RoadVitals

2002 Mercury Grand Marquis Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
11
Latest Jul 17, 2025
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.
14%
of 78 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

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 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 17, 2025

The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH at night, the cruise control mode malfunctioned, and the speed of the vehicle increased independently. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed several times to the floor, but the vehicle failed to stop. The contact turned off the vehicle, and the vehicle came to a stop. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated that he was afraid of driving the vehicle again. The contact unregistered the vehicle and turned the license plates of the vehicle to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. Additionally, the contact stated that the check engine and the low oil pressure warning lights had illuminated two days prior to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

NHTSA ID
11674238
Incident
Jul 4, 2025
Mileage
58,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 19, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE IN WHICH THERE WAS AN INTERNAL CRACK ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH CAUSED WATER INTRUSION THAT AFFECTED OTHER COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10946464
Incident
Oct 3, 2016
Engine
Filed May 10, 2011
Crash reported

I WAS LEAVING A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR UP AND EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE EXTREMELY FAST CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE BACKWARDS WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION, BUT I WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE CAR BEHIND ME AND I HIT IT. I WAS MOVING ABOUT 10 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHICH FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CAR RAN OKAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SOUTH HILLS LINCOLN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAD BEEN PURCHASED. THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I HAVE ONLY 27,100 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS A 2002 MODEL AND I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE IT WAS NEW. I CALLED FORD TO TRY TO GET HELP BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR FOUR DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I NOW HAVE A CAR WITH JUST OVER 27,000 MILES AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO AND FORD COULD NOT CARE LESS. I DID HAVE OTHER INSTANCES (ABOUT SIX) WHEN ON STARTUP THE ENGINE WOULD BEGIN TO RACE. I WOULD IMMEDIATELY TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT AND THEN IT WOULD BE OKAY. IN SEPTEMBER, 2010, I DID TAKE THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE, BUT THIS DID NOT DO ANY GOOD. THE CAR MIGHT GO A MONTH OR TWO WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN GEAR. OTHER THAN THIS, THE CAR IS IN PERFECT CONDITION AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS CAR WITH ONLY 27,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID
10400456
Incident
Apr 15, 2011
Mileage
27,100 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2011

PLASTIC HEATER SUPPLY TUBE (LOCATED IN REAR OF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD) FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS TO BE REPLACED. *LN

NHTSA ID
10376880
Incident
Jan 11, 2011
Mileage
115,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, AND TRACK WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO WAIT AN HOUR TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AS OF AUGUST 8, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000.

NHTSA ID
10198859
Incident
Aug 7, 2007
Mileage
73,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 11, 2005

THE GEARS TENDED TO POP, MAKING THE VEHICLE JUMP FORWARD, AS WELL THE ENGINE LEAKING OIL, AND INCREASING THE CHANCE OF THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS 4 TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED, BUT IT WILL BE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10107196
Incident
Aug 1, 2003
Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2003

THE VEHICLE HAD AN ODOR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10015129
Incident
Mar 11, 2003
Engine
Filed Nov 17, 2002

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID
769823
Incident
Oct 26, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 21, 2002

SERPENTINE BELT BROKE OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, CAUSING STEERING, BRAKES, AND A FEW OTHER PARTS ON VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ID
8016839
Incident
Aug 20, 2002
Engine
Filed Jun 24, 2002

THE CARS EXHIBITS PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN BULLETIN 15415 SB630431. DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS EXHAUST VIBRATION. THEY REALIGNED THE EXHAUST. THIS DID NOTHING TO CORRECT. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT MUST BE THE WAY I DRIVE SINCE ALL THE OTHERS ON THE LOT ARE JUST LIKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
763377
Incident
May 9, 2002
Engine
Filed May 22, 2002
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. (ENCOMPASS INSURANCE) *YH

NHTSA ID
565855
Incident
Apr 27, 2002

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .