Total Complaints
40 filings
MERCURY MARQUIS · model year
40 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996MERCURYMARQUIS carries 40 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1996 MARQUIS is engine and engine cooling with 4 filings, followed by visibility:power window devices and controls (3) and engine and engine cooling:engine (3). 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 22 investigation files overlapping the 1996 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
40 filings
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THE INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER (05S28) IN AUGUST OF 2007 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH AND STATED THAT THE OTHER FAILURES WERE UNRELATED. THE COST FOR A DIAGNOSTIC WOULD BE $900. THE CURRENT AND FAILURES MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
MY INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING TODAY 4/12/2006 RESULTING IN COOLANT SPRAYING AND REDUCING MY VISIBILITY ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD RESULTING IN A NEAR HEAD ON MISS TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE MANIFOLD HAS A KNOW DEFECT BY FORD WHICH WITHOUT MY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OR NOTIFICATION AGREED TO THE SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT. DUE THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT I HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED - WHICH IS ONE REASON FOR WRITING THIS MESSAGE. HOWEVER, THE MORE IMPORTANT REASON IS THE KNOWN POTENTIAL DANGER OF THIS DEFECT ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS WITHOUT HAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. TODAY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL INJURY AND THE FORD COMPANY IS JUST LOOKING AT THE DOLLAR SIZE INSTEAD OF DOING THE RESPONSIBLE THING. IT'S A REAL SHAME AND I HOPE ODI CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I WAS LUCKILY TODAY, BUT OTHERS MAY NOT BE IN THE FUTURE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL - THAT WOULD HAVE BE THE RESPONSIBLE THING FOR FORD TO DO. SOMEONE HAS TO FORCE THEM
DURING A 15 MPH VEHICLE COLLISION DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. CONSUMER'S HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Mileage: 119,000
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD DEFECTIVE.CAUSED STEAM AND VAPORIZED ANTI-FREEZE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
Mileage: 94,293
THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK. DEALER REPLACED THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD WITH AN ALUMINUM MANIFOLD. *AK *JB
Mileage: 64,119
HEADLIGHTS PRODUCED A THICK FILM COVERING THE LENS. AS A RESULT VISIBILITY HAD BEEN IMPAIRED. *AK
Mileage: 70,000
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE DEFECT. *MR *SCC *JB
Mileage: 67,000
1996 MERCURY MARQUIS. *PH THE VEHICLES ENGINE/COOLING SYSTEM FAILED. *NLM *JB
Mileage: 101,789
VEHICLE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE.*MR THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FORD TO REIMBURSE HIM FOR ALL EXPENSES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, MR. MORAN WANTED THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE WHY HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT LISTED AS PART OF THEIR "BAD BATCH LIST." *PH *JB
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT. THE DEALER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED BUT ONLY FOR POLICE VEHICLES. *JB PH *JB
Mileage: 100,000
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. *JB...THIS MANIFOLD WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM.OWNER NOTIFICATION ON SOME MODELS 97M91.*AK
Mileage: 91,000
WE OWN A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED ON 2/28/02 WITH 70,089 MILES ON IT AND THE "96 CROWN VICTORIA AND "97 MERCURY COUGAR HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OF A FAILURE OF THE "COMPOSITE" ONE AND OURS WAS NOT. WE ENDED UP BEING TOWED 130 MILES. TS
Mileage: 70,089
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CONSUMER STATES' VEHICLE WEAVES ALL OTHER THE ROAD IF THERE IS A DIP OR RAISE IN ROAD ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. MR
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WEAVES ALL OVER ROAD. CONSUMER STATES' IF THERE IS A RAISE OR DIP IN ROAD THERES A TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
THE INTAKE VALVE CRACKED AND LEAKED FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT AND STALL OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *MR
WHILE DRIVING UNDER STORMY CONDITIONS, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND WINDOW WOULD NOT GO DOWN. SECOND TIME, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE REPAIR PROVIDER STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL CAUSING THE FAILURE WAS OF INFERIOR QUALITY. *JG
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT FOR BELT HAD SNAPPED, TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE. FIRESTONE, FR480, P215/70, R15 DOT#VM31LT. TIRE WAS PURCHASED WITH VEHICLE. PREVIOUSLY REAR LEFT TIRE ALSO BLEWOUT WHICH WAS REPORTED, AND WAS ONE OF ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED WITH VEHICLE. MERCURY, GRAND MARQUIS, 1996. *AK *SLC
MUSHY BRAKE PEDAL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACED BOOSTER ASSEMBLY, AND CONDITION STIL OCCURRING. *AK BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY FAILED TWICE. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL NOISY AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACING DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *YH
MUSHY BRAKE PEDAL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACED BOOSTER ASSEMBLY, AND CONDITION STIL OCCURRING. *AK BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY FAILED TWICE. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL NOISY AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACING DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *YH
WHILE DRIVING STEERING JERKS VERY HARD LEFT TO RIGHT, MAKING THE VEHICLE HARD TO STEER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
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.