Total Complaints
23 filings
FORD GRAND MARQUIS · model year
23 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997FORDGRAND MARQUIS carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 GRAND MARQUIS is engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe with 7 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system (2) and engine and engine cooling (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1997 GRAND MARQUIS, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
23 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 7 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATED IN SPEED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE HYDRAULIC REAR BRAKE LINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEARS AND THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FRAME BROKE AND COULD NOT FIX IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INDICATED IT WOULD COST THE CONSUMER $3862 TO REPAIR IT. *AK THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE THAT HAD COME FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AREA WHEN BRAKING AND GOING OVER BUMPS. *SC *JB
Mileage: 72,000
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Mileage: 53,000
WHILE DRIVING, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS VERY HIGH BECAUSE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE COOLANT TO GO INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED IN TRAFFIC. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
Mileage: 86,000
WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK OUT.*AK *JB
Mileage: 80,779
CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A COOLANT SMELL COMING INTO THE CAB . ALSO HEAVY SMOKE COMIING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATES THERE IS A HAIRLINE CRACK ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK
Mileage: 66,025
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. MANIFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK
1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *MR THE VEHICLE STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ALMOST HITTING AN 18 WHEELER AND FORD DENIED RESPONSIBILITY. THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT THE STEAM CONTINUED TO ESCAPE AND THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CRACKED MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM FOR FORD BECAUSE THEY HAVE USED PLASTIC INTAKE FOR SOME TIME AND THE VEHICLES WERE SUBJECT TO HIGHER TEMPERATURES AND WOULD STOP IN TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING. *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. *JB
THE VEHICLES FAULTY REGULATOR CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS. *NLM
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH IT'S TURN SIGNALS AS WELL AS OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. *NLM
THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POP NOISE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE FRAME CRACKED, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
THE VEHICLES INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND RESULTED IN COOLANT LEAK. *NLM *SCC
Mileage: 60,035
CONSUMER STATED THE MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT.TS *JB
Mileage: 87,900
CONSUMER CONTACTED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS IN SEARCH FOR PARTS TO REPAIR A PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LINE. PARTS WERE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED BY FORD COMPANY . PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE MADE A POPPING SOUND. THEN, CONSUMER SAW WATER POURING OUT OF BACK OF VEHICLE. TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT, AND VEHICLE STALLED ON A SIX LANE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED GAS STATION ,AND THEY REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE MADE A POPPING SOUND. THEN, CONSUMER SAW WATER POURING OUT OF BACK OF VEHICLE. TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT, AND VEHICLE STALLED ON A SIX LANE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED GAS STATION ,AND THEY REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
BRAKE LIGHT LENS COVER HAVE STRESS CRACKS WHICH RESLUTS IN WATER GETTING INTO THE LAMP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR CRACKED CAUSING RAPID LOSS OF FLUID RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER,AND CONTROL DUE TO FAN BELT GETTING WET , STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND POWER COMPONETS SHUTTING DOWN. CONTROL OF VEHICLE DECREASED QUICKLY, RESULTING IN SPARK PLUG WIRES BEING DAMAGED AND PLUGS FAILING AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN.
WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR CRACKED CAUSING RAPID LOSS OF FLUID RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER,AND CONTROL DUE TO FAN BELT GETTING WET , STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND POWER COMPONETS SHUTTING DOWN. CONTROL OF VEHICLE DECREASED QUICKLY, RESULTING IN SPARK PLUG WIRES BEING DAMAGED AND PLUGS FAILING AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN.
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Timing Belt Failure
Underbody shields detachment
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.