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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 →
73Owner complaints

Model-year median: 78

2Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
21
198521
198643
198773
198858
198956
199082
1991
Compare all Grand Marquis years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
36Vehicle Speed Control
12Engine And Engine Cooling
7Fuel System, Gasoline
5Power Train
4
All reported categories
Seat Belts
4Tires
4Steering
3Visibility
3Equipment
2Exterior Lighting
2Parking Brake
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Structure
1

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 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #503897

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 1996
Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH GOT VERY HOT, NO FIRE YET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982948

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 1996
Electrical System

HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATS DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT BEHIND DASH. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #504287

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, INTERIOR COMPLETELY BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #979797

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WHEN CAR WAS PARKED THE INTERIOR CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #978612

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 1995
Electrical SystemFire

CONSUMER IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE NEED TO BE REPLACED . TT

NHTSA ODI #975887

Official recalls

2

96V071000 · 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

1

PE91125 · 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