IllustrationIGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN. MELTED WIRES AND PLASTIC COVERING ON STEERING COLUMN. *AK
1989 Mercury Grand Marquis
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 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
Compare all Grand Marquis years →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: 4 of 58 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 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports17 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
58 reportsIGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO CATCH 0N FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.*AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CUT OFF.*AK
HYDRAULIC BRAKES; WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE LINE WENT OUT AND THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAS BEEN REPLACED, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN AS THE AIR CONDITION DRIPS ON THE BRAKE LINE CAUSING IT TO DISENAGRATE.*JB
UPON STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL, THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTIN GIN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
VEHICLE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, SMELLED BURNING ODOR, PULLED INTO SERVICE STATION, RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CAUGHT ON FIRE; FRONT CALIPER PISTON HUNG UP, CAUSING BRAKES TO FREEZE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SAW BLACK SMOKE, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES WHILE SITTING ON A BODY SHOP LOT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Official recalls
196V071000 · 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.
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
1PE91125 · 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