IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
1994 Mercury Grand Marquis
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Marquis years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 23 of 156 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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports20 fire reports13 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
12 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON BUT THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON BUT THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I WAS DRIVING MY 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS GS HOME FROM WORK ONE NIGHT AROUND 12:00 AM AND I EXPERIENCED TOTAL LIGHTING FAILURE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING WAS PITCH BLACK NO LIGHTS WHAT SO EVER. EVERY LIGHT ON THE CAR WOULD GO OUT AND COME BACK ON SIMULTANEOUSLY,CAUSING ME SWERVE, ALMOST CRASHING HEAD ON WITH ONCOMING TRAFFI…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS GS HOME FROM WORK ONE NIGHT AROUND 12:00 AM AND I EXPERIENCED TOTAL LIGHTING FAILURE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING WAS PITCH BLACK NO LIGHTS WHAT SO EVER. EVERY LIGHT ON THE CAR WOULD GO OUT AND COME BACK ON SIMULTANEOUSLY,CAUSING ME SWERVE, ALMOST CRASHING HEAD ON WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF OTHER GRAND MARQUIS' AND FORD CROWN VICTORIA'S DOING THE SAME THING.THIS WAS ONLY MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE LIGHTS. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE JAN 23,2013 AND THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO DO THIS THEREFORE I CANNOT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. THE CAR IS ALL ORIGINAL NO AFTERMARKET NOTHING BUT A CD PLAYER. LIGHTS WERE DOING THIS BEFORE I INSTALLED THE CD PLAYER. SO AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE I PULLED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF ONLY TO FIND THAT THE FACTORY WIRING HARNESS THAT PLUGS INTO THE BACK OF THE LIGHT SWITCH HAD MELTED WHERE THE POSITIVE BATTERY WIRE SLOT IS.SO I REPLACED THE HARNESS WITH A BRAND NEW ONE,AND NOTHING.LIGHTS STILL GO OUT. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AGAIN TO FIND THE NEW WIRING HARNESS I HAD JUST BOUGHT 2 WEEKS PRIOR MELTED JUST LIKE THE ONE FROM THE FACTORY, SAME WIRE SLOT. SO NOW I HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER ONE. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE AUTO LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE TOO THAT DIDNT FIX ANYTHING EITHER.IM GOING TO TRY A NEW HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND A NOTHER NEW HARNESS TOO. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL FIX IT.BUT UNTIL I GET THE MONEY TO FIX ONE OF FORD/MERCURY'S MOST ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I WONT BE DRIVING IT AT NIGHT. BUT REALLY THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FORD SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS. GRAND MARQUIS AND CROWN VICS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR LIGHT SYSTEMS FAILING ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THEY QUIT MAKING THEM IN 2011. WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS ON 1/23/2013 I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT MINE, THEY JUST ARE NOT SAFE. *TR
HEADLIGHTS SWITCH FAILURE. *AK THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS ALWAYS USED MANUALLY, THE WIRING HARNESS OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH LOCKED AND MELTED APART. *SC *JB
THIS COMPLAINT IS NOT ABOUT MY CAR, IT IS ABOUT THE NEW HEADLIGHTS ON ONCOMING VEHICLES. LAST NIGHT, DRIVING ON I680, I WAS BLINDED BY A VEHICLE COMING UP BEHIND ME AND THIS WAS ONLY THE FIRST OF THREE OCCURANCES BY THREE DIFFERENT CARS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS!!!!!*AK
TAIL LIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. CHECK SHOWED BAD HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTORS, MELTED IN DASH. *AK
FRONT HEADLIGHT COVER FADED TO A DIRTY WHITE YELLOW COLOR. THIS MADE IT VERY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. DRIVER HAD TO USE HIGH BEAMS TO SEE AT NIGHT. *AK
HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATS CAUSING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TO FAIL AND WIRING HARNESS TO BURN, 2 REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. MJS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH, WHILE IN USE, MAY TURN OFF AND CAUSE VISIBILITY DIFFCULTY. DEALER REPLACED HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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.
94V152000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components
Aug 9, 1994
THE NUTS AND BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE REAR BRAKE ADAPTOR TO THE AXLE HOUSING FLANGE CAN LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY SEPARATE. IF ONE OR MORE OF THE NUTS COME OFF THE BOLTS, DAMAGE TO THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY OR TO THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR AND SENSOR RING (IF SO EQUIPPED) WILL OCCUR. IF ALL FOUR NUTS ON ONE END OF THE AXLE COME OFF THE BOLTS, DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINE OR THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE CAN OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OCCURRENCE OF ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NEEDED, INSTALL NEW BOLTS. IF ANY OF THE FASTENERS ARE DISCONNECTED, THE PARKING BRAKE AND ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE INSPECTED AND SERVICED.
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
5EA02025 · 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.
PE95027 · Passenger Air Bag Detachment
Opened May 3, 1995 · Closed Aug 31, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
There is no summary currently available