FORD GRAND MARQUIS · model year

1997 FORD GRAND MARQUIS

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.

23
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

23 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN1
STEERING1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1

Recent Complaints

20040907SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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

20040428STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

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

20040423ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Mileage: 53,000

20031117ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

20030902ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK OUT.*AK *JB

Mileage: 80,779

20030722ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

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

20030717ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. MANIFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK

20030623ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

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

20030522ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. *JB

20030429ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLES FAULTY REGULATOR CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS. *NLM

20030429ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH IT'S TURN SIGNALS AS WELL AS OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. *NLM

20030411STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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

20030326ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

THE VEHICLES INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND RESULTED IN COOLANT LEAK. *NLM *SCC

Mileage: 60,035

20021204ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

CONSUMER STATED THE MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT.TS *JB

Mileage: 87,900

20020606SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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

20010913ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

20010913FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

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

20000802EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

BRAKE LIGHT LENS COVER HAVE STRESS CRACKS WHICH RESLUTS IN WATER GETTING INTO THE LAMP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

20000725FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

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.

20000725ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

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.

Compare 1997FORDGRAND MARQUIS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 FORD GRAND MARQUIS have?
The 1997 FORD GRAND MARQUIS has 23 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 FORD GRAND MARQUIS?
The most-complained component for the 1997 FORD GRAND MARQUIS is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 1997 FORD GRAND MARQUIS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.