2004 Mercury Grand Marquis Steering Problems

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

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

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 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

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

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

WHEN I TURN THE CAR LET RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSTITION. THE STEERING SEEMS TO GET HUNG UP ON VARIOUS POINTS LEFT OR RIGHT SLOW OR FAST. THE STEERING KNUCKLE LOOKS RUSTED.

NHTSA ID

11163426

Incident

Dec 3, 2018

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT LINK OF THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNDONE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MURRAY FORD OF STARKE, INC. IN STARKE, FLORIDA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000. *TT REPLACEMENT PART PURCHASED FROM DEALER UPDATED 9/26/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11102802

Incident

Jun 18, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SEIZED AND MADE A CLICKING SOUND WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11092722

Incident

May 2, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DAMAGE DONE TO CAR WHILE HAVING VEHICLE REPAIRED. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED DAYS AFTER THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED THE STEERING FROZE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRES USED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL WERE TOO LONG AND WRAPPED AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN BREAKING THE HARNESS AND THE LCM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. *JS

NHTSA ID

11029808

Incident

Jul 26, 2017

I AM HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME MOVING MY STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. IT STARTED WITH SOME NOISY OPERATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE I CAN GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO TURN. I AM A AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11076061

Incident

Mar 3, 2018

Mileage

180,000 mi

I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 GRAND MARQUIS, THE LIGHTS DON'T WORK, HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, AIRBAGS DON'T WORK, ELECTRICAL, SEATS, STEERING, BRAKES, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL, CATALYTIC CONVERTOR KEEPS GOING OUT, ALSO ENGINE PROBLEMS, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS. I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE MY STEERING DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY AND I WAS HIT BY SOMEONE, NOT MY FAULT, BUT MY CAR ENDED UP SPINNING SO BAD THAT I HIT MY HEAD OFF OF THE STEERING AND RECEIVED INJURIES,,PARTY IN OTHER CAR WAS NOT INJURED. I WAS ALSO DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY LIGHTS WENT OUT, I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND.. BUT ALSO, BECAUSE OF MY HEADLIGHTS AND STEERING THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING, AIR BAGS, NEVER DEPLOY... RECEIVED SOME SERIOUS INJURIES, BANGED MY KNEW ALSO VERY BADLY.

NHTSA ID

11005342

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

62,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS RECENTLY NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V861000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO BE REFERRED TO A DEALER TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR AND ADDRESS THE EPS FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/07/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

11005282

Incident

Jun 26, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

LOWER STEERING COLUMN CORROSION CAUSING STIFFNESS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. MERCURY DOES NOT LIST THIS MODEL YEAR AS A RECALL. PREVIOUSL HAD TO REPLACE SAME PART ON 2003 CROWN VICTORIA (SAME PART SISTER MODEL) SAME STORY THAT IT WASN'T ON RECALL LIST FOR MUCH NEWER CARS.

NHTSA ID

10971073

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

52,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING STEERING LOCKED UP AND BECAME HARD TO STEER, LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND NOT MY WIFE, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEER CAR. MECHANIC LOOKED AT AND SAID IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. LOOKS LIKE STEERING SHAFT. MECHANIC SAID HE'S SEEN THIS IN FORD AND MERCURY, SAID THEY HAVE HAD RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM. CALLED FORD, SAID NO RECALL FOR 2004, YET 2005 AND 2006 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR STEERING SHAFT PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10933968

Incident

Nov 17, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

SEVERE STEERING PROBLEM. NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, CLUNKING SOUND. WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WHEEL LOCKS UP AND DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER UNLESS PULLED HARD. CALLED NHTSA ON12/19/14. WAS GIVEN COMPLAINT #10667316. I WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE PAPERWORK IN MAIL, SIGN & RETURN. NEVER RECEIVED PAPERWORK. ALSO CALLED FORD ON SAME DAY 12/19/14. SPOKE TO DONNA. SHE GAVE ME CASE# 5719627 NEVER HEARD FROM FORD EITHER. VERY DANGEROUS. ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS RACK & PINION. PAID $700. TO HAVE IT REPLACED. SAME PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

10904234

Incident

Oct 13, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY WIFE AND 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE STRUCK BY A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS ON 04/21/16. THEY WERE DRIVING IN EASTBOUND TRAFFIC IN A 2008 NISSAN ULTIMA AND THE DRIVER OF THE MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS WAS DRIVING IN WESTBOUND TRAFFIC. THE DRIVER OF THE GRAND MARQUIS LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE OF MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER. THE DRIVER DIED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. MY WIFE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO HER RIGHT LEG AND MY DAUGHTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL TRAUMA TO HER SKULL, NECK, BACK, SPINAL CORD, THROAT, AND INTESTINES. MY DAUGHTER IS PARALYZED ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE DOCTORS SAY HER PROGNOSIS IS UNKNOWN. SHE HAS A TRACHEOSTOMY AND IS UNABLE TO SPEAK. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING WITH 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS VEHICLES. FORD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE STEERING COLUMN FOR 2005 THROUGH 2011 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS CARS. THE RECALL WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH LEADS TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. FORD HAS NOT RECALLED 2003 AND 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS DESPITE THESE VEHICLES HAVING THE SAME STEERING COLUMN. THE MEMPHIS POLICE DETECTIVE CLOSED THE CASE LAST WEEK AND THIS WAS BEFORE I DISCOVERED THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL. I HAVE CALLED THE DETECTIVE MULTIPLE TIMES, AND HE IS NOT RETURNING MY CALLS. THIS MATTER NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

NHTSA ID

10864209

Incident

Apr 21, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HAS SAME DIFFICULT STEERING ISSUES STATED IN DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFT RECALL BUT VIN# NOT INCLUDED ON RECALL LIST. CONSUMER ALSO SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10861846

Incident

Mar 9, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT CORRODED, WHICH RESULTED IN DIFFICULTY STEERING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT BINDING CAUSED THE STEERING SHAFT TO BIND AND THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING), BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

NHTSA ID

10860368

Incident

Feb 17, 2016

Mileage

52,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE SWIRLED TO THE LEFT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES TO THE ARM DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

NHTSA ID

10852718

Incident

Mar 29, 2016

Mileage

141,000 mi

POWER STEERING HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY MORE DIFFICULT. CAR IS LOCATED IN NEW YORK STATE AND HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILE. COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR TO OTHER 2004 ISSUES INDICATED AT THIS SITE AND SAME AS 2005 - 2011 MERCURY RECALL ISSUE

NHTSA ID

10851205

Incident

Mar 23, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

POWER STEERING LOST. VEHICLE VERY HARD TO STEER AROUND CORNERS. ADDED POWER STEERING FLUID TO MIN/MAX LINE. THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BUT STEERING VERY TIGHT AND HARD TO STEER WITHIN 5 MILES. STEERING ODD, NOT NORMAL. GROANING NOISE ACCOMPANIED STEERING ISSUE. WAS DRIVING ON STREET, MEDIUM TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

10837264

Incident

Feb 19, 2016

Mileage

174,120 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 218,801.

NHTSA ID

10807628

Incident

Nov 2, 2015

Mileage

218,801 mi

TAKATA RECALL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ABILITY, WHICH RANDOMLY PROGRESSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO PREVENT THE STEERING WHEEL FROM GOING STRAIGHT SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10790706

Incident

Sep 15, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY 2004 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS HAS EXTREMELY TIGHT STEERING ISSUE. ESPECIALLY TIGHT ON LEFT TURNING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 51,900 MILES. SAW FORD HAS RECALLED 2005 TO 2011. NOT SURE WHY THEY DON'T RECALL 2003 AND 2004. THEY ARE THE SAME GENERATION. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND IMMEDIATELY AFTER PARKED 2 DAYS. FORTUNATELY IT IS NOT ON HIGHWAY. CAN'T IMAGE WHAT SAFETY PROBLEM IT WILL CAUSE.

NHTSA ID

10778307

Incident

Sep 27, 2015

Mileage

51,900 mi