IllustrationVEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. STARTED VEHICLE UP & ENGINE WAS RACING. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE & VEHICLE TOOK OFF BACKWARDS. HAD FOOT ON BRAKES AT TIME. HAD TO TURNED IGNITION SWITCH OFF TO STOP VEHICLE. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK
1992 Mercury Grand Marquis
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Marquis years
Owner complaints for the 1992 Mercury Grand Marquis are substantially higher than 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: 15 of 255 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports27 fire reports13 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
31 reportsWHEN STARTING UP ABOUT ONE-TWO BLOCKS ENGINE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. PROBLEM CONTINUOUSLY OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER 40MPH. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM AND IS AWARE OF DEFECT. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
I HAVE NICKNAMED MY CAR "CHRISTINE" BECAUSE IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. I CAN GO FOR MILES WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS. WHEN I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE BACK WHEELS ARE STILL SPINNING. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS. ONE MECHANIC ACTUALLY DROVE THE CAR AND IT HAPPENE…
Read full complaint
I HAVE NICKNAMED MY CAR "CHRISTINE" BECAUSE IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. I CAN GO FOR MILES WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS. WHEN I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE BACK WHEELS ARE STILL SPINNING. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS. ONE MECHANIC ACTUALLY DROVE THE CAR AND IT HAPPENED TO HIM (I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED.) HE FELT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STUCK AND TOLD ME TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CRUIS CONTROL AND REPLACED THE WIRE HARNESS AND DID A TUNEUP. IT IS STILL HAPPENING WHEN IT IS DAMP OR WET OUT. LIVING IN VERMONT THERE IS A LOT OF DAMP AND WET WEATHER. I'M ACTUALLY AFRAID TO OPERATE THE CAR IF IT IS RAINING OUT. I DON'T WANT TO GET THE DEALER IN TROUBLE BECAUSE IN THE PAST THEY HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT IN REPAIRING MY CAR. I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I SAW A DOCUMENTARY ON DATELINE LAST NIGHT THAT SAID OTHER MERCURY OWNERS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH ACCIDENT RESULTING. SHOULD I CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY CAR? SHOULDN'T THE MANUFACTURER SHARE SOME TO THE RESPONSIBILITY IN THE DEFECT. WOULD HAVING THE CRUISE CONTROL DISARMED PREVENT THE AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION? PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS MATTER. I NEED MY CAR TO COMMUTE TO WORK ETC.
WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT ANY NOTICE; ALSO REPLACED LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER AND TRANSMISSION. *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *SD
TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO REVERSE FROM PARK.
CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED HIT THE BRAKE TO RELEASE, FAILED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. TT
ENGINE RACED, CAR WAS IN REVERSE AND TOOK OFF AND CRASHED. TT
PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND CAR ACCELERATE TO STOP THE CAR HAD TO TURN KEY OFF. TT
Official recalls
308V051000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control
Feb 4, 2008
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
07V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 3, 2007
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
99V124000 · Electrical System
May 19, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAN DEVELOP A RESISTIVE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. A FIRE IS POSSIBLE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. ALSO, THE SHORT COULD DISABLE THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE TO OPEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE CAN ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDERHOOD AREA.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR SHELL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 1999.
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
7EA02025 · Speed Control Deactivation Switch Fires
Opened Sep 6, 2002 · Closed Jun 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
BASED ON THE LOW RATE OF FIRE INCIDENTS (2.5 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES SOLD) WHERE FAILURE OF THE SCDS IS INVOLVED AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLES ? 7 TO 11 YEARS ? A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
DP02007 · FUEL-FED Fires
Opened Aug 22, 2002 · Closed Dec 4, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE FARS DATA SHOWS THAT THE RISK OF FIRE FROM IMPACT IN ALL DIRECTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS THE SAME AS ALL OTHER SEDANS.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT OVER REPRESENTED WITH RESPECT TO THE RISK OF FIRE IN REAL-WORLD HIGH-ENERGY CRASHES.A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF ISSUES RELATED TO POST CRASH FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS SET OUT IN THE CLOSING REPORT FOR SQ 01-014 AND THAT REPORT IS IN THE DOCKET FOR THIS PETITION.AFTER REVIEWING THE PETITION AND ITS SUPPORTING MATERIALS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION FURNISHED BY FORD AND GM, AND INFORMATION WITHIN THE AGENCY'S POSSESSION FROM PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIONS,NHTSA HAS CONCLUDED THAT FUTHER INVESTIGATION CONCERNING POST-CRASH FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS NOT LIKELY TO LEAD TO A DECISION THAT THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A SAFETY DEFECT.
SQ01014 · Post Rear End Collision Fires
Opened Nov 27, 2001 · Closed Oct 3, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
There is no summary currently available
RQ01002 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Sep 20, 2001 · Closed Sep 6, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
EA95011 · Undercarriage Fuel Line Interference
Opened Mar 29, 1995 · Closed Jan 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE94077 · Fuel Line Interference
Opened Nov 4, 1994 · Closed Mar 29, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE93086 · Hood FLY-UP While Driving
Opened Oct 1, 1993 · Closed Feb 28, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available