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: 9 of 31 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
31 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THE INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER (05S28) IN AUGUST OF 2007 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THE INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER (05S28) IN AUGUST OF 2007 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH AND STATED THAT THE OTHER FAILURES WERE UNRELATED. THE COST FOR A DIAGNOSTIC WOULD BE $900. THE CURRENT AND FAILURES MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10204731
Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING TODAY 4/12/2006 RESULTING IN COOLANT SPRAYING AND REDUCING MY VISIBILITY ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD RESULTING IN A NEAR HEAD ON MISS TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE MANIFOLD HAS A KNOW DEFECT BY FORD WHICH WITHOUT MY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OR NOTIFICATION AGREED TO THE S…
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MY INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING TODAY 4/12/2006 RESULTING IN COOLANT SPRAYING AND REDUCING MY VISIBILITY ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD RESULTING IN A NEAR HEAD ON MISS TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE MANIFOLD HAS A KNOW DEFECT BY FORD WHICH WITHOUT MY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OR NOTIFICATION AGREED TO THE SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT. DUE THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT I HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED - WHICH IS ONE REASON FOR WRITING THIS MESSAGE. HOWEVER, THE MORE IMPORTANT REASON IS THE KNOWN POTENTIAL DANGER OF THIS DEFECT ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS WITHOUT HAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. TODAY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL INJURY AND THE FORD COMPANY IS JUST LOOKING AT THE DOLLAR SIZE INSTEAD OF DOING THE RESPONSIBLE THING. IT'S A REAL SHAME AND I HOPE ODI CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I WAS LUCKILY TODAY, BUT OTHERS MAY NOT BE IN THE FUTURE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL - THAT WOULD HAVE BE THE RESPONSIBLE THING FOR FORD TO DO. SOMEONE HAS TO FORCE THEM TO TAKE A MORE COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO THESE TYPES OF MATTERS - IT DOESN'T MAKE GOOD BUSINESS SENSE OR GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS NOT TO. I AM COUNTING ON YOU TO HELP DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND HELP SAVE FUTURE LIVES AND INJURIES. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED 100 MILES AND THE COST OF REPAIRS IS GOING TO BE CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TOTAL. DUE TO THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT (WWW.FORDMANIFOLDSETTLEMENT.COM), NOT ONLY DOES FORD GET AWAY WITH NOT REIMBURSING ME FOR MY COST, PUT MY LIFE IN JEOPARDY, BUT ALSO HAVING OTHERS OUT THERE WITH TICKING TIME BOMBS IN THERE CARS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10155226
119,000 miles · Oct 6, 2004
Seat BeltsCrashInjury
DURING A 15 MPH VEHICLE COLLISION DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. CONSUMER'S HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10095190
94,293 miles · Apr 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD DEFECTIVE.CAUSED STEAM AND VAPORIZED ANTI-FREEZE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA ODI #10066227
64,119 miles · Feb 24, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK. DEALER REPLACED THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD WITH AN ALUMINUM MANIFOLD. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #10055638
70,000 miles · Nov 19, 2003
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS PRODUCED A THICK FILM COVERING THE LENS. AS A RESULT VISIBILITY HAD BEEN IMPAIRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10048340
67,000 miles · Oct 15, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE DEFECT. *MR *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10044150
101,789 miles · Sep 2, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
1996 MERCURY MARQUIS. *PH THE VEHICLES ENGINE/COOLING SYSTEM FAILED. *NLM *JB
NHTSA ODI #10038174
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE.*MR THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FORD TO REIMBURSE HIM FOR ALL EXPENSES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, MR. MORAN WANTED THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE WHY HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT LISTED AS PART OF THEIR "BAD BATCH LIST." *PH *JB
NHTSA ODI #10034470
100,000 miles · Jul 11, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT. THE DEALER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED BUT ONLY FOR POLICE VEHICLES. *JB PH *JB
NHTSA ODI #10022463
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1996 Mercury Marquis Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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