Total Complaints
57 filings
MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS · model year
1987 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS
57 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS carries 57 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 18 fires, 2 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 1987 GRAND MARQUIS is electrical system:ignition:switch with 12 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (6) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (5). 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 1987 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.
57
Complaints
2
Crashes
18
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 | 12 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 6 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID | 1 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070810FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND APPROACHING A TURN, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER AND MODULAR. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY FOR A WHILE, BUT NOW IT IS HESITATES AND JERKS. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSES HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DRIVES NORMALLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. UPDATED 09/06/07 *TR
Mileage: 133,000
20050521SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKEL. A SPRING ON THE RELEASE BUTTON BREAKS AND NO LONGER LATCHES CORRECTLY. THE BUCKEL WILL HOLD IF IT IS SHAKEN BUT RELEASES EASILY. THIS IS THE SECOND 1987 GRAND MARQUIS THAT I HAVE OWENED THAT THIS HAPPENED TO. I REPLACED THEM WITH PARTS FROM A SALVAGE YARD. FORD WANTED $250.00 FOR THE BUCKEL.
Mileage: 48,900
20030312SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND DID NOT WORK PROPERLY.*AK *JB
Mileage: 131,200
20001018FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING CABLE HARNESS FUSE LINKS. *AK
20001018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
FUSE LINKS FAILED TO OPEN CAUSING WIRES TO BURN I AM A E.T..
20000204VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION DUE TO FAILED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. *MJS
19991019POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CABLE THAT RUNS FROM TRANSMISSION TO THROTTLE CAME LOOSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY, EVEN WITH BRAKES APPLIED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK
19990908ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE OIL PAN HAS RUSTED OUT WITHIN 100,000 MILES, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK. *AK
19990602FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE PARKED FOR SOMETIME. STARTED VEHICLE & WAS DRIVING WHEN ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER WAS INSIDE VEHICLE. HAD NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. STOPPED & LIFTED HOOD. FLAMES SHUT OUT. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO PUT FLAMES OUT. INDCATION OF ELECTRICAL WIRES. *AK
19990503VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION DURING DAMP OR RAINY WEATHER. MJS
19990304ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING LINK AT STARTER SOLONOID BURNT UP.
19990304ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
19990304EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE SWITCH FAILED.
19990304ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION COIL REPLACED.
19990304ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
RADIATOR HOSE AND SERPENTINE BELT FAILED.
19990304ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
RADIATOR HOSE AND SERPENTINE BELT FAILED.
19990304ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXHAUST SYSTEM LEAK DUE TO HOLE.
19990304EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
O RINGS ON THE A/C SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE.
19990304VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
19990217VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. VEHICLE NOT IN REVERSE WHEN IT TOOK OFF. GEAR STILL IN NEUTRAL. HAD TO RELEASE BRAKES. CALLED DEALER & WILL HAVE VEHICLE TOTALED. WAS TOLD THROTTLE CABLE GONE. *AK
Compare 1987MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS have?▼
The 1987 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS has 57 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 18 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1987 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.