1996 Mercury Grand Marquis Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis, and owners have filed 239 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

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5 safety recalls for the 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Cruise control (vehicle speed control)

   NHTSA 08V051000 Reported February 4, 2008 225,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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…

   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.

2. Vehicle speed control

   NHTSA 07V336000 Reported August 3, 2007 3,600,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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.

   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…

3. Anchorage (seat belts)

   NHTSA 00V157001 Reported June 12, 2000 1,167 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket driver's seat belt assemblies that were sold by ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt assemblies,…

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from january 1 through june 13, 2000.

4. Anchorage (seat belts)

   NHTSA 00V157002 Reported June 12, 2000 1,129 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket front passenger side seat belt assemblies that were sold by ford parts departments from january 1, through june 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the equipment involved is service stock seat belt…

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from january 1 through june 13, 2000.

5. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

   NHTSA 96V070000 Reported April 22, 1996 73,500 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   When in the secondary latched position, the driver door latches may open when subjected to transverse loads less than that specified in FMVSS no. 206, "door locks and door retention components."

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver door latch.

239 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis have filed 239 complaints with NHTSA; 9 describe a crash and 19 describe a fire. Reports cite 16 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 89,699 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 27 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Engine and engine cooling: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe35
• Engine and engine cooling: engine16
• Fuel system, gasoline: carburetor system16
• Engine and engine cooling14
• Vehicle speed control13
• Exterior lighting: headlights12
• Engine and engine cooling: gasoline10
• Engine and engine cooling: cooling system9

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH the instrument panel began started flashing off and on before going black. The contact stated that”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 1, 2023 · Electrical system

“The contact owns a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH at night, the headlights became inoperable. While driving for approximately 30 more miles and exiti”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 22, 2023 · Exterior lighting

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Compare Mercury Grand Marquis model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Mercury Grand Marquis model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis

Other Mercury models

• Sable5,381 complaints
• Milan2,519 complaints
• Mountaineer1,992 complaints
• Cougar1,893 complaints
• Villager1,725 complaints
• Mariner1,296 complaints
• Mystique1,019 complaints
• Tracer567 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.