Total Complaints
29 filings
MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS · model year
1985 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS
29 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 9 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 1985 GRAND MARQUIS is electrical system:ignition:switch with 7 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (4) and vehicle speed control (3). 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 3 investigation files overlapping the 1985 GRAND MARQUIS. 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.
29
Complaints
0
Crashes
9
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20180209ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S AUNT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NO PRESSURE IN THE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07E064000 (FUEL SYSTEM,GASOLINE) ONLINE, BUT WAS UNSURE IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER (FORD OF WEST COVINA, 2000 E GARVEY AVE S, WEST COVINA, CA 91791, (626) 709-3550) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
Mileage: 87,000
20180209FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S AUNT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NO PRESSURE IN THE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07E064000 (FUEL SYSTEM,GASOLINE) ONLINE, BUT WAS UNSURE IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER (FORD OF WEST COVINA, 2000 E GARVEY AVE S, WEST COVINA, CA 91791, (626) 709-3550) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
Mileage: 87,000
20050916ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ABOUT, 2001, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SOMEONE ABOUT A PART DEFECT/1985 1/2 MERC.GR.MARQUIS 2DR.[KEEP STOPPING/CUT OUT WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY CALLED IT.] SENT IN FORMS-[STATED NOT TO CONTACT FORD MOTOR CO.], WELL I READ ABOUT THE SAME THING IN THE NEWS PAPER ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S PROBLEM BEING THE SAME AS MINE ON RECALL. TOOK IT UP TO OLD MIDDLEKRAUFT CAR DEALER/NAME IS CHANGED NOW. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT ON RECALL, THEY CHECKED OUT THE VIN #. I SENT PAPERS WITH EVERYTHING IN TO THE ONE I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL, GOT A LETTER BACK FROM THEM SAID MY VIN WAS A WRONG NUMBER-NO IT IS NOT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER FROM DAY 1/NOV.11,1985-MY BIRTHDAY, MY HUSBAND BOUGHT THIS FOR ME, I HAVE ALL MY PAPERS.[M-1000659]AS OF TODAY 9-16-2005. 2 YRS AGO I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND FLUSHED AT TURN KEY DIESEL/CAR REPAIR. THEY FOUND A SILVER ROUND PIECE, LIKE YOU PUSH OUT OF A ELECTRICAL OUTLET THAT GOES IN THE WALL, IT IS ALL BENT-I STILL HAVE THIS. GOOD THING IT WAS FOUND
20020326VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
VEHICLE HAS LOW POWER, STALLS, ALWAYS ON HIGH IDLE WHEN STARTED, TRANSMISSION JERKS, CHECKED WITH DEALER AND THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ON RECALLS ALTHOUGH YOUR DATA BASE SHOWS NUMEROUS RECALLS CONCERNING THESE PROBLEMS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM MY FATHER. HE HAS NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF ANY OF THE RECALLS. HOW CAN I GO ABOUT GETTING THESE VEHICLE PROBLEMS CORRECTED?*AK
20020326POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE HAS LOW POWER, STALLS, ALWAYS ON HIGH IDLE WHEN STARTED, TRANSMISSION JERKS, CHECKED WITH DEALER AND THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ON RECALLS ALTHOUGH YOUR DATA BASE SHOWS NUMEROUS RECALLS CONCERNING THESE PROBLEMS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM MY FATHER. HE HAS NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF ANY OF THE RECALLS. HOW CAN I GO ABOUT GETTING THESE VEHICLE PROBLEMS CORRECTED?*AK
20001120ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE IS STALLING AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS, STALLING POSSIBLY DUE TO FAULTY TFI MODULE. *SLC
20001025TIRES:TREAD/BELT
COOPER LIFELINER CLASSIC STEEL BELTED RADIAL TIRE P215 70 R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *SLC
20001024TIRES:TREAD/BELT
COOPER LIFELINER CLASSIC STEEL BELTED RADIAL TIRE P215 70 R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *SLC
20000920ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT VHEICLE WILL STALL, CONSUMER MUST WAIT UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN TO RESTART. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER AND MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES, BUT CAUSE IS STILL UNKNOWN. *AK
19990329FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL LINE TO THE ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING FUEL LEAKING RESULTING IN FIRE.
19990316VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19981113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE IS SO LOUD THAT OWNER CAN'T HEAR RADIO OR TRAFFIC APPROACHING. OWNER WAS ALMOST HIT BY A POLICE VEHICLE AT INTERSECTION BECAUSE HE DID NOT HEAR IT COMING. *AK
19971204ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF, DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.
19971204ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE STALLED, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE TFI MODULE WIRING ASSEMBLY.
19971204STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR STRIKER FAILED.
19971204EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER PUMP FAILED.
19970801VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN/UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO A HALT BY APPLYING THE BRAKES AND TURNING ENGINE OFF. *AK
19961118FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE. *AK *JB
19960930ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRIC IGNITION MODULE BURN OUT, CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL.
19960807FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, THEN SUDDENLY FLAMES SHOT OUT OF STEERING COLUMN.*AK
Compare 1985MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS have?▼
The 1985 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS has 29 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 9 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1985 MERCURY 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.