1996 Mercury Marquis Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 Mercury Marquis, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1129.7%
- Brakes410.8%
- Visibility410.8%
- Suspension38.1%
- Steering38.1%
- Airbags25.4%
- Driver assistance25.4%
- Electrical25.4%
- Exterior lighting25.4%
- Seat belts12.7%
- Tires & wheels12.7%
- Transmission12.7%
- Other / unspecified12.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING TODAY 4/12/2006 RESULTING IN COOLANT SPRAYING AND REDUCING MY VISIBILITY ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD RESULTING IN A NEAR HEAD ON MISS TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE MANIFOLD HAS A KNOW DEFECT BY FORD WHICH WITHOUT MY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OR NOTIFICATION AGREED TO THE SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT. DUE THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT I HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED - WHICH IS ONE REASON FOR WRITING THIS MESSAGE. HOWEVER, THE MORE IMPORTANT REASON IS THE KNOWN POTENTIAL DANGER OF THIS DEFECT ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS WITHOUT HAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. TODAY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL INJURY AND THE FORD COMPANY IS JUST LOOKING AT THE DOLLAR SIZE INSTEAD OF DOING THE RESPONSIBLE THING. IT'S A REAL SHAME AND I HOPE ODI CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I WAS LUCKILY TODAY, BUT OTHERS MAY NOT BE IN THE FUTURE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL - THAT WOULD HAVE BE THE RESPONSIBLE THING FOR FORD TO DO. SOMEONE HAS TO FORCE THEM TO TAKE A MORE COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO THESE TYPES OF MATTERS - IT DOESN'T MAKE GOOD BUSINESS SENSE OR GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS NOT TO. I AM COUNTING ON YOU TO HELP DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND HELP SAVE FUTURE LIVES AND INJURIES. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED 100 MILES AND THE COST OF REPAIRS IS GOING TO BE CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TOTAL. DUE TO THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT (WWW.FORDMANIFOLDSETTLEMENT.COM), NOT ONLY DOES FORD GET AWAY WITH NOT REIMBURSING ME FOR MY COST, PUT MY LIFE IN JEOPARDY, BUT ALSO HAVING OTHERS OUT THERE WITH TICKING TIME BOMBS IN THERE CARS. *NM
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD DEFECTIVE.CAUSED STEAM AND VAPORIZED ANTI-FREEZE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
MUSHY BRAKE PEDAL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACED BOOSTER ASSEMBLY, AND CONDITION STIL OCCURRING. *AK BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY FAILED TWICE. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL NOISY AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACING DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *YH
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, THE WINDOW GEARS BROKE AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING. IN ADDITION, THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION/ IT IS VERY HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND BANGS INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. ELECTRICAL FAILURES AS WELL. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING UNDER STORMY CONDITIONS, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND WINDOW WOULD NOT GO DOWN. SECOND TIME, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE REPAIR PROVIDER STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL CAUSING THE FAILURE WAS OF INFERIOR QUALITY. *JG
ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH DRIVER 'S SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILING TO OPERATE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHEN UNABLE TO CLOSE OR UNABLE TO SECURE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CONSUMER STATES' VEHICLE WEAVES ALL OTHER THE ROAD IF THERE IS A DIP OR RAISE IN ROAD ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. MR
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WEAVES ALL OVER ROAD. CONSUMER STATES' IF THERE IS A RAISE OR DIP IN ROAD THERES A TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING STEERING JERKS VERY HARD LEFT TO RIGHT, MAKING THE VEHICLE HARD TO STEER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THERE IS A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON A ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, VEHICLE RODE OVER A SHEET OF ICE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL, VEHICLE LANDED ON TOP OF A ROCK, DEPLOYING AIR BAGS, CONSUMER RECEIVED INJURIES FROM AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK
TILT STEERING COLUMN POINTED DOWNWARD. TRAVELING MINIMAL SPEED VEHICLE SLID OFF RAMP AIR BAG DEPLOYED HITTING DRIVER UNDER THE NECK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THE INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER (05S28) IN AUGUST OF 2007 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH AND STATED THAT THE OTHER FAILURES WERE UNRELATED. THE COST FOR A DIAGNOSTIC WOULD BE $900. THE CURRENT AND FAILURES MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE CABLE WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO LOSE ACCELERATION TO THE PEDAL CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO GO UNDER THE HOOD AND PULL ON THE CABLE TO RESTORE ACELLERATION. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONSDD, CABLE WAS REROUTED AND ADJUSTED, AND PROBLEM STILL GOES UNRESOLVED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, THE WINDOW GEARS BROKE AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING. IN ADDITION, THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION/ IT IS VERY HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND BANGS INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. ELECTRICAL FAILURES AS WELL. *AK *ML
COMPUTER FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEADLIGHTS PRODUCED A THICK FILM COVERING THE LENS. AS A RESULT VISIBILITY HAD BEEN IMPAIRED. *AK
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED, DEALERS REPLACED A MODULE WHICH CONTROLS THE HORN,LIGHTS, SETC. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND THEN RETURNED.OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DURING A 15 MPH VEHICLE COLLISION DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. CONSUMER'S HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT FOR BELT HAD SNAPPED, TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE. FIRESTONE, FR480, P215/70, R15 DOT#VM31LT. TIRE WAS PURCHASED WITH VEHICLE. PREVIOUSLY REAR LEFT TIRE ALSO BLEWOUT WHICH WAS REPORTED, AND WAS ONE OF ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED WITH VEHICLE. MERCURY, GRAND MARQUIS, 1996. *AK *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, THE WINDOW GEARS BROKE AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING. IN ADDITION, THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION/ IT IS VERY HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND BANGS INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. ELECTRICAL FAILURES AS WELL. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
COMPUTER FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .