IllustrationVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON DASHBOARD DUE TO POSSIBLE SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. *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 reportsELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. *AK
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM BELOW THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES BETWEEN THE WINDSHEILD AND THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, DASH BURNED. *AK
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND A FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM IGNITION SWITCH. SOMEONE ASSISTED OWNER IN SHUTTING IT DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN, FIRE DISTINQUISHED IT'S SELF, WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNT. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, WIRES OVER HEATED. *AK
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