2003 Mercury Marauder

Routine

Owners filed 60 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the exterior lighting. It has been recalled 1 time.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
48,900 milesMedian miles at failure

46 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Exterior Lighting12
000
Unknown or Other4
101
Tires4
000
Electrical System4
000
Suspension › Rear3
000
Suspension › Front2
000
Steering2
000
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit2
001
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine2
000
Wheels1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline06E056000
Filed Jun 13, 200658,640 vehiclesUfi Filters Usa

Defect. CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.

Risk. FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 1, 2017117,000 milesLA

I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN YOU TRY TO USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. IT SEEMS MY ISSUE WOULD FIT UNDER THE LCM RECALL FOR 2003-2005 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHEN YOU ENTER THE VIN IT SHOWS NO RECALLS. I'M HOPING THIS IS AN OVERSIGHT SINCE THE MARAUDER IS A VERSION OF GRAND MARQUIS.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 3, 2017NY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V861000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (LEVITTOWN FORD LLC, 3195 HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 7, 2016CA

15S39 THIS VEHICLE RECALL HAS BEEN ON MY CAT FOR ALMOST A YEAR. ACCORDING TO THIS WEBSITE SAFERCAR.GOV THE REMEDY IS AVAILABLE BUT WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO FORD IT IS NOT. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS RECALL WITH NO REMEDY FOR A YEAR! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT HAS DESTROYED THE VALUE OF THE CAR. ITS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. FORD IS EITHER LYING ABOUT THE RECALL REMEDY OR IT WAS MISREPORTED

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 7, 2016IL

DRIVING ALONG 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 7PM 1/6/2016 HEAD LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WILL NOT COME BACK ON HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT HEAD LIGHTS OR TAILLIGHTS I WAS INFORMED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER HEAD LIGHTS ETCAND FORD IS AWARE OF THIS HAZARDOUS PROBLEM

Air Bags
Filed Jan 12, 2015105,000 milesKY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT REPLACED UNKNOWN WIRING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT, BUT THE LIGHT STILL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Steering
Filed Nov 2, 2014110,170 milesOH

THE STEERING BECAME JERKY AND HAD TO OVERCORRECT TO KEEP IN TRAFFIC LANE. MAKING TURNS THERE WAS A LOUD CRACKING SOUND. THE DEALER SAID RUST HAD SEIZED THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT AND IT WAS REPLACED. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jun 8, 2014319,254 milesLA

HEAD LIGHT FLICKER ON AND OFF , LOW BEAMS ARE DIM , HIG BEAMS NOT BRIGHT. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Apr 22, 2014MA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Mar 28, 2014110,000 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS THE LIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT REMAIN IN THE ON POSITION CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY LCM (LIGHT CONTROL MODULE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

SeatsCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 25, 2013119,700 milesMI

WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH IN MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT ~45 - 50 MPH. DURING THE IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FAILED AND FELL BACKWARDS. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER (5 YRS OLD) WAS NOT IN THE BOOSTER SEAT THAT IS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. IF SHE HAD BEEN WITH ME, SHE MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS INJURIES. WHEN THE SEAT FELL BACK, MY INSTINCT WAS TO TRY TO STAY UPRIGHT. THIS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT NECK STRAIN. WHEN I THEN CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, I SLID UNDER THE SEAT BELT AND MY KNEE MADE HARD CONTACT WITH THE DASH. *JS

Exterior Lighting
Filed May 10, 2013103,000 milesKY

I WAS ENTERING ONTO A PARKWAY AT 05:30 HOURS, DAY-BREAK, WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. I TURNED THE ON/OFF SWITCH, FLICKED THE HI-BEAMS, NO LIGHTS. I PULLED THE DRIVING LAMPS SWITCH, THEY CAME ON. I DROVE FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT SINCE THIS EVENT. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND WE EXPERIMENTED WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS. CAR RUNNING, DRIVERS WINDOW DOWN...TURNED HEAD LIGHTS ON, PARKING LIGHTS CAME ON BUT HEAD LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON. TURNED ON LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND HEAD LIGHTS CAME ON. JIGGLED MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH AND HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERED AS DID LEFT TURN LAMP. ORDERED NEW MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WILL HAVE IT INSTALLED 13 MAY, 2013. CONCERN: I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND NO ONE ELSE MENTIONED THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH, THEY ALL REFERRED TO THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE. I NOW FEAR MY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AGAIN AFTER REPLACING THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM OCCURRING ON SIMILAR VEHICLES. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 25, 201278,786 milesNJ

HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS FAILED. CAR HOOD FELL ON MY HEAD. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed May 12, 201252,345 milesSC

ON THE ABOVE DATE WHILE LEAVING A PLACE OF BUSINESS AT APPROXIMATELY 10:15 PM I HAD NO HEAD LIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHT AUTOLAMP POSITION NOR THE HEADLIGHT MANUAL POSITION WOULD TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON. I SPENT ABOUT 00:20 MINUTES TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 3 MILES ALONG A VERY DARK SECONDARY ROAD IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITH ONLY THE FOG LIGHTS WORKING BEFORE THE HEAD LIGHTS EVENTUALLY CAME ON. THE NEXT EVENING MORE TIME WAS SPENT TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON, BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHT AUTOLAMP POSITION TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING THE HEADLIGHT MANUAL POSITION TO WORK BUT NEITHER OF THE HEADLIGHT POSITIONS IS WORKING ON THE CAR. I HAVE A CAR THAT I CAN ONLY DRIVE DURING THE DAY LIGHT HOURS. MY RESEARCH HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE 'LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE' THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Oct 23, 201174,500 milesMA

HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, SIDE MARKERS, FOG LAMPS ALL DIED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TWICE ON FRIDAY NIGHT. FAULTY 'LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE' (PART NUMBER 3W7Z-13C788-AA ON MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE) TO BLAME. PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA CLOSED (PE08066), BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN - *ALL* 2001-2004 PANTHER PLATFORM VEHICLES WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVENTUALLY IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY DUE TO THE RELAY BEING SIZED TO SMALL AND EVENTUALLY BURNING OUT. MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE WITH LOSING YOUR LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON DARK BACKROADS. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed May 24, 2011130,000 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULE WHICH THE CONTACT STATED HE REPAIRED HIMSELF BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. THE DEALER WAS CALLED WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $500 FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COMPLETELY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Electrical System
Filed May 18, 201133,500 milesIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE UNLESS THEY WERE ON FULL SPEED. THE WIPERS WOULD ALSO COME ON AUTOMATICALLY AND SPRAY THE FLUID WHEN THEY WERE NOT MANUALLY OPERATED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,500.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 28, 201082,000 milesNM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND WAS CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

Suspension
Filed Sep 20, 2010100,000 milesOH

SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN 2004 WITH 10K MILES ON IT, I'VE PUT 120K ON IT. IT'S EATEN THRU 5 SETS OF TIRES. I'VE HAD THEM ALIGNED EVERY TIME I CHANGED TIRES.. HAD TWO AXLE ROD'S BREAK. RADIO FAILED. AC WILL CONSTANTLY TURN ON RANDOMLY. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jun 20, 201049,517 milesOH

REAR AXLES ARE NOT HARDENED PROPERLY,CAUSING LOSS OF LUBRICATION AT WHEEL SEALS. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 22, 200957,890 milesMN

HEADLIGHTS TURN THEMSELVES OFF AND ON EVERY FEW MINUTES OR SO AT NIGHT OR ANYTIME... *TR

20 of 60 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20050100Routine
200427100Routine
2003 — this page60100Routine

Compare every Marauder year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jun 13, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.