MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS · model year

1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS

197 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS carries 197 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 20 crashes, 20 fires, 18 injuries, and 2 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 1994 GRAND MARQUIS is vehicle speed control with 28 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (14) and seats (11). 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 1994 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.

197
Complaints
20
Crashes
20
Fires
18
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

197 filings

Crashes Reported

20 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 CONTROL28
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION14
SEATS11
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP8
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP4
AIR BAGS3
TIRES3

Recent Complaints

20190711ENGINE

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL PANS RUSTING

Mileage: 88,000

20170123EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

20160613EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON BUT THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20151228EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20130505ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING MY 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS GS HOME FROM WORK ONE NIGHT AROUND 12:00 AM AND I EXPERIENCED TOTAL LIGHTING FAILURE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING WAS PITCH BLACK NO LIGHTS WHAT SO EVER. EVERY LIGHT ON THE CAR WOULD GO OUT AND COME BACK ON SIMULTANEOUSLY,CAUSING ME SWERVE, ALMOST CRASHING HEAD ON WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF OTHER GRAND MARQUIS' AND FORD CROWN VICTORIA'S DOING THE SAME THING.THIS WAS ONLY MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE LIGHTS. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE JAN 23,2013 AND THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO DO THIS THEREFORE I CANNOT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. THE CAR IS ALL ORIGINAL NO AFTERMARKET NOTHING BUT A CD PLAYER. LIGHTS WERE DOING THIS BEFORE I INSTALLED THE CD PLAYER. SO AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE I PULLED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF ONLY TO FIND THAT THE FACTORY WIRING HARNESS THAT PLUGS INTO THE BACK OF THE LIGHT SWITCH HAD MELTED WHERE THE POSITIVE BATTERY WIRE SLOT IS.SO I REPLACED THE HARNESS WITH A BRAND NEW ONE,AND NOTHING.LIGHTS STILL GO OUT. A COUPLE WEEKS L

Mileage: 92,727

20130505EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I WAS DRIVING MY 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS GS HOME FROM WORK ONE NIGHT AROUND 12:00 AM AND I EXPERIENCED TOTAL LIGHTING FAILURE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING WAS PITCH BLACK NO LIGHTS WHAT SO EVER. EVERY LIGHT ON THE CAR WOULD GO OUT AND COME BACK ON SIMULTANEOUSLY,CAUSING ME SWERVE, ALMOST CRASHING HEAD ON WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF OTHER GRAND MARQUIS' AND FORD CROWN VICTORIA'S DOING THE SAME THING.THIS WAS ONLY MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE LIGHTS. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE JAN 23,2013 AND THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO DO THIS THEREFORE I CANNOT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. THE CAR IS ALL ORIGINAL NO AFTERMARKET NOTHING BUT A CD PLAYER. LIGHTS WERE DOING THIS BEFORE I INSTALLED THE CD PLAYER. SO AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE I PULLED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF ONLY TO FIND THAT THE FACTORY WIRING HARNESS THAT PLUGS INTO THE BACK OF THE LIGHT SWITCH HAD MELTED WHERE THE POSITIVE BATTERY WIRE SLOT IS.SO I REPLACED THE HARNESS WITH A BRAND NEW ONE,AND NOTHING.LIGHTS STILL GO OUT. A COUPLE WEEKS L

Mileage: 92,727

20100709FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS IN HIS HOME HE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128000.

Mileage: 128,000

20091002FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS. IN 2006, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IN A PARKED POSITION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CAUSED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

Mileage: 72,000

20090911FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

I BEGAN SMELLING SMOKE WHILE DRIVING 1994 GRAND MARQUIS. AFTER APPROX. 30 SECONDS OF SMELLING SMOKE, FLAMES AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF REAR LEFT OF HOOD. BRAKES DID NOT WORK. CAR COASTED INTO AN INTERSECTION AND STOPPED. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE CAR, CALLED 911 AND WAITED FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO RESPOND. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PUT FIRE OUT. ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS BURNED EXTENSIVELY, MOSTLY ON LEFT SIDE. LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS BURNED AND DEFLATED. FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED UNDER MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

20081203FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

JULY OR AUGUST 2006. MY VEHICLE WENT ON FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO ONE IN THE CAR OR NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. MY HOME WAS ALSO DAMAGED BY FIRE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY ADVISED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. I INSISTED THAT THEY REMOVE THE CAR FROM MY DRIVEWAY TO INVESTIGATE THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED BY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY. I YEAR LATER AUGUST 2007. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT THIS RECALL OF SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION PROBLEM. I NOTIFIED THEM OF THE ABOVE LISTED PROBLEM. WAS TO LATE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I WAS NOT REIMBURSED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. FOR MY CAR OR HOME DAMAGE. I AM STILL RECEIVING LETTERS ABOUT THIS SERIOUS FIRE PROBLEM. IS FORD MOTOR COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES & REIMBURSEMENT OF FIRE REPORTS. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

20080724SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE BACKING UP AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND HE NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS BELOW THE MAXIMUM LEVEL. HE REFILLED THE BRAKE FLUID, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT LOCATED A RECALL DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME FAILURE, BUT FORD STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V152000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

Mileage: 94,000

20080507VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V051000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL). SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH DISCONNECTED. SHE LATER RETURNED AND HAD THE NEW PART INSTALLED. WHEN SHE TESTED THE VEHICLE AN HOUR LATER, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. SHE BELIEVES THAT THE CURRENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THEY REMOVED AND INSTALLED THE NEW PART. BEFORE THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL WAS DISCONNECTED IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 151,000. UPDATED 06/10/08. *LJ

Mileage: 151,000

20080319VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. WITHIN A MONTH OF RECEIVING THE NOTICE, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. IN FEBRUARY OF 2008, A SECOND RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE NOTICE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALER, AND THE PART IT WAS REPAIRED WITH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE NOTICE FURTHER ADVISED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED FORD AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE RECALL DID APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER CHARGED FORD FOR THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NEVER PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HIM BACK WITH INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO NEXT, BUT HE HAS NOT YET HEARD FROM FORD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE

20080204VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

94 MERCURY RECALLED 9-12-07 FOR CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. DEALER DID NOT SAY PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND REMOVED THE WIRE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET RESULTS ON MY FIX, FORD SERVICE SAID PART NOT AVAILABLE. WITH ALL THE PARTS COMPANY'S CLOSING I AM SURE THEY COULD HAVE THIS FIX IN A DAY OR TWO. I DID NOT BUY THIS CAR WITHOUT CRUISE AND I WANT AND NEED IT NOW. I HAVE A BAD LEG THAT REQUIRES ME TO USE CRUISE ON LONG TRIPS. *TR

Mileage: 58,217

20080128VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER OF 2007. HE WAS GIVEN THE OPTION TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH DISCONNECTED, BUT HE REFUSED. HE CALLED THE DEALER IN DECEMBER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE AFTER JANUARY 1, 2008. HE CALLED THE DEALER ON JANUARY 28,2007 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS MAY ARRIVE IN MARCH OF 2008. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE WAIT TIME IS EXCESSIVE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR

20080122VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2007 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED. HE IS REQUESTING THAT NHTSA MANDATE THE DEALERS TO RECONNECT THE SWITCH SINCE HE WAS DENIED THE RECONNECTION BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER IS ALSO UNABLE TO INFORM HIM WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 02-14-08 BF * THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL NUMBER IS 05S28 AND THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE 4TH QUARTER OF 2007. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR

20080114VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS WITH SPEED CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER APRIL SOMETIME. *KB

20080102VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL. HE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED AT THAT TIME. HE CALLED THE DEALER EVERY MONTH SINCE AUGUST AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS HAD NOT BEEN ORDERED. HE WAS INFORMED IN DECEMBER THAT THE PARTS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH OF 2008. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF

Mileage: 121,770

20071220VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE VEHICLE SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED UNDER RECALL NUMBER 05S28 ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2007. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE PART YET FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAS SURPASSED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02-25-08 *BF

20071214VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH BECAUSE THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Compare 1994MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS have?
The 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS has 197 NHTSA complaints, 20 crashes, 20 fires, 18 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS?
The most-complained component for the 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 28 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and SEATS.
Is the 1994 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.