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1996 Mercury Grand MarquisProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 239 owner complaints about the 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

39
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.6× the Grand Marquis median · #6 of 27 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints23937 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage85kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 1, 2023. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis has problems

239 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
Engine and engine cooling8510
Service brakes, hydraulic233
Steering210
Fuel system, gasoline210
Vehicle speed control197
Exterior lighting180
Electrical system164
Suspension150
Power train152
11 other systems388

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

5 recalls

1996 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

Vehicle speed control: cruise control

Recall 08V-051 · Feb 4, 2008 · 225,000 vehicles

Risk. AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Front: anchorage

Recall 00V-157 · Jun 12, 2000 · 1,167 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Front: anchorage

Recall 00V-157 · Jun 12, 2000 · 1,129 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Doors: latch

Recall 96V-070 · Apr 22, 1996 · 73,500 vehicles

Risk. THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.

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.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

85kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 57 engine and engine cooling complaints. 77% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 38% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles44under 100k miles13100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

10 owners mentioned a cost

$915median

Middle half: $800 – $1,084

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1996 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
NHTSA crash tests

1996 Mercury Grand Marquis safety ratings

1996 Mercury Grand Marquis 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
7 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FUEL-FED FIRESDP02007 · closed Dec 4, 2002
    No recall
  2. IMPROPER HEIGHT FOR HEAD RESTRAINTSDP98007 · closed Sep 28, 1998
    No recall
  3. SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRESEA02025 · closed Jun 30, 2004
    No recall
  4. REAR BRAKE LINE FAILUREEA03012 · closed Apr 11, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-086
  5. BALL JOINT SEPARATIONRQ03002 · closed Jun 3, 2003
    No recall
  6. REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURERQ03004 · closed Jul 25, 2003
    No recall
  7. POST REAR END COLLISION FIRESSQ01014 · closed Oct 3, 2002
    Led to recall 02I003000
In owners' words

What Grand Marquis owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

A CRACK IN MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING COOLANT TO SPRAY ALL OVER UNDER MY HOOD AND NOW MY ENGINE OVERHEATS..THANKS FOR USING PLASTIC PARTS FORD. *TR
Complaint 10458067 · May 10, 2012 · 122,000 miles
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK IN THE EVENING, THE CAR STARTED TO PUTTER, THEN SMOKE CAME POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE HOOD BLOCKING MY VIEW FROM THE ROAD CAUSING CARS TO RACE AROUND ME AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT...ALSO STARTED COMING IN THE VENTS OF THE CAR, MAKING ME NAUSEA. EXTREME…
Complaint 10368518 · Dec 1, 2010 · 85,218 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS STEAM EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED…
Complaint 10348684 · Aug 11, 2010 · 85,000 miles

Own a 1996 Grand Marquis?

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