Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Exterior lighting207
- Electrical system51
- Steering28
- Suspension28
- Vehicle speed control27
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Power train12
- Air bags11
- Wheels10
- Structure9
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 14 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 48 2003 Grand Marquis vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 39 people died inside them, and 5 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis failed the safety check 2.07% of the time — 2% less often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 110,339 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis.
| 2015610 21 Dec 2015 | Electrical On certain vehicles, a defect in the Lighting Control Module could cause the headlight high and low beams to become inoperative without warning, causing the hea… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercury told its dealers about the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637820 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM (PATS) MAY EXHIBIT STEERING WHEEL LOCK AND TRANSMISSION SHIFT SELECTOR THAT WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. *TT |
| 637751 | SUBJECT REGARDING SEAT BELT BELTMINDER DEACTIVATING / ACTIVATING CLARIFICATION. *TT |
| 637736 | SOME RETAIL CUSTOMERS MAY PERCEIVE THE OPERATION OF THE DASH LIGHT DIMMING FEATURE AS BEING FAULTY. *TT |
| 637707 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR PARK BRAKE CLICKING NOISE. *TT |
| 637706 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CLICK OR RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL AREA. *TT |
| 637540 | OVERSPEED WARNING CHIME ACTIVATION WHEN TRAVELLING ABOVE 70 M PH / 110 KPH. *TT |
| 637524 | ON SOME VEHICLES THE HEADLAMPS REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED AND THEN DEACTIVATED. *TT |
| 637445 | A SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR POOR ADHESION OF THE DOOR TRIM PANEL CARPET INSERTS ON CERTAIN VEHICLES INCLUDING THE 2003 MARAUDER. *TT |
| 637440 | SOME VEHICLES INCLUDING THE 2003 MARAUDER BUILT FROM JOB1 THROUGH JUNE 11, 2002 MAY HAVE POOR ADHESION OF THE DOOR TRIM PANEL DECORATIVE CARPET INSERTS. *TT |
| 10156863 | Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10155551 | Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10074793 | SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 10056190 | FORD: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. INFORMATION REGARDING THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE, FOR SOME VEHICLES, TO 15 YEARS OR 250,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. MODEL 2003-2005 VICTORIA, GRAND MARQUIS. *PE |
| 10055936 | FORD: THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, DUE TO A POSSIBLE CRACK ON SOLDER JOINT THAT CONNECTS RELAY TO CIRCUIT BOARD. MODEL 2003-2005 CROWN VICTORIA, GRAND MARQUIS. *PE |
| 10023943 | SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE |
| 10018745 | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT |
| 10017556 | NUMEROUS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR (WSS) DTCS, SUCH AS C1145, C1155, C1165, C1175, C1296, C1297, C1298, C1299 AND C1222. *TT |
| 10014652 | UNCOMMANDED WINDSHIELD WIPER OPERATION. *TT |
| 10014165 | ALUMINUM CORROSION - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10014138 | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT |
| 10014100 | LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION, OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10014077 | NUMEROUS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR (WSS) DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS). *TT |
| 10014062 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
| 10013381 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMPAND P0460 DTC IN MEMORY. *EH |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Loss of headlights
Loss of headlamp/exterior lighting
LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
REAR AXLE FRACTURE
FRACTURE OF THE STEEL WHEEL RIM
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation