1998 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 1998 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
- Steering412.1%
- Engine412.1%
- Suspension412.1%
- Transmission39.1%
- Brakes39.1%
- Exterior lighting39.1%
- Tires & wheels39.1%
- Other / unspecified26.1%
- Driver assistance26.1%
- Body & structure26.1%
- Seat belts13.0%
- Electrical13.0%
- Fuel system13.0%
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
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FRONT END IS VERY SQUEAKY LOUD AND WHEN YOU MAKE HARD TURNS TO LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES A LOUD SPRING POPPING SOUND. THE STEERING IS FEEL LOSE AND CAUSE THE CAR TO SEEM AS THOUGH IT IS WOBBLING SIDE TO SIDE AND HOLDING IT IN THE ROAD IS A LITTLE TOUGH.
98 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 50,000 MILES DRIVING 10 MPH THE PS TIEROD END FELL OFF LOSING ALL CONTROL. CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER ALL TIE ROD ENDS REPLACE WITH GREASABLE ENDS COST $400.00 THIS IS A SEALED TIE ROD END REQUIRING NO GREASE (MANUFACTURES DEFECT REQUIRING RECALL,I STILL HAVE OLD PARTS. THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN INSPECTED NYS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD AND THE THERMOSTAT HOLDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 3/24/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE CURB, INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM A BROKEN PART, RELEASING ANTI-FREEZE. THE THERMOSTAT GASKET HOUSING AND INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/07/15*JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH STEAM WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.
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
THE FRONT END IS VERY SQUEAKY LOUD AND WHEN YOU MAKE HARD TURNS TO LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES A LOUD SPRING POPPING SOUND. THE STEERING IS FEEL LOSE AND CAUSE THE CAR TO SEEM AS THOUGH IT IS WOBBLING SIDE TO SIDE AND HOLDING IT IN THE ROAD IS A LITTLE TOUGH.
WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 40MPH SUDDENLY FRONT WHEELS KEPT SWERVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. HAD NO STEERING CONTROL. WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT & FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. HAD 2 INJURIES. EMERGENCY RM TREATMENT. THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY. *AK
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
OWNER CAN NOT TELL WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION VIBRATED AND ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR BRAKES DID NOT MATCH. WHILE TRAVELING AT 35-50 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD. DRIVER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC REPLACED 2 REAR ROTORS AND 2 REAR BRAKE PADS. ALSO MECHANIC DETERMINED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES HAD A DIFFERENT BRAKING SYSTEM THAN THE LEFT. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES EMERGENCY STOPPING SITUATIONS, VEHICLE KEEPS GOING AS IF NO BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
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
HEADLIGHT LENSES MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO FROST ON THE OUTSIDE LENS. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A COLLISION DUE TO LACK OF VISIBILITY. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE FAR DOWN THE ROAD WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE FINE AND NARROWLY AVOIDED HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE AND HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS. WHEN THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WERE USED, ONCOMING VEHICLES DID NOT SIGNAL THE CONSUMER TO SWITCH BACK TO THE LOW BEAMS. *SCC *JB
HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. *AK CONSUMER STATES AT 18880 MILES HEADLIGHTS FOGGED UP ON DRIVER'S SIDE, PASSENGER'S SIDE FOGGED UP AT 22704 MILES, DEALER REPLACED THEM, HOWEVER AT 41396 MILES HEADLIGHTS FOGGED AGAIN AND DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE. *SLC
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
DT: HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE, THE WHOLE TIRE CAME COMPLETELY APART AND THE TREAD HAD SHREDDED. *AK
THE FIRST TIRE FAILED AS THE TREAD PARTIALLY SEPARATED AND WENT FLAT ON A FREEWAY TH IS WAS ON 12/02/2000 AT APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILES. THE SECOND TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT BUT THE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE ON 2/20/2001 AT APPROXIMATELY 35,500 MILES. *AK (TIRESIZE: P225 60R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225 60R16 )
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
THE FRONT END IS VERY SQUEAKY LOUD AND WHEN YOU MAKE HARD TURNS TO LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES A LOUD SPRING POPPING SOUND. THE STEERING IS FEEL LOSE AND CAUSE THE CAR TO SEEM AS THOUGH IT IS WOBBLING SIDE TO SIDE AND HOLDING IT IN THE ROAD IS A LITTLE TOUGH.
JACK WARNING LABEL DOES NOT MEET FVMSS SAFETY STANDARDS. *AK REFER TO RECALL NO.# 00V200000. *SCC *JB
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 1998 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 500 MILES STOPPED AND STARTED VEHICLE, MOTOR ACCELERATED TO ALMOST FULL SPEED. DEALER CONTACTED AND FOUND PLASTIC SHIPPING COVER IN THROTTLE PLATE, WHICH WAS STUCK IN TO KEEP THROTTLE OPEN. REPAIR WORK DONE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY TRUNK ON MY 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE LEAKS WATER WHEN IT RAINS, PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH DOES NOT WORK,MY CAR HAS JUMPED TIMING TWICE IN A MONTH AND WAS STUCK ON THE INTERSTATE THE SECOND TIME AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK, HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AND BUY THE TIMING KIT TWICE. NOT COUNTING ON ALL THE RECALLS ON THIS CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN 1998 NEW. THE CAR IS IN MY HUSBANDS NAME... WHICH IS MARVIN MINOR. I REALLY DO LIKE MY CAR, BUT IT HAS BEEN A DISAPPOINTMENT TO ME. 8NLM
FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HINGE FAILED.
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
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETURN TO RETRACTING MECHANISM AFTER USE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *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
MY TRUNK ON MY 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE LEAKS WATER WHEN IT RAINS, PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH DOES NOT WORK,MY CAR HAS JUMPED TIMING TWICE IN A MONTH AND WAS STUCK ON THE INTERSTATE THE SECOND TIME AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK, HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AND BUY THE TIMING KIT TWICE. NOT COUNTING ON ALL THE RECALLS ON THIS CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN 1998 NEW. THE CAR IS IN MY HUSBANDS NAME... WHICH IS MARVIN MINOR. I REALLY DO LIKE MY CAR, BUT IT HAS BEEN A DISAPPOINTMENT TO ME. 8NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS PUTTING GAS INTO VEHICLE WHEN NOTICED FUEL POURING OUT UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND WILL REPAIR VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE. BUT CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF BEING WITHOUT TRANSPORATION UNTIL REPAIRS ARE MADE. *AK
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 .