Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest Sep 9, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 316 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
SteeringSuspensionVisibility
Filed Sep 9, 2019
I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN AND I SERVICE MANY VEHICLES DAILY. I CURRENTLY OWN A 97 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS AND HAVE NOTICED THAT PRACTICALLY MOST STEERING COMPONENTS ON MY VEHICLE ARE IN NEED OF REPLACING. SPECIFICALLY THE TIE ROD ENDS, CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINS ALL HAVE BLOWN BUSHINGS AND A PITMAN ARM.... THE STEERING SWAYS SO HARD ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT CUSTOMER'S VEHICLES THAT I HAVE WORKED ON THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE CROWN VIC, AND THE MARQUIS ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF STEERING COMPONENT CONCERN AS WELL. I SEE MORE FORDS WITH STEERING ISSUES THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I SERVICE. THE VEHICLES ALSO SEEM TO HAVE ISSUES WITH ANYONE SITTING IN THE BACK THAT THE BODY WILL SCRAPE THE TIRES AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO RIG MY VENT DOOR ACTUATOR AND I HAVE HAD TO INSTALL A SHUT OFF SWITCH DUE TO A PARASITIC DRAW THAT I CAN NOT LOCATE EVEN WITH A VOLT METER. AFTER RESEARCHING ON FORUMS AND WATCHING COUNTLESS YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF OWNERS STATING THESE KNOWN ISSUES I BELIEVE THAT IT IS BEYOND MAINTENANCE STANDARDS FOR THESE PARTS ALL TO BE FAULTY FROM THIS CAR MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA ID
11254228
Incident
Jun 6, 2018
Mileage
150,000 mi
BrakesSeat beltsSteering
Filed Sep 15, 2016
RECALL WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS VERY LOOSE AS IF ITS ABOUT TO COME OFF
NHTSA ID
10907042
Incident
Aug 22, 2016
Steering
Filed May 24, 2016
I HAVE TO PUT IT ON NEUTRAL MOST OF THE TIME WITH EMG BRAKE ON. BECAUSE THE GEARSHIFT IS HARD TO PUT IN PARK. MY CAR ONLY HAS 92,000 MILES.
NHTSA ID
10870613
Incident
Sep 14, 2015
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 9, 2006
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING AND USING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC WHO SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS NO LUBRICATION ON THE BALL JOINTS NOR WAS THERE ANY WAY TO LUBRICATED THEM DUE TO THE DESIGN. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE ALRIGHT FOR A WHILE. NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS WERE MADE AT THAT TIME. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 29 MPH UPHILL, THE LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT CRACKED AND DROPPED TO THE GROUND DAMAGING THE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 FEET AFTER THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND THE DRIVER LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE OTHER SIDE WAS AFFECTED AS WELL. THE DEALER REPAIRED BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS ALONG WITH THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. *AK NOTE: FAILED COMPONENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION UPON REQUEST. *MJJ (11/211/05) THE CONSUMER FOUND THE COOLANT CROSSOVER CRACKED ON INTAKE. *SC *NM
NHTSA ID
10139329
Incident
Oct 11, 2005
Mileage
94,625 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 29, 2005
DT: CONTACT STATES THE TIE ROD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF 1997 GRAND MARQUIS FELL OFF JUST BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY. IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO GREASE FITTINGS ON THE TIE RODS . THE CAR ONLY HAD 63,000 MILES ON IT. HE HAD NOT BEEN HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM. HAD THEM BOTH REPLACED. HE WENT TO A MERCURY DEALER AND THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. HE HAS NOT TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER.*AK *JB
NHTSA ID
10128920
Incident
Jun 30, 2005
Mileage
60,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 16, 2004
SUDDEN FAILURES OF BALL JOINTS AND STEERING LINKAGES. *JB
NHTSA ID
10095856
Incident
Jul 26, 2002
Mileage
65,000 mi
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Apr 27, 2004
CONSUMER DISMAYED TO NOTICE THE SMELL OF FUEL AS SHE DROVE AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. *PH THE SMELL WOULD BE PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AS WELL. THE FUEL WAS LEAKING INTO THE BRAKE LINE. *SC THE IDLER AND PITMAN ARMS WERE REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ID
10071863
Incident
Nov 18, 2003
Steering
Filed Mar 17, 2003
THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HOT, WHILE DRIVING. *JB
NHTSA ID
10011911
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Mileage
75,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 17, 2002
VEHICLE HANDLES WITH DIFFICULTY, NOT MAINTAINING STEERING CONTROL, AND CHANGING DIRECTIONS UPON WIND GUST. OWNER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS NOT ABLE TO DETECT CAUSE OF ERRATICAL STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
8018837
SteeringTransmission
Filed Feb 5, 2002
IN STEERING COLUMN BOLTS TO THE SHIFT INDICATOR FELL OUT. VEHICLE WAS HARD TO MANEUVER AND THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF WHICH GEAR VEHICLE WAS BEING SHIFTED TO. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ID
8003519
Incident
Feb 2, 2002
Steering
Filed Jul 3, 2001
CONSUMER STATES STEERING GEAR WAS EXCESSIVELY WORN, WHEN DRIVING AND STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION, THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE.*JB
NHTSA ID
561869
Steering
Filed May 24, 2000
A LOUD CLUNCKING NOISE WILL OCCUR WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT OR TO RIGHT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ID
862450
Steering
Filed Mar 17, 2000
WHILE DRIVING DOWN MAIN STREET TRAVELING 10MPH, TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING DOWN UP AHEAD. WENT OVER A HUMP IN ROAD, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL WOULD JUST SPIN. LOST CONTROL, AND WENT OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER LOCATED THE PROBLEM, AND REPLACED STEERING COLUMN COUPLING BOLT.
NHTSA ID
858746
Incident
Mar 8, 2000
Steering
Filed Nov 30, 1999
EXCESSIVE ROAD SHOCK FELT IN STEERING SINCE CAR WAS NEW. 2 DEALERS SAID NOT A PROBLEM BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE WITH AGE OF CAR. ALSO WHEEL SKIP ON MODERATELY BUMPY ROADS IE ASPHALT STRIPS IN PAVEMENT. *AK
NHTSA ID
715434
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Sep 8, 1999
POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT. LIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON AND OFF FOR THREE DAYS.
NHTSA ID
609708
Steering
Filed Mar 26, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHEN APPROACHING A TURNING INTERSECTION, ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT, I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE LIGHTPOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. I SUFFERED MULTIPLE FRACTURES (I.E. CERVICAL/7 RIBS/PELVIS/RIGHT FEMUR/RIGHT TIBIA/RIGHT FIBULAR/RIGHT ANKLE. LEFT ANKLE WAS VIRTUALLY DESTROYED ("IN A MILLION PIECES" PER SURGEON). I WAS IN TRAUMATIZED FOR 3 WEEKS, IN CRITICAL CONDITION FOR A PORTION OF THAT TIME. I WAS THEN IN ACUTE CARE FOR A WEEK OR TWO, PREMATURELY DISCHARGED TO A NURSING HOME FOR 3 DAYS, AND READMITTED TO ACUTE CARE THROUGHT THE DELRAY HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. I WAS, AGAIN DISCHARGED ON JAN. 6TH. FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND READMITTED TO A REHAB CENTER FOR AN ADDITIONAL 3 WEEKS. I'VE BEEN HOME FOR 3 WEEKS, NOW. I AM RECEIVING THERAPY AT HOME, AND WILL GRADUATE TO THERAPY AS AN OUT-PATIENT WHEN ABLE. I FACE HIP AND ANKLE REPLACEMENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK
NHTSA ID
704972
Incident
Sep 9, 1998
BrakesSteering
Filed Feb 3, 1999
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED CAUSING VIBRATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
NHTSA ID
543667
Incident
Aug 18, 1997
ElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 14, 1998
WHILE DRIVING THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN BECOME EXTREMELY HOT . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ID
826722
Incident
Jul 30, 1998
EngineSteering
Filed Aug 13, 1998
VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPS.
NHTSA ID
539098
Incident
Jun 9, 1998
Steering
Filed Aug 13, 1998
STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY AND JUMPS OVER ROAD WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR MANHOLE.
NHTSA ID
539037
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 29, 1997
2 injuries reported
STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ID
520377
Incident
Jun 22, 1997
Steering
Filed May 9, 1997
STEERING DURING CROSS WINDS CAUSES VEHICLE TO WANDER, DOES NOT STAY IN LANE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
NHTSA ID
812132
Incident
Apr 27, 1997
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own