IllustrationSMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING THE CAR USING CRUISE CONTROL. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE FLUIDS ON THE CAR. NO PROBLEM. STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. PULLED OVER AGAIN AND SAW SMOKE THEN FLAMES COMING OUT. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
1992 Mercury Grand Marquis
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Marquis years
Owner complaints for the 1992 Mercury Grand Marquis are substantially higher than 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: 15 of 255 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports27 fire reports13 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
31 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, SMOKE ENGULFED THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY AN UNDERHOOD FIRE THAT CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO BREAK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT AND…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, SMOKE ENGULFED THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY AN UNDERHOOD FIRE THAT CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO BREAK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SAFETY OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG. SHE THEN NOTICED FLAMES RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE RECALL NUMBER AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
DT: CALLER IS CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLES BURNING UP. HAS NOT HAD A PROBLEM YET BUT DOES NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS. SAW REPORT ON CNN.COM. DEALER SAID IT WAS ONLY HAPPENING WITH SOME VEHICLES, AND IT MAY NOT BE CALLER'S CAR. CALLER SAW VEHICLE ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. MANUFACTURER GAVE CALLER A REFERENCE ID 148167168…
Read full complaint
DT: CALLER IS CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLES BURNING UP. HAS NOT HAD A PROBLEM YET BUT DOES NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS. SAW REPORT ON CNN.COM. DEALER SAID IT WAS ONLY HAPPENING WITH SOME VEHICLES, AND IT MAY NOT BE CALLER'S CAR. CALLER SAW VEHICLE ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. MANUFACTURER GAVE CALLER A REFERENCE ID 1481671685. THEY CHECKED HIS VIN,AND HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN RECALL. CALLER WAS CONFUSED FROM ALL THE INFORMATION HE WAS GETTING FROM NHTSA , THE STORY ON CNN, AND WHAT FORD WAS TELLING HIM.*AK
CONSUMER DROVE HOME, PARKED THE VEHICLE UNDER THE CARPORT, WENT INTO THE HOUSE,THEN HEARD AN EXPLOSION. CONSUMER LOOKED OUT OF THE DOOR AND DISCOVERED A FIRE COMING FROM THE LEFT WHEEL WELL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CRUISE NHTSA…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER DROVE HOME, PARKED THE VEHICLE UNDER THE CARPORT, WENT INTO THE HOUSE,THEN HEARD AN EXPLOSION. CONSUMER LOOKED OUT OF THE DOOR AND DISCOVERED A FIRE COMING FROM THE LEFT WHEEL WELL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CRUISE NHTSA RECALL 99V124000. *AK CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED RECALL REGARDING CRUISE CONTROL. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED JUST AS STATED IN RECALL. *TT
THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS A MUCH LESS SPEED THAN ACTUAL SPEED TRAVELING. CONTACTED A COUPLE OF FORD DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THEY DO NOT AND CANNOT FIX THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS REFERRED TO A LOCAL SPEED TEST SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED ON A CERTIFIED MACHINE, THE TEST RESULTS WERE AS FOLLOWS (SPEEDOMETER INDICATION/ACTUAL VEH…
Read full complaint
THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS A MUCH LESS SPEED THAN ACTUAL SPEED TRAVELING. CONTACTED A COUPLE OF FORD DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THEY DO NOT AND CANNOT FIX THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS REFERRED TO A LOCAL SPEED TEST SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED ON A CERTIFIED MACHINE, THE TEST RESULTS WERE AS FOLLOWS (SPEEDOMETER INDICATION/ACTUAL VEHICLE SPEED): 25/30 30/37 35/43 40/50 45/54 50/60 55/66 60/72 65/80 ALSO, THE ODOMETER REGISTERS 95 MILES FOR EVERY 100 MILES TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 103,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE MALFUNCTION HAS CAUSED FINANCIAL PROBLEMS (SPEED VIOLATION) AS WELL AS ENDANGERING SELF AND OTHERS WITHOUT EVEN BEING AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS TRAVELING AT DANGEROUS SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY ON 65 MPH AND 70 MPH EXPRESSWAYS. THE TEST SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THE SPEED DIFFERENTIAL INCREASES AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND COULD RESULT IN SPEEDS WAY OVER 30 MPH ABOVE THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATION.*JB
REPORTED BY INSURANCE CARRIER. NO SAFETY DEFECT NOTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 65 MPH WITH SPEED CONTROL ON, CONSUMER STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE SPEED, ENGINE SHUTDOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE TO SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER A FEW MINUTES ENGINE WOULD START WORKING AGAIN. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT A FACTOR, HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE TH…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 65 MPH WITH SPEED CONTROL ON, CONSUMER STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE SPEED, ENGINE SHUTDOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE TO SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER A FEW MINUTES ENGINE WOULD START WORKING AGAIN. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT A FACTOR, HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB
HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AIR BAG LIGHT READS CODE 13 + 34. SHORT IN AIR BAG MODULE, CAUSES LIGHT TO BLINK. DEALER STATED WIRE HARNESS NEEDEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
THROTTLE LINKAGE BECAME DETACHED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN PLASTIC ANCHOR FOR THE CABLE FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AS THROTTLE CONTROL WAS COMPLETELY LOST. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A HALT WITHOUT AN INCIDENT. THIS WAS A SUDDEN FAILURE WITH NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM. ON INSPECTION OF THE PE…
Read full complaint
THROTTLE LINKAGE BECAME DETACHED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN PLASTIC ANCHOR FOR THE CABLE FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AS THROTTLE CONTROL WAS COMPLETELY LOST. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A HALT WITHOUT AN INCIDENT. THIS WAS A SUDDEN FAILURE WITH NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM. ON INSPECTION OF THE PEDAL IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT A PLASTIC ANCHOR THAT CONNECTS THE THROTTLE CABLE TO THE ACCELERATOR HAD BROKEN.IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND THE EXPENSE FOR REPARING IT SHOULD BE THE MANUFACTURER'S.
Official recalls
308V051000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control
Feb 4, 2008
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
07V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 3, 2007
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
99V124000 · Electrical System
May 19, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAN DEVELOP A RESISTIVE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. A FIRE IS POSSIBLE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. ALSO, THE SHORT COULD DISABLE THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE TO OPEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE CAN ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDERHOOD AREA.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR SHELL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 1999.
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
7EA02025 · Speed Control Deactivation Switch Fires
Opened Sep 6, 2002 · Closed Jun 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
BASED ON THE LOW RATE OF FIRE INCIDENTS (2.5 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES SOLD) WHERE FAILURE OF THE SCDS IS INVOLVED AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLES ? 7 TO 11 YEARS ? A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
DP02007 · FUEL-FED Fires
Opened Aug 22, 2002 · Closed Dec 4, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE FARS DATA SHOWS THAT THE RISK OF FIRE FROM IMPACT IN ALL DIRECTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS THE SAME AS ALL OTHER SEDANS.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT OVER REPRESENTED WITH RESPECT TO THE RISK OF FIRE IN REAL-WORLD HIGH-ENERGY CRASHES.A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF ISSUES RELATED TO POST CRASH FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS SET OUT IN THE CLOSING REPORT FOR SQ 01-014 AND THAT REPORT IS IN THE DOCKET FOR THIS PETITION.AFTER REVIEWING THE PETITION AND ITS SUPPORTING MATERIALS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION FURNISHED BY FORD AND GM, AND INFORMATION WITHIN THE AGENCY'S POSSESSION FROM PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIONS,NHTSA HAS CONCLUDED THAT FUTHER INVESTIGATION CONCERNING POST-CRASH FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS NOT LIKELY TO LEAD TO A DECISION THAT THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A SAFETY DEFECT.
SQ01014 · Post Rear End Collision Fires
Opened Nov 27, 2001 · Closed Oct 3, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
There is no summary currently available
RQ01002 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Sep 20, 2001 · Closed Sep 6, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
EA95011 · Undercarriage Fuel Line Interference
Opened Mar 29, 1995 · Closed Jan 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE94077 · Fuel Line Interference
Opened Nov 4, 1994 · Closed Mar 29, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE93086 · Hood FLY-UP While Driving
Opened Oct 1, 1993 · Closed Feb 28, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available