1994 Mercury Marquis

Routine

Owners filed 30 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › power window devices and controls. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls4
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control3
024
Vehicle Speed Control3
010
Seats3
101
Electrical System3
030
Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers2
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
100
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System1
000
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 13, 2015130,000 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TAIL LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS. AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND CONNECTOR PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Mar 31, 2014100,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 06/11/2014 *JS

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire1 injured
Filed May 18, 2006135,000 milesCT

1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. MY BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. A NICE MAN PULLED UP NEXT TO ME AND TOLD ME MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OUT. I WENT HOME POPPED THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND STARTED LOOKING FOR A BAD FUSE. I FOUND IT IN THE CAR COMPARTMENT NOT UNDER THE HOOD. LOOKED OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD AND SAW SMOKE I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AND TORE THE WIRES FROM THE SWITCH. I WENT TO A FORD DEALER AND HE SAID IT IS NOT COVERED. WRONG YEAR. THIS IS THE SAME SWITCH THAT HAS CAUSED FIRES THAT BURNED DOWN HOMES AND HAS CAUSED DEATHS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT FORD HAS NOT INCLUDED ALL OF THE CARS THAT HAVE THESE DEFECTIVE SWITCH'S. I OWN 1 OF THIS MODEL. MY FATHER- IN- LAW OWNS 1 ALSO. HIS CRUISE CONTROL WENT BAD 2 YEARS AGO. IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IT JUST NEVER CAUGHT ON FIRE. I DISCONNECTED THE SOLENOID IN THE STEERING COLUMN SO IT WOULD SHIFT. HE TOLD ME AFTER I GOT IT RUNNING THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK ANYMORE. I NEVER LOOKED FOR THE BAD FUSE. SO HERE IS 2 CARS SAME YEAR SAME MAKE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS A LARGER PROBLEM THAN FORD IS SAYING. I COULD OF LOST MY CAR AND HOUSE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. FORD WANTS ME TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED AND NOT COVER IT. HOW MANY MORE OF THESE CARS ARE WAITING TO GO UP IN FLAMES. HOW MANY MORE DEATHS AND HOMES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE THIS ALL GETS FIXED. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire
Filed Aug 17, 2005LA

AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00 A.M ON JULY 6, 2005, MY HUSBAND AND 16 YEAR OLD SON WERE AWAKEN BY A NEIGHBOR, TELLING THEM THAT OUR 1994 GRAND MARQUISE (MERCURY) WAS ON FIRE. MY HUSBAND AND SON BARELY ESCAPED WHEN THE FIRE HIT THE HOUSE AND BURNED OUR HOME DOWN TO THE GROUND. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR NEARLY 7 1/2 HOURS BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY DAUGHTER (13 YEARS OLD) AND MYSELF WERE OUT OF TOWN, BECAUSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY DO NOT THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE ALL FOUR ESCAPED FROM THE HOUSE. OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN DEVESTATED AND MY HUSBAND AND SON WERE NOT PHYSICALLY INJURED, BUT THE MENTAL ANGUISH THAT WE ARE ALL SUFFERING AND THE LOSS OF EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD, IS VERY HARD ON US ALL AND WE ARE HAVING A VERY HARD TIME HANDLING THIS.

Tires › Tread/BeltCrash
Filed May 25, 2005OH

BRIDGESTONE TURANZA T PASSENGER TIRES; P215/70R MADE IN JAPAN. JDJ469; K9902; DOT H434 97T; QL20HZ ONLY LASTED APPROXIMATELY 2K MILES BEFORE THE BELTS BROKE.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Apr 25, 2005TX

VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF THE CARPORT AND WITHOUT WARNING IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. *AK VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED BUT WAS INSPECTED BY ENGINEER WITH VERITE FORENSIC ENGINEERING CONTRACTED BY FORD MOTOR CO. COULD NOT FIND WHAT CAUSED FIRE AND SAID THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAD MELTED COMPLETELY. CAR IS NOW PARKED IN THE YARD. *BF

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jan 5, 200580,000 milesCA

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND CONSUMER DISCOVERED FIRE AT 11:30PM. CONSUMER STATED THAT CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING 2-3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. ALSO, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire4 injured
Filed Nov 14, 2004TX

THE SPEED SWITCH ON MY WIFE'S 1994 MERCURY MARQUIS SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY IGNITED CAUSING A MASSIVE FIRE WHICH DESTROYED OUR HOME AND NEARLY KILLED MY FAMILY. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine1 injured
Filed Jul 10, 200326,000 milesFL

DEAR SIR/MADAM;IN THE PAST, I HAVE OWNED THE CHEVROLET VEGA, THE PONTIAC FIERO TWO OF THE POOREST AUTOMOBILES EVER BUILD BUT NEITHER OF THESE CARS CAN BEGAN TO COMPARE THE 1994 MERCUY MARQUIE AS TO POOR QUALITY. WITHOUT QUESTION, THE WORST AUTOMOBILE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED!I HAVE HAD TO HAVE 15 WINDOW REGULARTORS INSTALLED FOR A COST OF FROM $175 TO $275 FOR EACH REGULAR INSTALLATION FOR AN APPROXIMATE TOTAL OF $3,000.00.WITH JUST 83,000 MILES, EASILY DRIVEN, THE CAR CURRENTLY USED 1 QT. OF OIL EVERY1,000 MILES. *AK OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE ASKED OTHER MERCURY MARQUIE AND FORD VICTORIA OWNERS OF THE SAME YEARS IF THEY HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. TODATE, I HAVE NEVER FOUND AN OWNER OF THESE SAME YEAR AUTOMOBILES THAT HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND USUALLY MORE THAN ONCE. SERVICE MEN WILL ADVISE THAT. FORDS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND NOT JUST THE YEARS OF THIS MODEL. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW CAR. I CANNOT SHOP AMERICAN AS I WOULD PREFER. I WILL SHOP THE JAPANESE MARKET AS I HAVE IN THE PAST AND WILL ALWAYS FOR FUTURE. THE AMERICAN MARKET CONTINUES TO REGRESS AS TO SIZE AND QUALITY. BY COPY OF THIS LETTER, I WOULD ALSO REQUEST THAT THE NEXT TIME THE AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES COME BEGGING CONGRESS BECAUSE THE EUROPEAN, AISIAN, OR OTHER MANUFACTURES ARE TAKING THEIR BUSINESS THAT THEY BE REFUSED ANY LOANS AT THE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE. FORCED THEM TO USE THE PRIVATE LENDERS. THEY NEVER SEEM TO LEARN! BACK TO QUALITY - - BUY JAPANESE, J. B. CHAMBERS

Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed May 20, 2002NY

CONSUMER STATES CRUISE CONTROL FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. *TT REFERENCED IN EA02-025

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed Jan 19, 2001TN

THE CAR LIGHTS WENT OUT ON A FOGGY NIGHT ON A CURVING MOUNTAIN ROAD, REPLACED THE LIGHT SWITCH AND THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL UNIT. *CJ

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jan 5, 2001SC

ELECTRIC REGULATOR FOR WINDOWS WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO GO. AT TIME OF PURCHASING USED VEHICLE, WINDOWS WERE WORKING. 2 WINDOWS HAD REGULATORS REPLACED ON RIGHT. CURRENTLY, LEFT FRONT WINDOW IS FAILING. NO WARRANTY. *AK

Seats
Filed Dec 5, 2000PA

FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE TWICE, ONCE AT 39389 MILES AND AGAIN AT 83511 MILES. BOTH TIMES BOLTS HOLDING SEAT ASSEMBLY TO MAIN FRAME ASSEMBLY PULLED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE METAL.

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Sep 11, 2000FL

POWER WINDOWS ON THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. IF UP, THEY WILL NOT COME DOWN WHEN BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF DOWN, THEY WILL NOT GO UP WHEN BUTTON IS PRESSED. BEEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. MECHANIC CANNOT RESOLVED PROBLEM OF POWER WINDOWS.*AK

Seats
Filed Jul 27, 2000TX

BOTH RAILS (LEFT & RIGHT) THAT ATTACH THE SEAT TO TRACK ASSEMBLY BROKE ALLOWING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO TILT BACK. UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR. NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED BUT SEAT WOULD HAVE COME APART IF IMPACT HAD OCCURRED. *AK

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jan 4, 2000FL

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ALL WINDOWS FAILING TO OPERATE ONE AFTER ANOTHER.THREE WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL AND REPAIRS WERE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST*AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Oct 29, 1999VA

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE NOTICED & SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM VENTS. SMELLED LIKE WIRES BURNING. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE HEATER CORE BURNED & CAUSED THE PROBLEM. IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 29, 1999CA

WHEN COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY AS CONSUMER WAS SLOWING DOWN, CAR ACCELERATED UP TO 65MPH ON ITS OWN. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Sep 2, 1999SC

FUSES KEPT BLOWING OUT, AND CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE ANY TYPE OF BRAKE LIGHTS/ PARK LIGHTS. ALSO, TAIL LIGHT SWITCH WIRE HARNESS BURNED OUT.*AK

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Jun 26, 1999AK

STEERING STICKS AT ALL SPEED WHEN TURING LEFT. SLIGHT JERK ON STEERING WHEEL RELEASES STICK. *AK

20 of 30 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200412000Routine
200333010Routine
200211000Routine
200126000Routine
200023000Routine
199924010Routine
199829000Routine
199753130Routine
199631010Routine
199520000Routine
1994 — this page30070Routine
199323040Routine
199224030Routine
19919030Routine
19906030Routine

Compare every Marquis 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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.