1998 Mercury Marquis

Routine

Owners filed 29 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the steering. No safety recall has been issued.

Not among the Mercury Marquis years to avoid. Which Mercury Marquis years to avoid →

Most common 1998 Mercury Marquis problems

4 of the 29 complaints (14%) are about the steering.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension3
102
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission3
000
Tires2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · brakes2
002
Exterior Lighting › Headlights · headlights2
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control · throttle and acceleration1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Cables · throttle and acceleration1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments · body and frame1
000
Structure · body and frame1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed May 8, 201597,083 milesAR

THE FRONT END IS VERY SQUEAKY LOUD AND WHEN YOU MAKE HARD TURNS TO LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES A LOUD SPRING POPPING SOUND. THE STEERING IS FEEL LOSE AND CAUSE THE CAR TO SEEM AS THOUGH IT IS WOBBLING SIDE TO SIDE AND HOLDING IT IN THE ROAD IS A LITTLE TOUGH.

Engine
Filed Jan 29, 2015130,000 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD AND THE THERMOSTAT HOLDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 3/24/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE CURB, INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM A BROKEN PART, RELEASING ANTI-FREEZE. THE THERMOSTAT GASKET HOUSING AND INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/07/15*JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Oct 10, 201476,000 milesNV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

Steering › Linkages › Arm › Idler and Attachment
Filed Mar 13, 200850,000 milesNY

98 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 50,000 MILES DRIVING 10 MPH THE PS TIEROD END FELL OFF LOSING ALL CONTROL. CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER ALL TIE ROD ENDS REPLACE WITH GREASABLE ENDS COST $400.00 THIS IS A SEALED TIE ROD END REQUIRING NO GREASE (MANUFACTURES DEFECT REQUIRING RECALL,I STILL HAVE OLD PARTS. THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN INSPECTED NYS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Apr 27, 200656,000 milesMO

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH STEAM WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 27, 2005TX

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY GRAND MARQUIS CRACKED AN CAUSED MY CAR TO RUN HOT AN I HAD TO REPLACE IT. I HAVE 1998 MERQURY GRAND MARQUIS I REPLACED IT ON THE 9-14-05. *JB

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jun 27, 200584,111 milesTX

DT: HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE, THE WHOLE TIRE CAME COMPLETELY APART AND THE TREAD HAD SHREDDED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Jan 28, 200458,000 milesFL

REAR BRAKES DID NOT MATCH. WHILE TRAVELING AT 35-50 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD. DRIVER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC REPLACED 2 REAR ROTORS AND 2 REAR BRAKE PADS. ALSO MECHANIC DETERMINED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES HAD A DIFFERENT BRAKING SYSTEM THAN THE LEFT. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Concealment Devices
Filed Nov 19, 200330,000 milesTX

HEADLIGHT LENSES MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO FROST ON THE OUTSIDE LENS. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A COLLISION DUE TO LACK OF VISIBILITY. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE FAR DOWN THE ROAD WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE FINE AND NARROWLY AVOIDED HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE AND HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS. WHEN THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WERE USED, ONCOMING VEHICLES DID NOT SIGNAL THE CONSUMER TO SWITCH BACK TO THE LOW BEAMS. *SCC *JB

Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
Filed Nov 5, 2003LA

JACK WARNING LABEL DOES NOT MEET FVMSS SAFETY STANDARDS. *AK REFER TO RECALL NO.# 00V200000. *SCC *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 26, 2003IL

OWNER CAN NOT TELL WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

Structure
Filed Apr 16, 200375,000 milesSC

MY TRUNK ON MY 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE LEAKS WATER WHEN IT RAINS, PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH DOES NOT WORK,MY CAR HAS JUMPED TIMING TWICE IN A MONTH AND WAS STUCK ON THE INTERSTATE THE SECOND TIME AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK, HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AND BUY THE TIMING KIT TWICE. NOT COUNTING ON ALL THE RECALLS ON THIS CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN 1998 NEW. THE CAR IS IN MY HUSBANDS NAME... WHICH IS MARVIN MINOR. I REALLY DO LIKE MY CAR, BUT IT HAS BEEN A DISAPPOINTMENT TO ME. 8NLM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 6, 2002SC

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION VIBRATED AND ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Jan 10, 2002PA

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETURN TO RETRACTING MECHANISM AFTER USE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)
Filed Oct 15, 2001PA

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AT 3-5 MPH. VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT STEERING GEAR BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED. REPAIRS MADE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed May 21, 2001NY

HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. *AK CONSUMER STATES AT 18880 MILES HEADLIGHTS FOGGED UP ON DRIVER'S SIDE, PASSENGER'S SIDE FOGGED UP AT 22704 MILES, DEALER REPLACED THEM, HOWEVER AT 41396 MILES HEADLIGHTS FOGGED AGAIN AND DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE. *SLC

Tires
Filed Feb 22, 2001TX

THE FIRST TIRE FAILED AS THE TREAD PARTIALLY SEPARATED AND WENT FLAT ON A FREEWAY TH IS WAS ON 12/02/2000 AT APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILES. THE SECOND TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT BUT THE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE ON 2/20/2001 AT APPROXIMATELY 35,500 MILES. *AK (TIRESIZE: P225 60R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225 60R16 )

Tires
Filed Aug 15, 2000MO

AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BAD LUCK TO LOOSE A 6 MONTH OLD TIRE. WHEN I STARTED TO SEE THE REPORTS ON TV, MY FAILURE WAS SO NEARLY IDENTICAL THAT I DECIDED IT SHOULD BE REPORTED. I WAS ON THE FIRST DAY OF A VACATION TRIP AND HAD CHECKED EVERYTHING. THE PERSON AT THE TIRE STORE TOLD ME MY PRESSURE HAD GONE DOWN, AND THAT HAD CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT THE DIDN'T RING TRUE. HAD IT BEEN A FRONT TIRE IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AS I WAS IN A CENTER LANE IN MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN ST. LOUIS. THANX. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNK TIRE SIZE: P225/60R16 )

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2 injured
Filed Dec 21, 1999NC

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES EMERGENCY STOPPING SITUATIONS, VEHICLE KEEPS GOING AS IF NO BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Dec 21, 1999FL

ON TWO OCCASIONS WHENEVER VEHICLE RAN OVER PUDDLE OF WATER IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING ASSIST FOR APPROIMATELY 20 SECOND OR LESS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Sep 9, 1999MA

THE HEADLIGHT LENS ARE CLOUDY, BUT NOT CRACKED. IMPAIRS CONSUMER'S VISION WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR HEDLIGHTS BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THAT CONSUMER SPILLED SOME CHEMICAL ON THEM. *AK

SuspensionCrash2 injured
Filed Aug 24, 1999NJ

WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 40MPH SUDDENLY FRONT WHEELS KEPT SWERVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. HAD NO STEERING CONTROL. WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT & FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. HAD 2 INJURIES. EMERGENCY RM TREATMENT. THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Aug 11, 1999FL

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 500 MILES STOPPED AND STARTED VEHICLE, MOTOR ACCELERATED TO ALMOST FULL SPEED. DEALER CONTACTED AND FOUND PLASTIC SHIPPING COVER IN THROTTLE PLATE, WHICH WAS STUCK IN TO KEEP THROTTLE OPEN. REPAIR WORK DONE. *AK

Suspension
Filed Jun 16, 1999TX

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE WANDERING ACROSS THE ROAD WHENEVER VEHICLE REACHES ABOVE 50 MPH. VEHICLEHAS BEEN IN/O UT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. SEEKING HELP, AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 1, 1999MO

CONSUMER PULLED INTO PARKING LOT, VEHICLE JUMPED THROUGH PARKING BARRIER, DOWN DECLINE AND WENT THROUGH A CHAIN LINK FENCE. TALL SHRUBBERY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR WOULD SOMETIMES GET STUCK BETWEEN REVERSE AND NEUTRAL, TWO WEEK AGO, DASHBOARD WAS LIT UP AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TWICE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED A CABLE LEADING TO THE GEAR SHIFT. *AK

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Mar 12, 1999CA

FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HINGE FAILED.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Sep 29, 1998NV

CONSUMER WAS PUTTING GAS INTO VEHICLE WHEN NOTICED FUEL POURING OUT UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND WILL REPAIR VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE. BUT CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF BEING WITHOUT TRANSPORATION UNTIL REPAIRS ARE MADE. *AK

Suspension
Filed Aug 26, 1998NC

STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. DEALER INSPECTING DEFECT, STATES THAT THE DESIGN IS MADE TO HANDLE A HARDER RIDE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Feb 3, 1998OH

BRAKES: WHEN DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR WILL STOP. CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. THEY BLED THE BRAKES, PUT NEW CALIPERS ON, AND NOW THEY ARE WAITING FOR A MASTER CYLINDER. *AK

All 29 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200412000Routine
200333010Routine
200211000Routine
200126000Routine
200023000Routine
199924010Routine
1998 — this page29000Routine
199753130Routine
199631010Routine
199520000Routine
199430070Routine
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.