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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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

12 reports
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90,000 miles · Nov 10, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 94 IN CHICAGO, I ACCELERATED TO PASS A CAR. THE ACCELERATION DEVICE WITHIN THE ENGINE, NOT ONLY STUCK, BUT IT INCREASED SPEED. I TRIED TO BRAKE THE CAR WITH LITTLE RESPONSE. I GOT ON THE EXIT RAMP AND WITH 2 FEET ON THE BRAKES, COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. WE REAR ENDED A WOMAN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. …

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WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 94 IN CHICAGO, I ACCELERATED TO PASS A CAR. THE ACCELERATION DEVICE WITHIN THE ENGINE, NOT ONLY STUCK, BUT IT INCREASED SPEED. I TRIED TO BRAKE THE CAR WITH LITTLE RESPONSE. I GOT ON THE EXIT RAMP AND WITH 2 FEET ON THE BRAKES, COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. WE REAR ENDED A WOMAN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WE PUT THE BUMPER OF HER JEEP INTO HER BACK SEAT, THEN VEERED OFF HER CAR AND SMASHED INTO A CEMENT RETAINING WALL. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF MY CAR. ALTHOUGH NONE OF US WERE ABLE TO STAND AND WALK AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT, OUR INJURIES INCLUDE SOFT TISSUE AND MUSCLE DAMAGE. WE ALL SPENT THE NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL AND RECEIVED MORPHINE FOR THE EXTREME PAIN WE WERE IN. I WANT TO FILE SUIT AGAINST FORD, BUT HAVE NOT FOUND A LAWYER WHO WILL TAKE THE CASE. I WILL FILE ON MY OWN BEHALF. PAIN, SUFFERING AND OVER $50,000 HOSPITAL AND VEHICLE DAMAGE IS NOW ON MY RECORD BECAUSE OF THIS MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10142395

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2000
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed ControlFire

AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE . SHE APPLIED BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. FRONT TWO TIRE WERE ON FIRE AT THAT TIME. FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #865843

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlFire

I WAS DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF APPROX. 45 -50MPH ON RT.219 IN ORCHARD PARK, N Y, WHEN MY 1988 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS WAGON STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON LEVEL GROUNG TO APPROX. 60 MPH. CONTINUOUS BRAKING ONLY SLOWED THE CAR TEMPORARILY. I MANAGED T…

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I WAS DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF APPROX. 45 -50MPH ON RT.219 IN ORCHARD PARK, N Y, WHEN MY 1988 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS WAGON STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON LEVEL GROUNG TO APPROX. 60 MPH. CONTINUOUS BRAKING ONLY SLOWED THE CAR TEMPORARILY. I MANAGED TO BRAKE THE CAR ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE EXIT RAMP AND ONLY WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BY RIDING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUTTING THE CAR INTO N. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE SPEED PEDAL WAS NOT "STUCK" DOWN. I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. IN MORE TRAFFIC OR IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725753

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND& IT SHOT BACK ACROSS A SMALL INTERSECTION INTO A DITCH, IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF, CONSUMER THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A THROTTLE PROBLEM,DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *AK *ML *SLC

NHTSA ODI #862307

Mileage unknown · May 6, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AND COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE CONTINUES TO THROTTLE. EXCCESSIVE EFFORT INVOLVED TO STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810657

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 1996
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CONSUMER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELARATED IN REVERSE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #806519

Mileage unknown · May 1, 1996
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, APPLIED ACCELEATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, ACCELETOR PEDAL STUCK, IMPACT 12:00 SPEED UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983889

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 1995
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE/ACCIDENT. *DH

NHTSA ODI #485787

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 1995
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DIENGAGE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. TT

NHTSA ODI #967173

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 1995
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. *TW

NHTSA ODI #489443

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