RoadVitals

1997 Mercury Marquis

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
53
Latest Dec 4, 2009
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 14, 2005
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
8
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 53 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Mercury Marquis, most frequently naming the engine, suspension and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine2234.9%
  • Suspension812.7%
  • Brakes711.1%
  • Fuel system57.9%
  • Driver assistance46.3%
  • Steering46.3%
  • Transmission46.3%
  • Exterior lighting34.8%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
05V086000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Mar 14, 2005
43,626 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL, THE REAR BRAKE LINE MAY CHAFE DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN IT AND A FLOOR PAN STIFFENING RIB, AND A BRAKE FLUID LEAK MAY OCCUR.
The risk: THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY DEVELOP A "SPONGY" FEEL AND DROPS OF BRAKE FLUID MAY BE OBSERVED BENEATH THE VEHICLE. OVER TIME BRAKE PERFORMANCE MAY BE COMPROMISED AND STOPPING DISTANCES COULD BE EXTENDED WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES FOR CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE TUBE AND FLOOR PAN STIFFENING RIB. IF CONTACT IS EVIDENT, BUT NO ABRASION OR LEAKS EXIST, THE BRAKE TUBE WILL BE REPOSITIONED TO PRECLUDE FURTHER CONTACT AND POTENTIAL ABRASION. IF INDICATION OF ABRASION OR A LEAK IS EVIDENT, DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BRAKE LINE. THIS CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON JULY 15, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 04B26View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 53
Steering
Filed Dec 4, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE DRIVER LOSS STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN UTILITY POLE, BOULDER AND FENCE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE STRUCTURE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000. THE DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR BOX IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10294479
Incident
Nov 26, 2009
Mileage
63,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 18, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2007. THE DEALER STATED ON THREE OCCASIONS THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE AVAILABLE. MORE RECENTLY, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,045. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF

NHTSA ID
10221713
Incident
Sep 10, 2007
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 8, 2008

1997 MERCURY MARQUIS WITH CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FIXED IN 2007. CONSUMER STATED IT STILL WAS NOT FIXED BY JANUARY 2008. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PART MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE OR JULY 2008. *JB

NHTSA ID
10214986
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 16, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT WENT TO HIS LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. HE BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS BEING PERFORMED; HOWEVER, HE LATER LEARNED THAT THE SWITCH HAD ONLY BEEN DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2007. HE FELT THIS INFORMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED EITHER IN THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE OR THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT, IMPLYING THAT THE REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ID
10205856
Incident
Oct 16, 2007
Fuel system
Filed May 10, 2007
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PIPE THAT EXTENDS FROM THE FENDER WHERE FUEL IS APPLIED HAS RUSTED OUT. THE FAILURE IS CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT HAS FOUND LARGE PUDDLES OF GASOLINE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT IT NEEDED A GAS FILLER PIPE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PART IS NO LONGER PRODUCED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000.

NHTSA ID
10190386
Incident
May 7, 2007
Mileage
56,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 18, 2007
Crash reported

1997 MOUNTAINEER, ENGINE RACE, COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. USED THE BRAKES BUT ENGINE RACED AND BANGED INTO OUR HOUSE IN ORDER TO STOP. THIS WAS THE FOURTH INCIDENT, IN A MONTH TIME. OTHER INCIDENTS WERE HITTING A CAR IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO STOP. NO ONE WAS HURT, THANK GOODNESS. BUT THIS WAS SCARY. WE WANT TO SELL THE CAR, BUT CAN'T WITH GOOD CONSCIENCE UNTIL WE CAN FIND THE CULPRIT. PLEASE ADVISE OR CONFIRM DIFFICULTY WITH THE CAR. THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10188225
Incident
Apr 10, 2007
Mileage
70,000 mi
EngineSuspension
Filed Jan 14, 2007

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. SUSPENSION FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10178658
Incident
Nov 22, 2006
Mileage
14,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 3, 2006

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEED, MY 1997 GRAND MARQUIS, LS WAS RUNNING AT NORMAL TEMP. ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHIN A MATTER OF A MINUTE OR TWO, THE TEMP GAUGE MAXED OUT, CAR STARTED SMOKING, ALL COOLANT WAS LOST. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, AND UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED APPROX A 3-4" CRACK. I WAS STRANDED, HAD TO TOW MY CAR APPROX 134 MILES TO GET HOME. THIS IS A $269.99 PART NOT TO MENTION THE GASKETS, ANTI-FREEZE AND LABOR INVOLVED TO FIX. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE PART AT THE VERY LEAST. *JB

NHTSA ID
10158905
Incident
Jun 3, 2006
Mileage
2 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

9735

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONING- R-134A TRACER DYE INSTALLED IN A/C SYSTEM AND THREE O-RING SPRING LOCK COUPLERS- SERVICE TIP. *JD

BC0263970201

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

LOCKING WIRE WHEEL COVER CENTER ORNAMENT WHERE THE EMBLEM HAS SEPARATED FROM THE BACKING PLATE. NEW REPLACEMENT PART. *JD

BC5195961001

TIRES

FIRESTONE P235 TIRES MAY EXHIBIT A HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION AT 65-75 MPH. *TT

BC5197961001

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED W/ AN AX4S TRANSAXLE MAY HAVE BEEN SHIPPED W/ A LOW TRANSAXLE FLUID LEVEL. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercury Marquis by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004120026.3
2003330038.5
2002110045.0
2001260141.4
2000230039.4
1999240037.5
1998290137.9
1997Viewing531046.1
1996310039.3
1995200026.9
1994300149.7
1993230146.7
1992240149.5
1991900—
1990600—
1989100047.4
1988900—
1987400—
1986412—
1985522—
1984102362.7
1983132—
1982111—
1981030—
1979050—
1977110—
1974020—
1973020—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.