RoadVitals

2003 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.
33
Latest Jan 2, 2019
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.
0
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.
5
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Mercury Marquis, most frequently naming the exterior lighting, driver assistance and steering categories.

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

  • Driver assistance512.2%
  • Steering49.8%
  • Suspension49.8%
  • Brakes49.8%
  • Electrical37.3%
  • Body & structure37.3%
  • Visibility24.9%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Steering
Filed Jan 2, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD SEIZE. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. *BF CONSUMER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ID
11164561
Incident
Dec 10, 2018
Mileage
66,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 30, 2018

STEERING REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO TURN STEERING PAST APPROXIMATELY 30-45 DEGREES AT THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING COLUMNS. LESS THAN ONE MONTH AFTER REPLACEMENT, STEERING NOW HAS A "JUMP" AND A "CLUNK" AT THE SAME POSITION IN THE STEERING WHEEL ROTATION. THESE ISSUES WHERE NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IF STATIONARY, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THE STEERING TO TURN AT ALL BEYOND 30-45 DEGREES.

NHTSA ID
11098796
Incident
Apr 1, 2018
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 8, 2018
Crash reported

IN FIRESTONE STORE PARKING AREA PERPENDICULAR TO SERVICE FOR ATTENDANT TO FILL THE RT FRT TIRE. PULLED UP TO ATTENDANT , APPLIED BRAKES AND VEH SURGED AHEAD, STRUGGLED TO CONTROL TO NO AVAIL. MADE DIFFUCULT U TURN TO AVOID DRV INTO STREET TRAFFIC, CRASHED OTHER VEH, CONT'D ON JUMPING 2 INSIDE PK CURBS STOPPING AS FRAME STOPPED RES ON CURB

NHTSA ID
11071861
Incident
Sep 27, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 4, 2016

JAN 2016 GOT A RECALL NOTICE ON THE CAR JUNE CALLED LOCALL DEALER. THERE RESPONSE IS THEY DIDN'T. KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE RECALL WHICH WAS THAT THE HEADLIGHTS COULD GO WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT.

NHTSA ID
10872507
Incident
Jun 2, 2016
Body & structure
Filed Jun 6, 2015

MY CAR FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO AN EROSION IN THE FRAME. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE RESULT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSATION DRIPPING ON IT. AS THERE WAS NO ISSUE IN 2014 AND I DROVE THE CAR FEWER THAT 8000 MILES IN THE YEAR, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE CAR IS GARAGED AT ALL TIMES AND WAS DRIVEN VERY INFREQUENTLY IN THE WINTER MONTHS. I HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED AND IT HAS NOW PASSED INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID
10723774
Incident
May 29, 2015
Mileage
138,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 1, 2014

I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. MY HEADLIGHTS GO OFF ABOUT 3 BLOCKS FROM HOME AND THEN I HAVE TO PULL THE LEVER BACK AND HOLD IT TO PUT ON BRIGHT LIGHTS. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND NOT BEEN FAR FROM HOME AND HAVE TO HOLD BRIGHTS ON, STEER AND OPERATE BLINKERS ALL AT ONE TIME. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I AM IN PROCESS OF HAVING AN EXPENSIVE LIGHTING MODULE PUT IN MY CAR. I TOTALLY RESENT THEM NOT DOING A RECALL ON THIS. WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR? IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROCEDURE AND I WILL BE WAITING TO GET A REFUND WHEN THEY FINALLY ADMIT THERE IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. HATE FOR THEM TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE X NUMBER OF DEATHS OR SERIOUS INJURIES. SHAME ON THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10640669
Incident
Jul 1, 2014
Mileage
122,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH CAUTION AND THEN THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,500.

NHTSA ID
10576187
Incident
Jul 15, 2013
Mileage
44,500 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 12, 2012

HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON WHEN I GOT INTO CAR TO GO TO STORE AT NIGHT. ALSO BATTERY HAS BEEN RUNNING DOWN WHILE VEHICLE IS JUST SITTNG IN DRIVEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10461295
Incident
Jun 7, 2012
Mileage
48,342 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercury Marquis by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004120026.3
2003Viewing330038.5
2002110045.0
2001260141.4
2000230039.4
1999240037.5
1998290137.9
1997531046.1
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.