IllustrationWHILE DRIVING NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. PULLED VEHICLE OFF ROAD AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND NOTICED INSULATION ON WIRE WAS BURNING APPROXIMATELY 6-8 INCHES AWAY FROM ALTERNATOR; CONNECTOR SHOWED SIGN OF BURNED AND MELTED INSULATION. *AK
1988 Mercury Grand Marquis
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 78.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Marquis years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 73 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports24 fire reports4 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
36 reportsIGNITION SWITCH FAILED.
WHEN GOING TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AFTER DRIVING, THE KEY IS VERY HOT AND BURNS DRIVER'S FINGER. *AK
THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE AS CAR WAS BEING PARKED.
FIRE ORIGINATED IN OR ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH.
RECALL -96V071000 (IGNITION SWITCH). THE SERVICE WAS DONE IN AUGUST OF 1996. ON OCT. 20TH 1996, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AND SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE, UNDER THE HOOD. RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE. *AK *SLC
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO THE REPAIR UNTIL OCTOBER.*AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL. *AK
BATTERY REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL.
Official recalls
296V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
88V028000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor
Mar 8, 1988
AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR FOR SEAT BELTS FOR DUAL FACING REAR SEATS MAY BE INSTALLED IN AN IMPROPER LOCATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEAT BELT COULD BIND BETWEEN SEAT CUSHION AND SEAT BACKCAUSING THE RETRACTOR TO BE SLUGGISH OR UNABLE TO TAKE UP EXCESS BELT SLACK.
Remedy: REMOVE AND PROPERLY INSTALL THE RIGHT AUXILIARY SEAT BELTS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE91125 · Brake Line Punctures
Opened Sep 11, 1991 · Closed Jan 15, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available