Total Complaints
91 filings
MERCURY MARAUDER · model year
91 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003MERCURYMARAUDER carries 91 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 4 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 2003 MARAUDER is exterior lighting with 14 filings, followed by unknown or other (6) and electrical system (6). 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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 22 investigation files overlapping the 2003 MARAUDER. 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
91 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 14 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| SUSPENSION | 5 |
| TIRES | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 2 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE
I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN YOU TRY TO USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. IT SEEMS MY ISSUE WOULD FIT UNDER THE LCM RECALL FOR 2003-2005 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHEN YOU ENTER THE VIN IT SHOWS NO RECALLS. I'M HOPING THIS IS AN OVERSIGHT SINCE THE MARAUDER IS A VERSION OF GRAND MARQUIS.
Mileage: 117,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V861000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (LEVITTOWN FORD LLC, 3195 HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
15S39 THIS VEHICLE RECALL HAS BEEN ON MY CAT FOR ALMOST A YEAR. ACCORDING TO THIS WEBSITE SAFERCAR.GOV THE REMEDY IS AVAILABLE BUT WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO FORD IT IS NOT. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS RECALL WITH NO REMEDY FOR A YEAR! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT HAS DESTROYED THE VALUE OF THE CAR. ITS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. FORD IS EITHER LYING ABOUT THE RECALL REMEDY OR IT WAS MISREPORTED
DRIVING ALONG 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 7PM 1/6/2016 HEAD LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WILL NOT COME BACK ON HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT HEAD LIGHTS OR TAILLIGHTS I WAS INFORMED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER HEAD LIGHTS ETCAND FORD IS AWARE OF THIS HAZARDOUS PROBLEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT REPLACED UNKNOWN WIRING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT, BUT THE LIGHT STILL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Mileage: 105,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT REPLACED UNKNOWN WIRING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT, BUT THE LIGHT STILL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Mileage: 105,000
THE STEERING BECAME JERKY AND HAD TO OVERCORRECT TO KEEP IN TRAFFIC LANE. MAKING TURNS THERE WAS A LOUD CRACKING SOUND. THE DEALER SAID RUST HAD SEIZED THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT AND IT WAS REPLACED. *TR
Mileage: 110,170
HEAD LIGHT FLICKER ON AND OFF , LOW BEAMS ARE DIM , HIG BEAMS NOT BRIGHT. *TR
Mileage: 319,254
HEAD LIGHT FLICKER ON AND OFF , LOW BEAMS ARE DIM , HIG BEAMS NOT BRIGHT. *TR
Mileage: 319,254
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS THE LIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT REMAIN IN THE ON POSITION CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY LCM (LIGHT CONTROL MODULE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Mileage: 110,000
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH IN MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT ~45 - 50 MPH. DURING THE IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FAILED AND FELL BACKWARDS. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER (5 YRS OLD) WAS NOT IN THE BOOSTER SEAT THAT IS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. IF SHE HAD BEEN WITH ME, SHE MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS INJURIES. WHEN THE SEAT FELL BACK, MY INSTINCT WAS TO TRY TO STAY UPRIGHT. THIS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT NECK STRAIN. WHEN I THEN CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, I SLID UNDER THE SEAT BELT AND MY KNEE MADE HARD CONTACT WITH THE DASH. *JS
Mileage: 119,700
I WAS ENTERING ONTO A PARKWAY AT 05:30 HOURS, DAY-BREAK, WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. I TURNED THE ON/OFF SWITCH, FLICKED THE HI-BEAMS, NO LIGHTS. I PULLED THE DRIVING LAMPS SWITCH, THEY CAME ON. I DROVE FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT SINCE THIS EVENT. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND WE EXPERIMENTED WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS. CAR RUNNING, DRIVERS WINDOW DOWN...TURNED HEAD LIGHTS ON, PARKING LIGHTS CAME ON BUT HEAD LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON. TURNED ON LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND HEAD LIGHTS CAME ON. JIGGLED MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH AND HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERED AS DID LEFT TURN LAMP. ORDERED NEW MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WILL HAVE IT INSTALLED 13 MAY, 2013. CONCERN: I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND NO ONE ELSE MENTIONED THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH, THEY ALL REFERRED TO THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE. I NOW FEAR MY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AGAIN AFTER REPLACING THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM OCCURRING ON SI
Mileage: 103,000
I WAS ENTERING ONTO A PARKWAY AT 05:30 HOURS, DAY-BREAK, WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. I TURNED THE ON/OFF SWITCH, FLICKED THE HI-BEAMS, NO LIGHTS. I PULLED THE DRIVING LAMPS SWITCH, THEY CAME ON. I DROVE FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT SINCE THIS EVENT. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND WE EXPERIMENTED WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS. CAR RUNNING, DRIVERS WINDOW DOWN...TURNED HEAD LIGHTS ON, PARKING LIGHTS CAME ON BUT HEAD LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON. TURNED ON LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND HEAD LIGHTS CAME ON. JIGGLED MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH AND HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERED AS DID LEFT TURN LAMP. ORDERED NEW MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WILL HAVE IT INSTALLED 13 MAY, 2013. CONCERN: I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND NO ONE ELSE MENTIONED THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH, THEY ALL REFERRED TO THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE. I NOW FEAR MY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AGAIN AFTER REPLACING THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM OCCURRING ON SI
Mileage: 103,000
HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS FAILED. CAR HOOD FELL ON MY HEAD. *TR
Mileage: 78,786
ON THE ABOVE DATE WHILE LEAVING A PLACE OF BUSINESS AT APPROXIMATELY 10:15 PM I HAD NO HEAD LIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHT AUTOLAMP POSITION NOR THE HEADLIGHT MANUAL POSITION WOULD TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON. I SPENT ABOUT 00:20 MINUTES TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 3 MILES ALONG A VERY DARK SECONDARY ROAD IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITH ONLY THE FOG LIGHTS WORKING BEFORE THE HEAD LIGHTS EVENTUALLY CAME ON. THE NEXT EVENING MORE TIME WAS SPENT TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON, BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHT AUTOLAMP POSITION TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING THE HEADLIGHT MANUAL POSITION TO WORK BUT NEITHER OF THE HEADLIGHT POSITIONS IS WORKING ON THE CAR. I HAVE A CAR THAT I CAN ONLY DRIVE DURING THE DAY LIGHT HOURS. MY RESEARCH HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE 'LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE' THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. *TR
Mileage: 52,345
HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, SIDE MARKERS, FOG LAMPS ALL DIED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TWICE ON FRIDAY NIGHT. FAULTY 'LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE' (PART NUMBER 3W7Z-13C788-AA ON MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE) TO BLAME. PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA CLOSED (PE08066), BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN - *ALL* 2001-2004 PANTHER PLATFORM VEHICLES WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVENTUALLY IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY DUE TO THE RELAY BEING SIZED TO SMALL AND EVENTUALLY BURNING OUT. MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE WITH LOSING YOUR LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON DARK BACKROADS. *TR
Mileage: 74,500
HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, SIDE MARKERS, FOG LAMPS ALL DIED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TWICE ON FRIDAY NIGHT. FAULTY 'LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE' (PART NUMBER 3W7Z-13C788-AA ON MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE) TO BLAME. PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA CLOSED (PE08066), BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN - *ALL* 2001-2004 PANTHER PLATFORM VEHICLES WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVENTUALLY IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY DUE TO THE RELAY BEING SIZED TO SMALL AND EVENTUALLY BURNING OUT. MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE WITH LOSING YOUR LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON DARK BACKROADS. *TR
Mileage: 74,500
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULE WHICH THE CONTACT STATED HE REPAIRED HIMSELF BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. THE DEALER WAS CALLED WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $500 FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COMPLETELY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Mileage: 130,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE UNLESS THEY WERE ON FULL SPEED. THE WIPERS WOULD ALSO COME ON AUTOMATICALLY AND SPRAY THE FLUID WHEN THEY WERE NOT MANUALLY OPERATED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,500.
Mileage: 33,500
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.