NHTSA — Engine Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
143,800 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Mercury Grand Marquis engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Mercury Grand Marquis Owner Comments

problem #5

May 252023

Grand Marquis

  • 240,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle had shifted to LIMP Mode and was almost side swiped by a tractor trailer. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had been towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but became a recurring failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.

- Dunbarton, NH, USA

problem #4

Jan 142023

Grand Marquis

  • miles
I started Mercury with foot on break like normal. Shifted into reverse. Car accelerated backwards at full speed. Brakes did not stop car. Attempted to shift into neutral but went into drive instead. Car accelerated forward at full speed with my foot still on break. Car hit metal post and tree knocking them down and dragging the tree 50 to 60 feet before stopping with my foot still on the break. Car had stopped accelerating. I turned off the ignition. This unintended acceleration had happened before. Two different dealers attempted to fix the problem. Both of them thought they had been successful but it happened again. Previously, applying the brakes stopped the car, but not this time. Someone could have been injured severely or killed.

- Cupertino, CA, USA

problem #3

Nov 012016

Grand Marquis

  • 147,000 miles
Last fall, this car starting making creeking and humming noises in the engine. The humming noise would go away after about a minute but not the squeaks and creeks as you drive it. In the winter, there were areas of yellow-green liquid on our garage floor on a few occasions. I took the vehicle in for the headlight recall, and I was told there was a cracked manifold, and a belt problem which was causing the antifreeze leak. When I searched for recalls, I noticed a previous recall for years 1996-2001 for the same problem. This repair is very costly, and I wonder if you could do a recall for this year/model car because I was given it as a gift and am currently laid off? I am attaching former recall settlement for same cars up to 2001. Thank you.

- Ridgeland, MS, USA

problem #2

Jan 052017

Grand Marquis

  • 154,000 miles
Intake manifold cracked and leaked coolant onto the coils and spark plugs. Hence causing rough running engine and lack of performance.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #1

Jan 202016

Grand Marquis

  • 178,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise coming from the engine and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the number two cylinder spark plug misfired and the head of the motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 178,000.

- Lima, OH, USA

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