIGHT ON THEM. ONE OF THE BALL JOINTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS NEARLY LOCKED SOLID. THE DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221155

Incident

Jun 15, 2007

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT MAY WANT TO HAVE THE TIE RODS REPAIRED, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIE RODS WERE FINE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 03/26/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10219075

Incident

Sep 22, 2007

Mileage

85,000 mi

I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING GEAR BOX IN THE MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 1996 AND ANY OTHER VEHICLES WHICH USE THIS SAME COMPONENT IN THEIR VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS EXCESSIVE PLAY INSIDE THE STEERING GEAR BOX. I AM SURE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS THE GEAR BOX NOT SOME OTHER COMPONENT OF THE SYSTEM. THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PLAY INSIDE WITHIN THE GEAR BOX IS TRANSLATED TO THE ROAD IN THE FORM OF POOR HANDLING,SWAYING ETC. I CHANGED MY UPPER, LOWER BALL JOINTS,TIE RODS, PITMAN ARM ,TIRES,SWAY BARS,IDLE ARM,AND ALIGNED AND ALSO REPLACED THE GEARBOX WITH A REBUILT GEARBOX THIS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GEARBOX REBUILT MIND YOU HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE PREVIOUS GEAR BOX. THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BY A LOT OF SENIORS, CAB COMPANIES ,ETC. THE NEWER MODEL VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE USE A DIFFERENT GEAR BOX WHICH I AM PRETTY SURE IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE OLDER MODELS HAVE. AS FAR AS HAVING THE OLD PART I GAVE IT TO THE COMPANY THAT I PURCHASED THE NEWLY REBUILT ONE FROM AS A CORE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10131838

Incident

Aug 7, 2005

Mileage

1 mi

STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING..TOTAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. MANAGED TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH LAST BIT OF STEERING. I NOTICED THAT CAR WAS NOT RESPONDING TO TURNING WHEEL. THE WHEEL ACTUALLY FEEL OFF OF THE COLUMN AND ROLLED INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN I TOOK MY HANDS OFF OF THE WHEEL. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS: "STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF. DT

NHTSA ID

769264

Incident

Oct 29, 2002

PITMAN ARM HAS BROKEN FIVE TIMES. PART LASTED FOR 2000 MILES AFTER LAST REPLACEMENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003700

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY LEFT BALL JOINT FELL OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED LEFT TIR ROD END AND BALL JOINT FAILED, AND ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE IS IN POOR CONDITION, DEALER REPLACED THE OUTER AND INNER TIE ROD ENDS.

NHTSA ID

8003462

Incident

Jan 31, 2002

WHILE BACKING OUT , STEERING WHEEL DISCONNECTED AND CONSUME R LOST COMPLETE CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

858042

Incident

Mar 4, 2000

PULLING OUT INTO A STREET WHILE TRAVELLING 10MPH FRONT END STARTED TO MAKE CRUNCHING NOISE. STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN SMOOTHLY AND HAD TO BE FORCED. CONTACTED DEALER , THEY REPLACED TIE RODS. A MONTH LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM. REPLACED WITH A STANDARD LOWER BALL JOINT INSTEAD HEAVY DUTY LOWER BALL JOINT. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

NHTSA ID

856915

Incident

Jan 6, 2000

REAR END DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE DUE TO MISMATCHED RING AND PINION GEAR. MJS

NHTSA ID

549502

Incident

Dec 1, 1997

VEHICLES STEERING MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER.

NHTSA ID

534973

Incident

Mar 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WANDERS,; ALSO, STEERING IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. WORSE WHEN WINDY OR RAIN ING. IN ADDITION, HOODE LATCH NEEDED ADJUSTMENT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERS AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. NOTES VEHICLE IS OPERATING ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

821799

Incident

Jan 9, 1998

WHEN DRIVING AT 60-70 MPH IN WINDY CONDITIONS VEHICLES' STEERING IS POOR.

NHTSA ID

533047

EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING.

NHTSA ID

517266

STEERING MECHAMISM FAILED.

NHTSA ID

521300

OWNER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH HIS STEERING FLOATS, HE NOTES THAT HE SOMETIMES HAS PROBLEMS WITH HIS STEERING, OWNER IS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK

NHTSA ID

810072

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT.

NHTSA ID

514134

Incident

Aug 14, 1996

FAILURE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

800596

Incident

Aug 7, 1996

STEERING PROBLEMS. *SD

NHTSA ID

506328

Incident

Apr 9, 1996