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2003 Mercury Marquis

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

23 reports with mileage · 10 unknown

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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

4 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

33 reports
3,000 miles · Feb 9, 2011
Exterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10381245

40,255 miles · Jan 27, 2010
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR AXLE AND BEARINGS FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACE THE AXLE AND BEARINGS. THE MERCURY MANUFACTURE WAS CALLED AND ST…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR AXLE AND BEARINGS FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACE THE AXLE AND BEARINGS. THE MERCURY MANUFACTURE WAS CALLED AND STATED THERE IS NO RECALL OR WARRANTY FOR HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,255. UPDATED 3/12/10 *CN UPDATED 06/25/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10302604

112,000 miles · Feb 7, 2008
SuspensionFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WHILE HE WAS CHANGING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE, HE DISCOVERED A GREASE LEAK. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BEARING LEAKED INTO THE BRAKE DISC, WH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WHILE HE WAS CHANGING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE, HE DISCOVERED A GREASE LEAK. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BEARING LEAKED INTO THE BRAKE DISC, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ONLY REPAIRED POLICE VEHICLES WITH THIS FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 112,000.

NHTSA ODI #10217396

50,000 miles · Mar 6, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED HOWEVER NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10152022

36,815 miles · Feb 9, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

2003 FORD MERCURY MARQUIS LOST ALL POWER AND HAD TO BE TOWED. *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10150823

100 miles · Dec 16, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION. IT OCCURRED WHEN THE CLIMATE WAS HOT, AND THE ENGINE WAS WARM. WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR TO MOVE IT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE RIPENS WAREHOUSE. THE DEALER COMPLETED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. N…

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DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION. IT OCCURRED WHEN THE CLIMATE WAS HOT, AND THE ENGINE WAS WARM. WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR TO MOVE IT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE RIPENS WAREHOUSE. THE DEALER COMPLETED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10145457

21,420 miles · Aug 29, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

DT: THE CALLER STATES THAT WHILE HE DRIVING AT 65 MPH HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THIS CAUSED A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK. THE CALLER SAID A LOCAL MECHANIC DID A QUICK FIX WITH A SCREW AND SOME GLUE SO HE COULD GET HOME. DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST A LOT MORE TO REPLACE THE TANK WITH THEM AND HE WENT TO SO…

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DT: THE CALLER STATES THAT WHILE HE DRIVING AT 65 MPH HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THIS CAUSED A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK. THE CALLER SAID A LOCAL MECHANIC DID A QUICK FIX WITH A SCREW AND SOME GLUE SO HE COULD GET HOME. DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST A LOT MORE TO REPLACE THE TANK WITH THEM AND HE WENT TO SOMEONE ELSE TO HAVE IT REPLACED FOR A CHEAPER PRICE. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10134646

26,000 miles · Jun 24, 2005
Equipment

DT: THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE PEDALS ARE TO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE CONSUMER THINKS THAT ONE SHOULD BE UP HIGHER THAN THE OTHER. WHEN YOU WEAR WORK BOOTS, THAT IS MORE DANGEROUS. WHEN THE CONSUMER HITS THE BRAKE, IF YOU'RE NOT SITTING UP STRAIGHT, THE CONSUMER'S FOOT IS HITTING THE ACCELERATOR ALSO. THE CONSUMER IS TRYING TO REM…

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DT: THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE PEDALS ARE TO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE CONSUMER THINKS THAT ONE SHOULD BE UP HIGHER THAN THE OTHER. WHEN YOU WEAR WORK BOOTS, THAT IS MORE DANGEROUS. WHEN THE CONSUMER HITS THE BRAKE, IF YOU'RE NOT SITTING UP STRAIGHT, THE CONSUMER'S FOOT IS HITTING THE ACCELERATOR ALSO. THE CONSUMER IS TRYING TO REMEMBER TO KEEP HIS FOOT FAR ENOUGH OVER. *TT *SB *NM

NHTSA ODI #10123968

28,000 miles · Mar 31, 2005
Visibility

GRAN MARQUIS LS DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER WILL NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE CLEARING OF RAIN OR SNOW UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY ROAD SPEEDS. THE WIPER ARM ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT CLEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE ADEQUATELY TO PROVIDE GOOD VISIBILITY. THE PASSENGER SIDE ARM PROVIDES PROPER CLEARING UNDER ALL ROAD CONDITIONS AND SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN FOUN…

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GRAN MARQUIS LS DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER WILL NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE CLEARING OF RAIN OR SNOW UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY ROAD SPEEDS. THE WIPER ARM ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT CLEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE ADEQUATELY TO PROVIDE GOOD VISIBILITY. THE PASSENGER SIDE ARM PROVIDES PROPER CLEARING UNDER ALL ROAD CONDITIONS AND SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT CLEAR PROPERLY ABOVE SPEEDS OF 40 MPH; LESS IF THE WIND CONDITIONS ARE HIGH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVERS WIPER ARM ASSEMBLY WITH A 2002 ASSEMBLY WHICH HE INDICATED PROVIDES A HIGHER PRESSURE ON THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AS THE TENSION WAS REDUCED IN 2003 MODELS. THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS AT MY EXPENSE AND HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. IT STILL PERSISTS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE WIPER BLADE SYSTEM OR A DEFECT IN THE CURVATURE OF THE WINDSHIELD ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT APPARENT THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10116191

16,675 miles · Dec 8, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND A COLLISION OCCURRED, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HEAD RESTS WERE TO FAR FROM…

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WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND A COLLISION OCCURRED, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HEAD RESTS WERE TO FAR FROM THE HEAD TO BE EFFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10101060

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.