Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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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 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 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 29, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE MISFIRED AND HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK OUT AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE COILS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
I OBSERVED A COOLANT LEAK AROUND THE THERMOSTAT. I FOUND THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD TO BE CRACKED AROUND THE THERMOSTAT AND LEAKING COOLANT. I MADE CONTACT WITH MERCURY AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IN WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE PART AT NO CHARGE DURING THE SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN. I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE SAFETY RECALL AND HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 04/17/02 WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM A MERCURY DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NO LONGER HONOR THIS RECALL ALTHOUGH THERE ARE STILL THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF THESE ENGINES STILL ON THE ROAD. THE ALL PLASTIC MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED WITH AN INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH AN ALUMINUM CROSSOVER CHANNEL FOR THE COOLANT. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART OUT-OF-POCKET AT A COST OF $800. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE HAD I NOT BEEN FRIENDS WITH THE MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD 102,281 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. *TR
VEHICLE STARTED TO BUCK AND WHEN I PULLED MY VEHICLE OVER I LIFTED THE HOOD. I FOUND ANTI-FREEZE FLOWING ON THE TOP OF MY ENGINE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL GARAGE & THEY TOLD ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THERE'S A RECALL ON THIS PART. WHEN I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART, BUT IT'S ONLY FOR POLICE AND FLEET VEHICLES ONLY. NOW THAT THIS WAS SAID TO ME, I WAS TOLD BY MY GARAGE IT WOULD COST ME $1000 TO FIX. SOMETHING I DON'T HAVE. FORD WAS NOT VERY COOPERATIVE ABOUT MY SITUATION AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT LATER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BECAUSE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DESIGNED USING PLASTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,950.
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IN MY 1998 GRAND MARQUIS HAS CRACKED RESULTING IN ENGINE COOLANT FLUID LEAK AND ENGINE FAILURE. IT IS BEING REPAIRED TODAY. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS OCCURS BECAUSE OF THE MATERIAL USED FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CAR IS IN OTHERWISE VERY GOOD CONDITION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE ON HE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. WHILE EXAMINING THE ENGINE HE ALSO NOTICED THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. AFTER DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HER VEHICLE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY GOOD FOR SEVEN YEARS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER AND PAID $850 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 113,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS A DEFECT THAT FORD REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER STATED WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKING COOLANT AROUND THERMOSTAT AREA THAT SQUIRTS OUT UNDER DRIVING CONDITIONS AND POOLS AROUND FUEL INJECTION AND CONTAMINATES ELECTRONICS AND SERPENTINE BELT AND PULLEYS. COULD LEAK TO OVERHEATING AND ENGINE FAILURE . POOR DRIVING CONDITION. *AK
1998 GRAND MARQUIS OVERHEATED AND MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. *TS *JB
DT: THE CALLER SAID HER CAR BURNED UP IN 2000. NOW SHE IS FINDING OUT ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRUISE CONTROL FIRES. SHE BELIEVES THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED. AT THE TIME SHE WAS TOLD TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY SAID TO CALL MANUFACTURER, AND SHE WAS GETTING THE RUN AROUND. SHE SAW ON CNN AND THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE CURRENT PROBLEM THEY ARE HAVING AND WANTED SOMEONE TO HELP HER. THERE IS A FIRE REPORT. *AK THE VEHICLE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DASH AREA. *SC *JB
1) NORMAL DRIVING USAGE; 2) PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, OVERHEATING CAR; 3) PART WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED $590 FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *AK
FALIURE HAS NOT HAPPENED YET BUT HAS THE POTENTIAL WITH ALL OF THE OTHER 1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS ARE DEFECTIVE FROM FORD AND CAUSE COOLANT LOSS. THIS CAN CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. RECALL APPLYING TO FLEET VEHICLES SHOULD APPLY TO PRIVATE USE VEHICLES AS WELL. AVERAGE REPAIR COSTS BETWEEN 700-1000 DOLLARS.
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *NM EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST GARAGE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT SERVICE BULLETIN 12950 AS ISSUED IN 1999 IDENTIFYING A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY HE WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *NM
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER USED A STARTER BATTERY KIT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE OR CONTACTED AAA TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE AAA REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THE STALLING MAY BE DUE TO ENGINE MOTOR FAILURE. DEALERSHIP AND SEARS RETAIL STORE PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. ALSO , THE BATTERY AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED REAR END COLLISION.*AK OWNER IS AN EX PHILADELPHIA EAGLE FOOTBALL PLAYER NAMED CURTIS BUNCH-BLACK. *TC
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED THE LOSS OF STEERING AND THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CHARGED $750.00, AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
1. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. 2. LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK FOR A WHILE THEN REMAIN ON AGAIN. THE CAR SUDDENLY KILLED IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION (WHILE IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF INTERSTATE TRAFFIC WITH NO SHOULDER) 3. PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WE WERE ADVISED THAT THIS PART BREAKS OFTEN AND IN FACT A RECALL WAS ISSUED BUT ONLY ON POLICE CARS! THE AVERAGE CONSUMER IS LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES FOR THIS EXPENSIVE PART. A PIECE OF PLASTIC COSTING UPWARDS OF $500 ONLY FOR THE PART. UPON REPLACEMENT WE WERE TOLD BY OUR MECHANIC THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM PART IN THESE VEHICLES; AND WHEN THE PART WAS RECEIVED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT FORD HAD CHANGED THE CONSTRUCTION TO INCLUDE METAL( IN THE AREA THAT USUALLY BREAKS) IN WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY AN ALL PLASTIC PART. WE DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PART, AND I DON'T SUSPECT THAT THE MECHANIC KEPT IT EITHER.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD BEING CRACKED. *MR THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE SAME RECALLS FOR THE CROWN VICTORIA'S AND THUNDERBIRD'S SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO THE MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS BECAUSE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED BY THE SAME COMPANY. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MONIES SPENT FOR REPAIR. *SC
CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM BUT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *PH THE CONSUMER HAD TO ANTI-FREEZE TO THE VEHICLE ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE 4.6L V8 ENGINES. THE MANUFACTURER USED CARBON FIBER INTAKE MANIFOLDS ON THE ENGINES. DUE TO THE HEAT, THE CARBON FIBER INTAKE WOULD CRACK WHICH CAUSED A LOST OF COOLANT. THE CONSUMER TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT ON;Y FOR POLICE VEHICLE'S. *JB
LTR FM LOUIS HETTINGER(KY) OWNER OF A 1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 4-DOOR VEHICLE QUESTION IF VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE OF FAST IDLE. *MR THE IAC VALVE WAS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THERE WERE OTHER CONSUMERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. (THERE WAS A FAST IDLE UPON START UP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN AT SHORT NOTICE. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, THERE WAS NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE) *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. *AKCONSUMER LOOKED THROUGH THE MANUAL AND FOUND AN ARTICLE EXPLAINING WHAT TO DO WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BUMPED AND FUEL SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER BUMPED. CONSUMER FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP IMMEDIATELY AND HAS BEEN RUNNING SINCE. *JG
WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY INIDCATION, AND LOST ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE . THIS HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES IN LAST 3 MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER WAS LEASING A VEHICLE THAT EXPERIENCED ENGINE STALLING PROBLEMS, CONSUMER ENDED UP LOSING MONEY TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE TO GET INTO A SAFER VEHICLE. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR, AND WHEN MOVING PAWL BACK TO DRIVE, IT WON'T BE ABLE TO DO SO. ALSO, ENGINE WILL STALL, AND THERE WILL BE NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. THEN, SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND MOVING VEHICLE SO THAT IT COULD START WORKING AGAIN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR NO REASON. IF AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT & IDLING, WOULD SHUT ITSELF DOWN. BEEN TO DEALER TWICE FOR STALLING & MECHANIC CANNOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK
SERPENTINE FAN BELT & IDLER PULLEY / TENSIONER REPLACED DUE TO NOISE. *YC
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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