Your vehicle report

1997 Mercury Grand Marquis

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
316
Received Nov 1996 to Apr 2020
Official recalls listed
4
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Plastic intake manifold cracks and leaks coolant119 complaints · 38% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Headlights dim or fail at night16 complaints · 5.1% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines15 complaints · 4.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #08V051000Ford is recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 econoline, my 1993-1995 taurus sho, my 1992-1998 crown victoria, my 1993 bronco, f-series, my 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998 mercury grand marquis, and my 1992-1995 lincoln town car vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired using a wiring harness that is not compatible with the vehicle circuit polarity.
  • Recall #07V336000On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 11 crashes, 6 fires, 11 people injured, 0 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 19 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

1 more problem

Brakes

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

3 more problems

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis
48
Show as a table
YearComplaints
19961
19978
199819
199927
200016
200123
200237
200340
200448
200528
200614
20076
200822
20095
20106
20114
20120
20132
20142
20153
20162
20170
20180
20192
20201
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
2026 (to Oct 2026)0
Total316

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Plastic intake manifold cracks and leaks coolant11938%–
Headlights dim or fail at night165.1%–
Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines154.8%–
Rear door latch fails to open or close82.5%–
Ball joints wear out and fail82.5%–
Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed72.2%–
Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed61.9%–
Seat belt fails to latch or retract51.6%–NHTSA recall #00V157001, #00V157002
Vehicle catches fire from wiring51.6%–
Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps51.6%–
Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly51.6%–
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes41.3%–
Head gasket leaks coolant into engine41.3%–
Power window regulator fails and window drops30.9%–
Tires blow out or tread separates30.9%–
Unintended acceleration despite braking30.9%–
Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning30.9%–
Front brake rotors warp and wear early30.9%–
Transmission fails or loses power while driving30.9%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #08V051000February 4, 2008225,000 vehicles affected

    vehicle speed control: cruise control

    Ford is recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 econoline, my 1993-1995 taurus sho, my 1992-1998 crown victoria, my 1993 bronco, f-series, my 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998 Mercury Grand Marquis, and my 1992-1995 Lincoln town car vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired using a wiring harness that is not compatible with the vehicle circuit polarity.

    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 event of an electrical short to ground.

    Remedy

    Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on february 18, 2008. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

  • NHTSA recall #07V336000August 3, 20073,600,000 vehicles affected

    vehicle speed control

    On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.

    This could result in an underhood fire.

    Remedy

    Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact Ford at 1-888-222-2751.

  • NHTSA recall #00V157001June 12, 20001,167 vehicles affected

    seat belts: front: anchorage

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket driver's seat belt assemblies that were sold by Ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt assemblies, model nos. H 9977, h 9979, t 9063, and t 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, inc. (trw) manufactured from june 1, 1998 through may 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies may have been installed as service replacement equipment on the vehicles involved in the recall.

    In the event of a collision, these seat belts may not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from january 1 through june 13, 2000.

  • NHTSA recall #00V157002June 12, 20001,129 vehicles affected

    seat belts: front: anchorage

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket front passenger side seat belt assemblies that were sold by Ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt assemblies, model nos. H 9977, h 9979, t 9063, and t 9217, built by trw vehicle safety systems, inc. (trw) manufactured from june 1, 1998 through may 21, 2000. Some of these seat belt assemblies may have been installed as service replacement equipment on the vehicles involved in the recall.

    In the event of a collision, these seat belts may not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from january 1 through june 13, 2000.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN