MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS · model year

1989 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS

69 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS carries 69 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 19 fires, 3 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 1989 GRAND MARQUIS is vehicle speed control with 15 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (7) and power train:automatic transmission (4). 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 1989 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.

69
Complaints
10
Crashes
19
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

69 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1

Recent Complaints

20051003TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR IN PERFECT WEATHER, MY W/W MICHELIN XZ4 215/70/15M/S BLEW OUT ON MY GRAND MARQUIS FROM THE CENTER/TOP OF THE TIRE(NOT SIDEWALL). THERE WERE NO ROAD HAZARDS. THE TIRE HAS A LARGE GASH, AND EXTENSIVELY SPLAYED STEEL BELTS EXPOSED/TORN. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY A BLOCK FROM HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME TO CHANGE IT. I'VE NEVER SEEN EXTENSIVE TIRE DAMAGE LIKE THIS BEFORE AND AM CONCERNED B/C ALL THE TIRES ON THE CAR ARE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. IS THERE A DEFECT IN THE MICHELIN XZ4 SERIES?*JB

20050519CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1989 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE ENGINE REVVED UP WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE HE HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE FIRST TIME THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, HE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB *SC

20040928ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL A BRAND NEW CRAFT SILVER 651 BATTERY IT STARTED SPARKING. THE RETAIL STORE WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY WILL STOP SPARKING ONCE INSTALLED. CONSUMER INSTALLED THE BATTERY AND IT BLEW UP THE ALTERNATOR. RETAIL STORE DISTRICT MANAGER WAS CONTACTED. HE INSPECTED THE ALTERNATOR, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE DAMAGE, BUT DID NOT ADMIT THAT THE BATTERY DESTROYED IT.*AK

Mileage: 29,000

20040928ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL A BRAND NEW CRAFT SILVER 651 BATTERY IT STARTED SPARKING. THE RETAIL STORE WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY WILL STOP SPARKING ONCE INSTALLED. CONSUMER INSTALLED THE BATTERY AND IT BLEW UP THE ALTERNATOR. RETAIL STORE DISTRICT MANAGER WAS CONTACTED. HE INSPECTED THE ALTERNATOR, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE DAMAGE, BUT DID NOT ADMIT THAT THE BATTERY DESTROYED IT.*AK

Mileage: 29,000

20040824POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE PLASTIC BUSHING KICKBACK WIRING LOCATED ON TOP OF TRANSMISS HAS DETERIOATED AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME DAMAGED, AND WASNOT OPERATIONAL.*AK

Mileage: 86,500

20031112CrashPOWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE AXLE BROKE CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COME OFF THE VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE SPUN OFF THE ROAD AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THE WHEEL CROSSED LANES, SMACKED A CONCRETE BARRIER AND BOUNCED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE FORCING THAT VEHICLE TO THE ROAD SIDE. *PH

20030318CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. *TS *JB

Mileage: 64,000

20030212STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE VEHICLE FRAME HAD APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET OF RUST AND CORROSION. THE RUST WAS ALSO NOTICED BY THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TRANSMISSION SUPPORT CROSS MEMBER. THE ENGINE OIL PAN RUSTED OUT WHICH CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. ALSO TWO OF THE TIRES HAD ACQUIRED BULGES. *JG *JB

Mileage: 120,514

20030212TIRES

THE VEHICLE FRAME HAD APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET OF RUST AND CORROSION. THE RUST WAS ALSO NOTICED BY THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TRANSMISSION SUPPORT CROSS MEMBER. THE ENGINE OIL PAN RUSTED OUT WHICH CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. ALSO TWO OF THE TIRES HAD ACQUIRED BULGES. *JG *JB

Mileage: 120,514

20030212ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLE FRAME HAD APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET OF RUST AND CORROSION. THE RUST WAS ALSO NOTICED BY THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TRANSMISSION SUPPORT CROSS MEMBER. THE ENGINE OIL PAN RUSTED OUT WHICH CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. ALSO TWO OF THE TIRES HAD ACQUIRED BULGES. *JG *JB

Mileage: 120,514

20021030TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE. PULLED OUT OF WAY OF TRAFFIC. STOPPED VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM TIRE. CONTACTED TRIPLE AAA AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED.

20010716POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ON THE 6TH OF JULY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM OCALA TO BELLEVIEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS PLASTIC) AND HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A METAL ONE, BUT BY THIS DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER IT CAUSED THE TRANMISSION TO HAVE TO BE REBUILT AT A COST TO ME OF $748.24. I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT I SHOULD HAVE A REFUND OF THE COST CAUSED THE TRANMISSION TO HAVE TO BE REBUILT, AT A COST TO ME OF $ 748.24. *AK

20010619ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

STOP LIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR. CONNECTOR OVERHEATED/MELTED AND LOST STOP LIGHTS. I SAVED THE DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR. *AK

20001012POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING GEARS SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. DEALER HAD TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION.*AK WHILE DRIVING A SMALL PART DROPPED OUT FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSEING THE ENGINE TO SURGE AND THE GEARS TO LOCK. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED AS THE RESULT. *YH

20001006SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

PE00 020; REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT HOLD WHEN PUTTING SEATBELTS IN THE RETRACTOR .BUTTON IS DEFACTIVE, IT WILL NOT HOLD. *AK FRONT DRIVERS BUCKLE DOES NOT HOLD JUST POPS OUT. ODOMETER FAILED. *YH

20001006SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

PE00 020; REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT HOLD WHEN PUTTING SEATBELTS IN THE RETRACTOR .BUTTON IS DEFACTIVE, IT WILL NOT HOLD. *AK FRONT DRIVERS BUCKLE DOES NOT HOLD JUST POPS OUT. ODOMETER FAILED. *YH

20001006POWER TRAIN

PE00 020; REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT HOLD WHEN PUTTING SEATBELTS IN THE RETRACTOR .BUTTON IS DEFACTIVE, IT WILL NOT HOLD. *AK FRONT DRIVERS BUCKLE DOES NOT HOLD JUST POPS OUT. ODOMETER FAILED. *YH

20000822FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

FUEL LINE RUSTED OUT AND LEAKED GASOLINE ONTO PAVEMENT, UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS EVENT WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT, AND DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS EVENT DID CREATE A FIRE HAZARD, BUT IT WAS CAUGHT IN TIME. MY CAR IS IN THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP 13+ DAYS NOW AND STILL AWAITING REPAIR, BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER (FORD) HAS THE NEW FUEL LINE PART ON "NATIONAL BACK ORDER" AND REFUSES TO FULFILL MY DEALER'S ORDER FOR A NEW PART. PLEASE HELP ME GET MY CAR FIXED. PLEASE NOTE ALSO THAT THIS SAME CAR MODEL WAS INVOLVED IN A PRIOR MANDATORY RECALL IN 1996 FOR A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING A FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THIS SAME CAR WAS ONE OF THE CARS REPORTED TO YOU THAT HAD ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. FORD REFUSES TO RECALL THIS CAR. I THINK ANOTHER MANDATORY RECALL FOR THIS NEW PROBLEM IS NEEDED NOW.

20000216ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH-BEAM THE LIGHTS START TO GO ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY. I HAVE TO PUT THE HEAD-LIGHTS ON LOW-BEAM AND THEN THEY STAY ON. IF I PUT THEM BACK ON HIGH-BEAM THEY START TO GO ON AND OFF AGAIN. IT SEEMS AS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

20000204LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

DOOR LATCHES BROKK OFF FROM DOOR PANEL. ALL DOOR LATCHES ARE BROKEN, AND PREVENT DOORS FROM BEING PROPERLY SECURED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

Compare 1989MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS have?
The 1989 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS has 69 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 19 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS?
The most-complained component for the 1989 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1989 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.