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
What owners actually said
73 reports
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 · Jul 11, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE IN BED HEARD AUTOMOBILE CRANKING BY ITSELF. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOOK OUT OF THE WINDOW, SAW SMOKE, AND THEN AUTOMOBILE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT BLAZE OUT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #865237
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 · 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 · Jun 10, 1999
Electrical SystemEquipment
IN 98 WE TOOK THIS CAR IN FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL WHEN WE RETURNED HOME THE SWITCH REFUSED TO ALLOW US TO TURN IT OFF WE CALLED THE FORD DEALER THAT HAD DONE THE REPLACEMENT WE HAD NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTILL THIS TIME THEN ONCE I GOT IT TURNED OFF AND WE WENT TO RESTART THE CAR IT WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE RUN POSITION OR…
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IN 98 WE TOOK THIS CAR IN FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL WHEN WE RETURNED HOME THE SWITCH REFUSED TO ALLOW US TO TURN IT OFF WE CALLED THE FORD DEALER THAT HAD DONE THE REPLACEMENT WE HAD NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTILL THIS TIME THEN ONCE I GOT IT TURNED OFF AND WE WENT TO RESTART THE CAR IT WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE RUN POSITION OR ALLOW ANY OF THE LIGHTS OR ACCESSORIES TO WORK I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN LEAVE IT RUNNING AND THEY WOULD FIX IT AS SOON AS THEY COULD THIS WAS AT 5:00 P.M.ON A FRIDAY EVENING AND THEY WOULDNT BE RETURNING TO WORK UNTILL MONDAY MORNING I THEN CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO LEAVE THIS CAR RUNNING FOR 2 1/2 DAYS UNTILL THEY RETURNED TO WORK ON THE FOLLOWING ,MONDAY /////AIR CONDITIONER - THE AIR CONDITIONER ON THIS CAR SINCE WE BOUGHT IT REFUSES TO WORK UNTILL IT HAS BEEN RUN FOR ABOUT 1 HR THEN IT WILL WORK FINE IT HAS BEEN RECHARGED AND CHECKED TO SEE IF THAT IS THE TROUBLE 3 TIMES WE HAVE REPLACED THE CLIMATE CONTROL TEMP. SENSOR IT WILL THEN WORK FOR A WHILE AND THEN AGAIN BECOME AS IT WAS I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE FULL SIZE FORDS AND IT SEEMS NO ONE CAN SAY WHAT IT IS FOR SURE I HAVE TRIED ALSO REPLACING THE TEMPERATURE CONTROLS ON THE HEAT AND AIR SELECTOR SWITCH WITH NO LUCK AS WELL
NHTSA ODI #707412
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL TANK, WHICH IS LOCATED NEXT TO EXHAUST PIPE, LEAKED DUE TO RUST WHICH CAUSED A CRACK. THIS MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
NHTSA ODI #837127
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1999
Electrical SystemFire
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #544625
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.
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