Menu

1989 Mercury Grand MarquisProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 58 owner complaints about the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

64
CarFlaw IndexSolid year44% below the Grand Marquis median · #18 of 27 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints5827 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage29kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 3, 2005. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis has problems

58 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system1611
Vehicle speed control148
Power train61
Engine and engine cooling61
Service brakes, hydraulic52
Fuel system, gasoline52
Tires30
Structure20
Seat belts10
3 other systems31

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1989 Mercury Grand Marquis recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Electrical system: ignition

Recall 96V-071 · Apr 25, 1996 · 7,900,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercury.

Best & worst years

1989 vs. every other Grand Marquis year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Grand Marquis median. How we score

'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis, and the recalls they led to.

  1. BRAKE LINE PUNCTURESPE91125 · closed Jan 15, 1992
    No recall
In owners' words

What Grand Marquis owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL A BRAND NEW CRAFT SILVER 651 BATTERY IT STARTED SPARKING. THE RETAIL STORE WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY WILL STOP SPARKING ONCE INSTALLED. CONSUMER INSTALLED THE BATTERY AND IT BLEW UP THE ALTERNATOR. RETAIL STORE DISTRICT MANAGER WAS CONTACTED. HE…
Complaint 10094498 · Sep 28, 2004 · 29,000 miles
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH-BEAM THE LIGHTS START TO GO ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY. I HAVE TO PUT THE HEAD-LIGHTS ON LOW-BEAM AND THEN THEY STAY ON. IF I PUT THEM BACK ON HIGH-BEAM THEY START TO GO ON AND OFF AGAIN. IT SEEMS AS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Complaint 718860 · Feb 16, 2000
I HAVE A "STALLING FORD" AND WOULD LIKE TO FORCE A RECALL. FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IN 1997 MY CAR STALLED FOR NO REASON. MECHANIC TRIED MANY THINGS--EVEN KEPT MY CAR TO DRIVE AROUND FOR OVER A WEEK. I WAS WITHOUT A CAR AND SPENT SEVERAL HUNDREDS IN REPAIRS, THOUGH THE REAL PROBLEM WAS NEVER FOUND AS CAR…
Complaint 708540 · Jul 12, 1999

Own a 1989 Grand Marquis?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.