MERCURY MARQUIS · model year

2002 MERCURY MARQUIS

11 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002MERCURYMARQUIS carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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 2002 MARQUIS is service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages with 3 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (1) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys (1). 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 2002 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.

11
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

11 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING1
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE1
SUSPENSION:REAR1
SEAT BELTS1

Recent Complaints

20130215SEAT BELTS

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DISCONNECTS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE PERSON RIDING IN THE SEAT WAS AN ADULT ON EVERY OCCASION. I FOUND A RECALL ONLINE FROM 2001, BUT WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS.MY CAR STILL LOOKS LIKE NEW AND I DON'T PLAN ON GETTING RID OF IT ANYTIME SOON. BUT I ALSO CAN'T HAVE MY PASSENGER WORRYING ABOUT THE SEAT BELT COMING UNDONE. ESPECIALLY IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20110107SUSPENSION:REAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH HE HEARD A NOISE IN THE REAR PASSENGER AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE TO THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AXLES, BEARING AND SEALS. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 0405220071, BUT WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE WAS A RECURRING ISSUE EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND REPAIRED. THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PREMATURE AXLE WEAR COULD BE A DANGER AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED 08/17/11

Mileage: 98,000

20100903ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID ON THE GROUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

Mileage: 105,000

20060803SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PADS WERE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO EXAMINE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE REPAIR WORK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. UPDATED 08/24/06. *JB

Mileage: 55,000

20051022PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL

EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE MECHANISM FROZEN WITH BRAKE ON. EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE IN CABIN RETURNED TO NORMAL POSITION GIVING INDICATION THAT THE BRAKE HAD BEEN RELEASED. END RESULT COMPLETE WIPE OUT OF REAR BRAKES AND DAMAGE TO DRUMS. FAILURE FOUND BY THE SERVICING DEALER AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. YET ON EACH OF THE LAST TWO(2) OCCASIONS WHEN CAR WENT IN FOR SERVICE I REQUESTED " CHECK EMERGENCY BRAKE" EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL 1"+/- OFF THE FLOOR RESPONSE WAS BRAKES O.K. ONLY AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY WAS PROBLEM FOUND. MY GRAND MARQUIS HAS BEEN SERVICED BY NO ONE BUT SMITH CAIRNES, FORD, LINCOLN, MERCURY. IF BY SOME STROKE OF LUCK I HAD DEPENDED SOLEY ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED BY A RUNAWAY CAR. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY IT COST ME IN EXCESS OF $500.00 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 13,978

20050504ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, THE PLASTIC PLASTIC COVER WHICH COVERED THE WIRES FELL DOWN DUE TO PIN FALLING OUT. CONTACT IS STILL DRIVING THE CAR. CAR IS REGULARLY SERVICED. CONTACT KEEPS SERVICE RECORDS. *AK WHEN THE COVER FELL OF IT MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL. *NM

Mileage: 45,000

20030825STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER SAYS FRONT DOORS WERE DESIGNED WHERE THE TOP CORNER OF THE DOORS HAS A SHARP CORNER. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS PASSENGER AND DRIVER HAVE BEEN INJURED". CONSUMER BELIEVES DOORS POSE A POTENTIAL RISK OF EYE BEING PUNCTURED.*AK

20030203CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

REVERSE ACCELEARTION PROBLEM

Mileage: 7,350

20030203CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

ACCELERATION PROBLEM GOING BACKWARDS. CAR LURCHED BACKWARDS AND DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING.

Mileage: 9,010

20021209ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE BELT FELL OFF THE ENGINE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. THE DEALER IS AWARE TSB #02-05-04. *PH THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WHEN THE BELTS GET WET. *SC

20020628CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. ACCIDENTLY HIT GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF BRAKE PEDAL.*AK *TT

Compare 2002MERCURYMARQUIS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 MERCURY MARQUIS have?
The 2002 MERCURY MARQUIS has 11 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 MERCURY MARQUIS?
The most-complained component for the 2002 MERCURY MARQUIS is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS.
Is the 2002 MERCURY 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.