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1988 Mercury Grand Marquis

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 78.

About this comparison →
73Owner complaints

Model-year median: 78

2Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
21
198521
198643
198773
198858
198956
199082
1991
Compare all Grand Marquis years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
36Vehicle Speed Control
12Engine And Engine Cooling
7Fuel System, Gasoline
5Power Train
4
All reported categories
Seat Belts
4Tires
4Steering
3Visibility
3Equipment
2Exterior Lighting
2Parking Brake
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Structure
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 73 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports24 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

FORD SAYS THE STARTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER THE STARTER SWITCH RECALL. THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH AGAIN. THE SWITCH HAS BURNED CONTACTS AND IS DEFORMED PROBABLY FROM HEAT. THE HARNESS CONNECTOR, THAT GOES TO THE SWITCH, IS MELTED , SPLIT AND DEFORMED. MY TURN SIGNALS AND A/C FAN MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. …

Read full complaint

FORD SAYS THE STARTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER THE STARTER SWITCH RECALL. THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH AGAIN. THE SWITCH HAS BURNED CONTACTS AND IS DEFORMED PROBABLY FROM HEAT. THE HARNESS CONNECTOR, THAT GOES TO THE SWITCH, IS MELTED , SPLIT AND DEFORMED. MY TURN SIGNALS AND A/C FAN MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. I ALSO GET ERRONEOUS ENGINE WARNING AND LOW OIL WARNING LIGHTING AT VARIOUS TIMES. THE SWITCH DOES GET VERY WARM AND IT WAS JUST THAT OR HOT UPON FAILURE. THE RECALL (96V071000) DID NOT ACTUALLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM. A SAFETY HAZARD REMAINS IN EXISTANCE WITH THESE VEHICLES. I WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IF THE SWITCH WAS BROKEN OR WORN OUT BUT THE SWITCH IS HEATING OR BURNING UP. THE RECALL SHOULD REMAIN EFFECTIVE FOR CHRONIC REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH UNLESS A ENGINEERING CORRECTION IS MADE ON THE VEHICLES IN QUESTION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #763800

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED BUT VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. NLM

NHTSA ODI #547389

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER CORD NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FIRE AND MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #544622

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #515388

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

DROVE AND PARKED 15 MINUTES LATER, COULD NOT GET STARTED. TOWED TO SERVICE CENTER WHICH SAID FIRE DAMAGED TO ENGINE AREA. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983296

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED DUE TO BREAKDOWN OF THE LINING. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #500607

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

PURCHASE CAR NEW THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . TT

NHTSA ODI #977194

Official recalls

2

96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 25, 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

88V028000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor

Mar 8, 1988

AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR FOR SEAT BELTS FOR DUAL FACING REAR SEATS MAY BE INSTALLED IN AN IMPROPER LOCATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SEAT BELT COULD BIND BETWEEN SEAT CUSHION AND SEAT BACKCAUSING THE RETRACTOR TO BE SLUGGISH OR UNABLE TO TAKE UP EXCESS BELT SLACK.

Remedy: REMOVE AND PROPERLY INSTALL THE RIGHT AUXILIARY SEAT BELTS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE91125 · Brake Line Punctures

Opened Sep 11, 1991 · Closed Jan 15, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available