Total Complaints
98 filings
MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS · model year
98 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS carries 98 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 32 fires, 13 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 1988 GRAND MARQUIS is electrical system:ignition:switch with 25 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (11) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank 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 1988 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.
Total Complaints
98 filings
Crashes Reported
10 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 25 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 11 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 4 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 3 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 94 IN CHICAGO, I ACCELERATED TO PASS A CAR. THE ACCELERATION DEVICE WITHIN THE ENGINE, NOT ONLY STUCK, BUT IT INCREASED SPEED. I TRIED TO BRAKE THE CAR WITH LITTLE RESPONSE. I GOT ON THE EXIT RAMP AND WITH 2 FEET ON THE BRAKES, COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. WE REAR ENDED A WOMAN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WE PUT THE BUMPER OF HER JEEP INTO HER BACK SEAT, THEN VEERED OFF HER CAR AND SMASHED INTO A CEMENT RETAINING WALL. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF MY CAR. ALTHOUGH NONE OF US WERE ABLE TO STAND AND WALK AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT, OUR INJURIES INCLUDE SOFT TISSUE AND MUSCLE DAMAGE. WE ALL SPENT THE NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL AND RECEIVED MORPHINE FOR THE EXTREME PAIN WE WERE IN. I WANT TO FILE SUIT AGAINST FORD, BUT HAVE NOT FOUND A LAWYER WHO WILL TAKE THE CASE. I WILL FILE ON MY OWN BEHALF. PAIN, SUFFERING AND OVER $50,000 HOSPITAL AND VEHICLE DAMAGE IS NOW ON MY RECORD BECAUSE OF THIS MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. *NM
Mileage: 90,000
THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW ROLLED DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Mileage: 98,000
THERE IS NO TREAD WEAR/ TRACTION, OR TEMPERATURE CODE ON THE TIRES.*AK
FORD SAYS THE STARTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER THE STARTER SWITCH RECALL. THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH AGAIN. THE SWITCH HAS BURNED CONTACTS AND IS DEFORMED PROBABLY FROM HEAT. THE HARNESS CONNECTOR, THAT GOES TO THE SWITCH, IS MELTED , SPLIT AND DEFORMED. MY TURN SIGNALS AND A/C FAN MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. I ALSO GET ERRONEOUS ENGINE WARNING AND LOW OIL WARNING LIGHTING AT VARIOUS TIMES. THE SWITCH DOES GET VERY WARM AND IT WAS JUST THAT OR HOT UPON FAILURE. THE RECALL (96V071000) DID NOT ACTUALLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM. A SAFETY HAZARD REMAINS IN EXISTANCE WITH THESE VEHICLES. I WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IF THE SWITCH WAS BROKEN OR WORN OUT BUT THE SWITCH IS HEATING OR BURNING UP. THE RECALL SHOULD REMAIN EFFECTIVE FOR CHRONIC REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH UNLESS A ENGINEERING CORRECTION IS MADE ON THE VEHICLES IN QUESTION.*AK
FORD SAYS THE STARTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER THE STARTER SWITCH RECALL. THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH AGAIN. THE SWITCH HAS BURNED CONTACTS AND IS DEFORMED PROBABLY FROM HEAT. THE HARNESS CONNECTOR, THAT GOES TO THE SWITCH, IS MELTED , SPLIT AND DEFORMED. MY TURN SIGNALS AND A/C FAN MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. I ALSO GET ERRONEOUS ENGINE WARNING AND LOW OIL WARNING LIGHTING AT VARIOUS TIMES. THE SWITCH DOES GET VERY WARM AND IT WAS JUST THAT OR HOT UPON FAILURE. THE RECALL (96V071000) DID NOT ACTUALLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM. A SAFETY HAZARD REMAINS IN EXISTANCE WITH THESE VEHICLES. I WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IF THE SWITCH WAS BROKEN OR WORN OUT BUT THE SWITCH IS HEATING OR BURNING UP. THE RECALL SHOULD REMAIN EFFECTIVE FOR CHRONIC REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH UNLESS A ENGINEERING CORRECTION IS MADE ON THE VEHICLES IN QUESTION.*AK
FORD SAYS THE STARTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER THE STARTER SWITCH RECALL. THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH AGAIN. THE SWITCH HAS BURNED CONTACTS AND IS DEFORMED PROBABLY FROM HEAT. THE HARNESS CONNECTOR, THAT GOES TO THE SWITCH, IS MELTED , SPLIT AND DEFORMED. MY TURN SIGNALS AND A/C FAN MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. I ALSO GET ERRONEOUS ENGINE WARNING AND LOW OIL WARNING LIGHTING AT VARIOUS TIMES. THE SWITCH DOES GET VERY WARM AND IT WAS JUST THAT OR HOT UPON FAILURE. THE RECALL (96V071000) DID NOT ACTUALLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM. A SAFETY HAZARD REMAINS IN EXISTANCE WITH THESE VEHICLES. I WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IF THE SWITCH WAS BROKEN OR WORN OUT BUT THE SWITCH IS HEATING OR BURNING UP. THE RECALL SHOULD REMAIN EFFECTIVE FOR CHRONIC REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH UNLESS A ENGINEERING CORRECTION IS MADE ON THE VEHICLES IN QUESTION.*AK
FORD SAYS THE STARTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER THE STARTER SWITCH RECALL. THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH AGAIN. THE SWITCH HAS BURNED CONTACTS AND IS DEFORMED PROBABLY FROM HEAT. THE HARNESS CONNECTOR, THAT GOES TO THE SWITCH, IS MELTED , SPLIT AND DEFORMED. MY TURN SIGNALS AND A/C FAN MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. I ALSO GET ERRONEOUS ENGINE WARNING AND LOW OIL WARNING LIGHTING AT VARIOUS TIMES. THE SWITCH DOES GET VERY WARM AND IT WAS JUST THAT OR HOT UPON FAILURE. THE RECALL (96V071000) DID NOT ACTUALLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM. A SAFETY HAZARD REMAINS IN EXISTANCE WITH THESE VEHICLES. I WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IF THE SWITCH WAS BROKEN OR WORN OUT BUT THE SWITCH IS HEATING OR BURNING UP. THE RECALL SHOULD REMAIN EFFECTIVE FOR CHRONIC REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH UNLESS A ENGINEERING CORRECTION IS MADE ON THE VEHICLES IN QUESTION.*AK
IGNITION SWITCH / STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN HEAT UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON 2 OCCASSION AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH UNDER RECALL.*SLC
IGNITION SWITCH / STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN HEAT UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON 2 OCCASSION AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH UNDER RECALL.*SLC
ON TWO OCCASIONS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND ROAD CONDITIONS VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. ANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
3 OF THE 4 FIRESTONE TIRES ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC
THIS TIRE WAS ON AN MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 1988. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE. WHEN CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE A TREAD SEPERATION WAS NOTICED. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL 96VO71000. ANOTHER CAR ALMOST REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, IT WAS RAINING AND COULD HARDLY SEE ANYTHING. *AK THE CAUSE FOR STALLING OF THE VEHICLE WAS A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. *YH
WHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL 96VO71000. ANOTHER CAR ALMOST REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, IT WAS RAINING AND COULD HARDLY SEE ANYTHING. *AK THE CAUSE FOR STALLING OF THE VEHICLE WAS A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. *YH
I WAS DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF APPROX. 45 -50MPH ON RT.219 IN ORCHARD PARK, N Y, WHEN MY 1988 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS WAGON STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON LEVEL GROUNG TO APPROX. 60 MPH. CONTINUOUS BRAKING ONLY SLOWED THE CAR TEMPORARILY. I MANAGED TO BRAKE THE CAR ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE EXIT RAMP AND ONLY WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BY RIDING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUTTING THE CAR INTO N. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE SPEED PEDAL WAS NOT "STUCK" DOWN. I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. IN MORE TRAFFIC OR IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *AK
AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE . SHE APPLIED BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. FRONT TWO TIRE WERE ON FIRE AT THAT TIME. FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.*AK
AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE . SHE APPLIED BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. FRONT TWO TIRE WERE ON FIRE AT THAT TIME. FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.*AK
WHILE IN BED HEARD AUTOMOBILE CRANKING BY ITSELF. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOOK OUT OF THE WINDOW, SAW SMOKE, AND THEN AUTOMOBILE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT BLAZE OUT.*AK
CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND& IT SHOT BACK ACROSS A SMALL INTERSECTION INTO A DITCH, IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF, CONSUMER THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A THROTTLE PROBLEM,DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *AK *ML *SLC
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED BUT VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. NLM
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.