Total Complaints
370 filings
MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS · model year
1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS
370 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS carries 370 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 7 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 1997 GRAND MARQUIS is engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe with 55 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system (28) and engine and engine cooling:cooling system (21). 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 1997 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.
370
Complaints
12
Crashes
7
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
12 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 55 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 28 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 21 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 21 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 21 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 19 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 19 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 10 |
| STEERING | 9 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 7 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 7 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 5 |
Recent Complaints
20200421POWER TRAIN
PUT CAR IN PARK, AND IT SHOWED TO BE IN PARK. BUT, IT WAS IN REVERSE, GOING BACKWARD, AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
Mileage: 123,000
20190917SERVICE BRAKES
THE SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY ABS LIGHT ON STEERING AND SUSPENSION CROSS SIT
Mileage: 112,000
20190917VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY ABS LIGHT ON STEERING AND SUSPENSION CROSS SIT
Mileage: 112,000
20190917SUSPENSION
THE SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY ABS LIGHT ON STEERING AND SUSPENSION CROSS SIT
Mileage: 112,000
20190909STEERING
I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN AND I SERVICE MANY VEHICLES DAILY. I CURRENTLY OWN A 97 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS AND HAVE NOTICED THAT PRACTICALLY MOST STEERING COMPONENTS ON MY VEHICLE ARE IN NEED OF REPLACING. SPECIFICALLY THE TIE ROD ENDS, CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINS ALL HAVE BLOWN BUSHINGS AND A PITMAN ARM.... THE STEERING SWAYS SO HARD ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT CUSTOMER'S VEHICLES THAT I HAVE WORKED ON THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE CROWN VIC, AND THE MARQUIS ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF STEERING COMPONENT CONCERN AS WELL. I SEE MORE FORDS WITH STEERING ISSUES THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I SERVICE. THE VEHICLES ALSO SEEM TO HAVE ISSUES WITH ANYONE SITTING IN THE BACK THAT THE BODY WILL SCRAPE THE TIRES AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO RIG MY VENT DOOR ACTUATOR AND I HAVE HAD TO INSTALL A SHUT OFF SWITCH DUE TO A PARASITIC DRAW THAT I CAN NOT LOCATE EVEN WITH A VOLT METER. AFTER RESEARCHING ON FORUMS AND WATCHING COUNTLESS YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF OWNERS STATING THESE KNOWN
Mileage: 150,000
20190909SUSPENSION
I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN AND I SERVICE MANY VEHICLES DAILY. I CURRENTLY OWN A 97 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS AND HAVE NOTICED THAT PRACTICALLY MOST STEERING COMPONENTS ON MY VEHICLE ARE IN NEED OF REPLACING. SPECIFICALLY THE TIE ROD ENDS, CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINS ALL HAVE BLOWN BUSHINGS AND A PITMAN ARM.... THE STEERING SWAYS SO HARD ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT CUSTOMER'S VEHICLES THAT I HAVE WORKED ON THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE CROWN VIC, AND THE MARQUIS ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF STEERING COMPONENT CONCERN AS WELL. I SEE MORE FORDS WITH STEERING ISSUES THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I SERVICE. THE VEHICLES ALSO SEEM TO HAVE ISSUES WITH ANYONE SITTING IN THE BACK THAT THE BODY WILL SCRAPE THE TIRES AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO RIG MY VENT DOOR ACTUATOR AND I HAVE HAD TO INSTALL A SHUT OFF SWITCH DUE TO A PARASITIC DRAW THAT I CAN NOT LOCATE EVEN WITH A VOLT METER. AFTER RESEARCHING ON FORUMS AND WATCHING COUNTLESS YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF OWNERS STATING THESE KNOWN
Mileage: 150,000
20190909VISIBILITY/WIPER
I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN AND I SERVICE MANY VEHICLES DAILY. I CURRENTLY OWN A 97 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS AND HAVE NOTICED THAT PRACTICALLY MOST STEERING COMPONENTS ON MY VEHICLE ARE IN NEED OF REPLACING. SPECIFICALLY THE TIE ROD ENDS, CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINS ALL HAVE BLOWN BUSHINGS AND A PITMAN ARM.... THE STEERING SWAYS SO HARD ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT CUSTOMER'S VEHICLES THAT I HAVE WORKED ON THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE CROWN VIC, AND THE MARQUIS ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF STEERING COMPONENT CONCERN AS WELL. I SEE MORE FORDS WITH STEERING ISSUES THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I SERVICE. THE VEHICLES ALSO SEEM TO HAVE ISSUES WITH ANYONE SITTING IN THE BACK THAT THE BODY WILL SCRAPE THE TIRES AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO RIG MY VENT DOOR ACTUATOR AND I HAVE HAD TO INSTALL A SHUT OFF SWITCH DUE TO A PARASITIC DRAW THAT I CAN NOT LOCATE EVEN WITH A VOLT METER. AFTER RESEARCHING ON FORUMS AND WATCHING COUNTLESS YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF OWNERS STATING THESE KNOWN
Mileage: 150,000
20160915SERVICE BRAKES
RECALL WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS VERY LOOSE AS IF ITS ABOUT TO COME OFF
20160915SEAT BELTS
RECALL WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS VERY LOOSE AS IF ITS ABOUT TO COME OFF
20160915STEERING
RECALL WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS VERY LOOSE AS IF ITS ABOUT TO COME OFF
20160524STEERING
I HAVE TO PUT IT ON NEUTRAL MOST OF THE TIME WITH EMG BRAKE ON. BECAUSE THE GEARSHIFT IS HARD TO PUT IN PARK. MY CAR ONLY HAS 92,000 MILES.
20150701SERVICE BRAKES
RUSTY BRAKE LINE FAILED. LEAKED BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING. ALL BRAKE LINES LOOK RUSTY. WHAT HAPPENED TO STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINES?
Mileage: 88,000
20150511CrashTIRES
I BOUGHT A SET OF 4 BRAND NEW BRIDGESTONE TURANZA SERENITY PLUS 225/60R16 TIRES ON APRIL 26, 2015, AND HAVE THEM INSTALLED ON MY WIFE'S CAR. MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS WERE DRIVING TO PHOENIX ON I-10 ON A CLEAR AND SUNNY DAY ON MAY 9, 2015 TO VISIT A FRIEND. SHE SAID SHE WAS DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 75 MPH AND WANTED TO PASS A SEMI-TRUCK ON HER RIGHT SO SHE SPEED UP TO PASS THE SEMI-TRUCK. SHE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AND SHE HELD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS HARD AS SHE CAN. THEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND IT BEGAN TO SWERVE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SEMI-TRUCK. THE CAR STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE SEMI-TRUCK AND THE WINDOW GLASS ON THE FRONT AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHATTERED AND ALSO THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED BECAUSE THE ROOF OF THE CAR WAS BENT. AFTER THE IMPACT, MY WIFE'S CAR THEN SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND WENT INTO A DITCH FILLED WITH WEEDS AND BUSHES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY THE CAR DID NOT FLIP AND EVERYONE IN THE CAR WAS OK BECAUSE
20150209POWER TRAIN
COOLANT LEAK FROM CRACK IN PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 97,130 MILES ON IT AND WELL CARED FOR. THEY SHOULD NOT BE USING PLASTIC IN THIS APPLICATION - IT SHOULD BE IRON OR ALUMINUM. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM I WAS TOLD WITH THE 4.6 V8 ENGINE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE AND REPLACE AT NO COST TO CUSTOMER. I WILL BE WRITING A LETTER TO FORD IF THE DEALER DOESN'T COVER THIS AS A RECALL. RIDICULOUS TO USE PLASTIC IN THIS APPLICATION. *TR
Mileage: 97,130
20150209ENGINE
COOLANT LEAK FROM CRACK IN PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 97,130 MILES ON IT AND WELL CARED FOR. THEY SHOULD NOT BE USING PLASTIC IN THIS APPLICATION - IT SHOULD BE IRON OR ALUMINUM. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM I WAS TOLD WITH THE 4.6 V8 ENGINE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE AND REPLACE AT NO COST TO CUSTOMER. I WILL BE WRITING A LETTER TO FORD IF THE DEALER DOESN'T COVER THIS AS A RECALL. RIDICULOUS TO USE PLASTIC IN THIS APPLICATION. *TR
Mileage: 97,130
20141008SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Mileage: 112,000
20140529ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TWICE THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR JUST TURNED OFF I COULDN'T CONTROL THE WHEEL I HAD TO HURRY AND PUT IT ON NATURAL AND START THE CAR AGAIN, AND PUT IT IN DRIVE. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE IT REALLY SCARED ME I WAS ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY OR CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *TR
Mileage: 178,724
20130326ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD IN VEHICLE. *SMD
20130326ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD IN VEHICLE. *SMD
20130307ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE 35 NORTH OF MINNEAPOLIS, MN, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LOST ANTI FREEZE. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT FOREST LAKE, MN AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO TIRES PLUS IN FOREST LAKE TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED. TOTAL COST FOR TOWING, INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT AND NIGHTS LODGING CAME TO ALMOST $1500.00. *TR
Mileage: 124,500
Compare 1997MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS have?▼
The 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS has 370 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 7 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE with 55 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM.
Is the 1997 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.