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2005 Mercury Grand Marquis Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 488 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis, most often about the lights (60% of complaints, typically around 79,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Grand Marquis model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis problems
Lights
293 complaints · 60%Half of these problems showed up before 79,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, tail lights.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the headlights would intermittently turn off and back on. The vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic who replaced the turn signal switch but the failure continued. The failure mileage was approximately…
I own a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis, while driving, the headlights will go out without warning. All other outside lights stay on and passing lights work. I have researched this and found all sources say it is a failed lcm, light control module. I have not found a safety recall for this problem, but have found several…
Electrical
75 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles. Parts named most often: horn, wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery.
My wife was driving our 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis after dark and the low beam headlamps went out. Fortunately she was close to her destination and was able to navigate with the street lights. I don't want to think what may have happened on the interstate had she been heading home. Everything checks out fine except…
My head lights started giving me this problems on april 1 2014 they won't stay on so I have to hold my high beam switch so I can drive using my high beams sometimes my headlights do cone on but very rarely I have read blogs and I'm not the only one having this problems.
Air bags
67 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window, alleged counterfeit air bag.
The seat belt warning air bag light came on and won't go off. It happen back in aug 2011 at 40,598 miles now two years later at 53,631 same probelm again. I filed a complaint then and now once again , when are you people going to make ford fix these cars right. If you look at all the complaints filed concerning the…
The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the air bag light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the passenger side pre tensioner needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue.…
Speed control
39 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
Arrived at son's home and stopped in driveway with foot on brake when vehicle suddenly accelerated uncontrollably, spinning wheels in gravel driveway. Driver swerved to avoid hitting garage and ran head on into a pine tree resulting in severe damage to entire front end of vehicle (expect vehicle to be considered a…
The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while parking, he attempted to apply the brakes but depressed the accelerator pedal instead. The contact crashed against another vehicle as a result. There was no damage. The contact stated that the failure was due to how close the pedals were…
Seat belts
36 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 51,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
Both air bag lights have stayed lighted four months apart. Replacement was a complete (using ford motor co parts) unit on driver-side in may 2014. Now(sept 9,2014) the passenger side unit needs replacement at a cost of $700.00 for each side. The state of virginia inspection process requires replacement for the vehicle…
The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. While driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag pretensioner failed. As a result, the seat belt retractor assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Steering
20 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 115,000 miles.
I nov 2014 I took my Grand Marquis in for a safety recall for the lcm (light control module),. While there, they also replaced the lower steer shaft for a second recall that I was unaware of (recall 13s08). I have been having issues with the steering locking up at low speeds, so I had the ford dealership check it. The…
The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized without warning and had to be turned with force. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14v704000 (steering) and 13v385000 (steering), but exhibited the same failures related to the recall campaigns. The…
Brakes
18 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 21,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, pedals and linkages, conventional.
The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while parking, he attempted to apply the brakes but depressed the accelerator pedal instead. The contact crashed against another vehicle as a result. There was no damage. The contact stated that the failure was due to how close the pedals were…
: the contact stated while applying brake pressure at low speeds, a squeaking noise was present. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who determined the squeaking noise was normal, and that was the way the brakes were designed. The manufacturer was not alerted. Updated 01/10/07.
Engine
14 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. While driving approximately 5 MPH and then depressing the brake pedal to slow the vehicle down, the vehicle accelerated without warning. To avoid crashing into the preceding vehicle, the contact was able to veer to the right and continue driving. There was no warning…
Tl contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. While driving 15 MPH and making a right turn, the engine failed and the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was struck on the rear bumper by another vehicle. A few minutes later, the contact was able to restart her vehicle and drove to a mechanic. Due to a computer issue, the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Mercury Grand Marquis recalls
Lights: headlights
Risk: A loss of headlights can reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lcm, free of charge. The recall began april 14, 2017. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15s39.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2003-2005 ford crown victoria and mercury grand marquis vehicles manufactured october 3, 2001, to august 2, 2005. The affected vehicles have a lighting control module (lcm) that may fail, resulting in a loss of headlights.
Steering: pinion shaft
Risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13v-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if necessary free of charge. The recall began november 17, 2014. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14s25.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 ford crown victoria, 2005-2011 mercury grand marquis vehicles manufactured march 23, 2004, to august 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 lincoln town car vehicles manufactured march 8, 2004, to august 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during the course of safety recall 13v-385. The prior repairs may not have been correctly performed.
Steering
Risk: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lower intermediate shaft corrosion, and repaired or replaced as necessary. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed. The recall began on october 23, 2013. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13s08.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 ford crown victoria (including crown victoria police interceptors), mercury grand marquis, and lincoln town car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in connecticut, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, and wisconsin. Severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate shaft which may cause the upper intermediate shaft to collapse and the steering column lower bearing to separate.
Electrical: cables
Risk: This condition may result in heat damage and could lead to a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the fusible link and position it away from the cross member bolt. If the fusible link has already chafed and copper wires have been exposed, the fusible link will be replaced. The recall began on november 18, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673, or lincoln/mercury at 1-800-521-4140.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the battery cable includes a fusible link that may contact and subsequently chafe on a #2 cross member attaching bolt.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of headlights
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened an investigation concerning the loss of headlights in model year (my) 2003-2005 ford crown victoria and mercury grand marquis vehicles. The subject vehicles share the same architecture and major components.odi has received 636 unique reports (for all submission dates) related to the alleged defect, with owners describing a loss of both low and/or high beam headlights occurring while driving.odi identified 4 vehicle owner questionnaire ( voq) reports alleging minor crash or loss of control incidents due to headlight failures.drivers alleged running off of the road due to a lack of headlights and one driver reportedly struck a deer.no injuries w
Loss of headlamp/exterior lighting
Summary
In a letter dated october 2, 2014 the office of defects investigation (odi) was initially petitioned by the north carolina consumers council, inc. Requesting a defect investigation of an alleged defect condition resulting in headlight and/or exterior lighting failure on 2003-2005 ford crown victoria and mercury grand marquis vehicles.odi analyzed vehicle owner questionnaire (voq) complaints received from consumers and identified a total of 605 reports (for all submission dates) alleging headlight failure.the complaints indicate failures of both low beam headlights typically while driving, a defect condition that was evaluated under a prior odi investigation (pe08066).most consumer voqs indic
Steering column shaft obstruction
Summary
On july 7, 2014 the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation based on five complaints (voqs) alleging incidents ofinterference between dislodged exhaust manifold heat shields and the lower steering shaft/knuckle, including one alleging the interference resulted in a crash on a highway entrance ramp. Since opening this investigation, odi has received four additional owner complaints.one indicated that the shield was removed before binding could occur.the other three occurred at low speed and produced some momentary steering binding that was overcome by the driver when additional steering effort was applied.once the shield was repaired or removed, the steering retu
Loss of headlight function
Summary
The agency has closed this investigation based on its review of complaint reports, field and technical data provided by ford and complainant interviews. Ford found that some lighting control modules (lcm) in the subject vehicles contained defective solder joints on the printed circuit board.this condition can lead to poor headlight performance ranging from intermittent outage and dimming to eventual headlights failure.the failure does not affect other lighting functions (park, emergency flasher, brake and flash to pass lights).the agency is aware of a total of 306 consumers complaints and no report of crash, injury or fatality.ford reports 2,074 warranty claims related to headlight failure l
Questions about the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (293 complaints, typically around 79,000 miles); electrical (75 complaints, typically around 74,000 miles); air bags (67 complaints, typically around 54,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 22, 2015 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Mercury Grand Marquis?
- It is the most complained-about Grand Marquis model year since 2000, with 488 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.