2004 Mercury Grand Marquis Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact received NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting). The contact stated that while driving at night, the headlights were flickering and became inoperable. Occasionally, the headlights operated as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was an independent mechanic and used a module assembly repair kit to repair the vehicle, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

NHTSA ID

11683841

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

116,000 mi

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the key fob became inoperable. The contact was not able to start the vehicle with the security warning light illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11678246

Incident

Aug 4, 2025

Mileage

90,000 mi

Auto lights stopped working. Tail lights will not come on

NHTSA ID

11670846

Incident

Jul 2, 2025

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, he became aware that the headlights were not functioning properly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 14N01. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11596927

Incident

Jun 21, 2024

The rear running lights are not working. No lights in rear of vehicle at night.

NHTSA ID

11595860

Incident

Jun 12, 2024

My front headlights stopped working and I was driving in the dark.

NHTSA ID

11555178

Incident

Nov 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the exterior lighting became inoperable. The contact stated that the failure occurred at night which caused him to be on a dangerous dark road. The contact stated that due to the failure and his vision being impaired, the vehicle was driven into a ditch. The contact stated that he received several violation tickets from the local Police. The contact stated that a year ago the vehicle was serviced by the dealer under recall repair for the lighting control module. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice after the recall repair was completed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 212,000.

NHTSA ID

11553076

Incident

Jul 31, 2023

Mileage

212,000 mi

The headlight repair has been made but now the tail and park lights work intermittently. Most of the time not working but occasionally they will come on in colder weather. I think the problem is still in the Lighting control module. First appearance was last summer and has gotten worse. No other symptoms. Hazard ,turn signals, and brake lights all still work properly. Just no tail or park lights.

NHTSA ID

11542089

Incident

Aug 13, 2022

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was loose and made an abnormal sound while turning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the steering shaft was corroded, and the bearing had collapsed. The contact was informed that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

NHTSA ID

11532214

Incident

Jul 14, 2023

Mileage

116,000 mi

The contact's husband owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact's husband had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting). The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for the recall repair. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact was made aware that only the light control module (LCM) module harness was replaced and not the light control module itself. The contact also stated that after the vehicle was returned, the driver's door latch was fractured, and the front passenger’s side headlight failed to illuminate intermittently. The contact made the dealer aware of the failure and was informed that the cost of the repair was her responsibility. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

NHTSA ID

11516775

Incident

Feb 28, 2023

Mileage

117,000 mi

While driving, I came to a stop light and suddenly, the car idled high and lurched forward while my foot was on the brake, luckily, I was stopped well away from the vehicle in front of me. The car idled high and seemed to have a mind of it's own. I took the back roads home and backed into our garage. The car smelled hot, and I though I had smoked my brakes, trying to keep control of it. Later that night, I told my husband about the car's actions and he did not believe me, though my daughter who was with me at the time confirmed that the car had indeed accelerated on it's own. My husband started the car and it did idle high and get hot once again, although only parked with no one in it. He thought he knew what the problem was and we turned off the car and closed the hood and went inside to order the part. A few minutes later, we heard a couple popping noises and I opened the door that led into the garage from the basement. Smoke was coming into the house and my husband said that a flame shot over my head. The car had caught on fire under the closed hood. We called the fire department, but by the time they arrived, a good portion of the basement was on fire. The house was a total loss. My husband though that the pvc elbow under the hood was sticking closed, so that is the part we were going to order. Unsure, if that was the real cause or not. The car did not have any warning lights or any other indications of a problem before this incident.

NHTSA ID

11482417

Incident

Sep 8, 2021

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights and brake lights were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the headlight control module switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.

NHTSA ID

11478671

Incident

Aug 10, 2022

Mileage

164,000 mi

Steering of vehicle has become progressively more difficult. The steering wheel is very difficult to turn. Not being able to rapidly turn wheel places driver at risk to avoid any potential collision. Vehicle has been inspected by independent repair shop. Their assessment is corrosion on steering shaft joints is cause of issue.

NHTSA ID

11466693

Incident

May 31, 2022

Light Control Module replaced by Ford dealer but having issue with lights turning off again

NHTSA ID

11451425

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

The lights keep coming off when I drive

NHTSA ID

11444230

Incident

Feb 21, 2021

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that she noticed a leak underneath her vehicle with the check engine and coolant warning lights illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was discovered that coolant had been leaking from a crack in the intake manifold. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11441976

Incident

Nov 22, 2021

Mileage

150,000 mi

Catalytic converter FAIL, engine idles rough while in park. HIGH Loss of engine power while driving Differentials in back tires are imbalanced…timing FAIL. Steering not calibrated, drivetrain out of sync altogether. Back wheels, left and right; randomly spin & torque hard while car is already in motion on any private road, hidden road, domestic road and high capacity, high speed highway, causing vehicle to fishtail uncontrollably and dangerously, and wildly side to side potentially veering off the road which could result in death unless the driver regains proper control of vehicle. Out of sync car computer and the mechanical devices built into car do not have proper timing performed on those particular moving parts altogether. The car was not manufactured properly mechanically nor electrically altogether. Headlights & electric system etc have an incomplete recall on my vehicle. [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11428138

Incident

Oct 29, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INDEPENDENTLY BECOME INOPERABLE, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V861000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11404689

Incident

Mar 8, 2021

Mileage

150,000 mi

SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS FLICK ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE IN THE DRIVER SIDE DASHBOARD THAT CONTINUES UNTIL IT DRAINS THE BATTERY. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE DOOR LOCKS CYCLE OPEN OR CLOSED WHETHER THE CAR IS DRIVING OR OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND CAUSED ME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, AND STILL I HAVE TO JUMP THE CAR FROM TIME TO TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, BUT ONLY NOW HAVE I FOUND THIS SITE TO REPORT IT TO.

NHTSA ID

11375984

Incident

Nov 20, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

HEAD LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND MOST OF TIME I HAD KICK AT THE LIGHTNING CONTROL MODULE TO MAKE IT WORK WHILE IN MOTION ON MAJOR HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

11350440

Incident

Aug 17, 2020

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION A CLICKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CLANKING NOISE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE STEERING LINKAGE THAT WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HIGHT FORD INC., LOCATED AT 242 MADISON AVE, SKOWHEGAN, ME 04976 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

11339356

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN THE FRONT HEADLAMPS, REAR TAILLAMPS, TURN SIGNALS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER VERA CHADDY (1240 BLOOMFIELD, FAIRFIELD NJ) AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ID

11308983

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

147,000 mi

EXCESSIVELY QUICK CORROSION OF STEERING COLUMN UNIVERSAL JOINTS , MAKING HARD STEERING ( ALSO A SUBJECT OF RECALL 2006 GRAND MARQUIS RECALLS ).

NHTSA ID

11290233

Incident

Dec 15, 2019

AFTER RECEIVING RECALL REMINDER FROM FORD ABOUT SAFETY RECALL FOR HEADLIGHTS INOPERATIVE I MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER PROVIDING VIN# TO DEALER TO GET LCM ORDERED TO REPLACE IT AND IT WAS MORE THAN $500, AND VIN SPECIFIC. ARRIVED AT APPOINTMENT AND SERVICE MANAGER NOTED FORD WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THEM TO REPLACE LCM, COULD DO A REWIRE CAR PER THEIR COMPUTER INSTRUCTIONS AND SOMETHING ABOUT DIAGNOSTIC FEES, AND I NEEDED TO CONTACT FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO GET A NUMBER AUTHORIZING THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE LCM AS NOTED AS REMEDY IN NHTSA 15V861000. CALLED CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND HEARD AUTOMATED MESSAGE THRU AUTOMATED CALL SYSTEM RELATED TO THEIR #15S39 THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, THIS DIDN'T SEEM CONTACTED CUSTOMER SUPPORT ONLINE NOTING ISSUE AND THEY DID NOT PROVIDE # NEEDED FOR THAT DEALER AND SUGGESTED GOING TO ANOTHER DEALER.

NHTSA ID

11288937

Incident

Dec 13, 2019

Mileage

117,000 mi

2004 GRAND MARQUIS, POWER STEERING WENT OUT ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, AROUND 2016-2017, GOT IT REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. WAS FINE UNTIL ABOUT 4-5 MONTHS AGO, STARTED CLICKING/KNOCKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY AND WHEN CAR IS MOVING AT ANY SPEED WITH TURNS. ALSO STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER TURNING UNLESS I MOVE IT. IT IS ALSO TIGHT TURNING AT TIMES, FEELS LIKE IT IS ALMOST LOCKING UP SOMETIMES. AFRAID IT WILL LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT SINCE 2005 AND LATER MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE THINK 2004 GRAND MARQUIS NEED RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ALSO. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE AND SEVERAL ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS EITHER STATIONARY OR AT ANY SPEED ON ANY SURFACE. MILEAGE IS JUST OVER 100,000 ACTUAL MILES ON MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11257564

Incident

May 2, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi