IllustrationIGNITION FIRE, WHILE PARKED.
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 reportsTHE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THE IGNITON SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
AFTER PARKING THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, NEXT MORNING, NOTICED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BURNT COMPLETLY. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, SOMTIMES CAR ACCELERATES. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *SD
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER SITTING DUE TO SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN OR DASH. *AK
TURNED ON IGNITION ENGINE RACED TO FULL THROTTLE IN REVERSE AND LANDED ON ANOTHER VEHICLES WINDSHIELD. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE, FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED A LEAK. TT
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE . TT
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