Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
200–25K
1425–50K
1650–75K
1075–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
66 reports with mileage · 12 unknown
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.
Steering. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
78 reports
62,008 miles · Feb 24, 2015
Steering
I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH MY POWER STEERING ON MY 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE OR WHEN I NEED TO MAKE A REALLY QUICK TURN OF THE WHEEL IT TURNS VERY HARD AND HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HAVE AND ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS SPEED SENSITIVE POWER STEERING ON IT . I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL FORD CARS AND TRUCKS BUT THIS IS THE F…
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I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH MY POWER STEERING ON MY 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE OR WHEN I NEED TO MAKE A REALLY QUICK TURN OF THE WHEEL IT TURNS VERY HARD AND HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HAVE AND ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS SPEED SENSITIVE POWER STEERING ON IT . I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL FORD CARS AND TRUCKS BUT THIS IS THE FIRST STEERING PROBLEM I HAVE HAD. I REALLY WISH I HAD NEVER BOUGHT A CAR WITH THIS TYPE OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM ON IT. I THINK THAT THIS A PROBLEM ON FORD CARS WITH THIS TYPE OF STEERING SYSTEM ON THEM I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL OTHER FORD CAR OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN GIVEN A REAL ANSWER AS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10690296
32,499 miles · Nov 11, 2014
Service Brakes
THANK GOODNESS, THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT. RATHER, I HEARD THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE EVERY 50,000 MILES. HOWEVER, MY CAR IS SO LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE THAT I DECIDED I SHOULD HAVE THE CABLE CHECKED ANYHOW. THEN, I HEARD THAT MANY OF THE AFTERMARKET EMERGENCY CABLES ARE DEFECTIVE. THANKFULLY, MY SON, [XXX] ,…
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THANK GOODNESS, THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT. RATHER, I HEARD THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE EVERY 50,000 MILES. HOWEVER, MY CAR IS SO LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE THAT I DECIDED I SHOULD HAVE THE CABLE CHECKED ANYHOW. THEN, I HEARD THAT MANY OF THE AFTERMARKET EMERGENCY CABLES ARE DEFECTIVE. THANKFULLY, MY SON, [XXX] , KNOWS SOMEONE WHO CAN CHECK THE CABLES. WE TESTED CABLES FROM TWO AUTO PARTS RETAIL STORES. ONE FAILED TO HOLD PRESSURE. THE OTHER CABLE EXPLODED RATHER DRAMATICALLY. FORTUNATELY, THE PEOPLE MY SON KNOWS MAKE EMERGENCY CABLES. FROM OUTWARD APPEARANCE, THE CABLE THEY MADE WAS DEFINITELY SUPERIOR. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN THEY TESTED THE CABLE, IT HELD PRESSURE WITHOUT DROPPING AT ALL. MY SON ONCE PICKED UP HIS CAR FROM AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP (ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO) AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES DONE. APPARENTLY, THE EXTRA PRESSURE NEW BRAKE PADS PUT ON THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED ONE BRAKE LINE TO SNAP BY THE BACK OF THE CAR. RICH COMPLETELY LOST HIS BRAKES AT 40 MPH. FORTUNATELY, WHEN HE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, IT DID THE JOB. HE SAID THERE WAS A CAR TURNING RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM AND ON-COMING TRAFFIC ON THE LEFT. WITHOUT A GOOD EMERGENCY BRAKE, HIS OPTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN QUITE LIMITED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10654188
50,000 miles · Oct 7, 2014
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWO TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA ODI #10643094
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2014
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteeringCrash
2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR POOR STEERING. THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHEREBY HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND SHIFT THE GEAR . *TGW
NHTSA ODI #10638927
9,587 miles · Mar 29, 2014
Engine
WHILE DRIVING UP A SHORT MODERATE GRADE, THE CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE BATTERY (NEARLY NEW) WAS FINE AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED WITH ICONS LIT. THE STEERING WAS AFFECTED AND THE CAR DRIFTED TO A STOP ON A LEVEL SURFACE. I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN RESTARTING THE CAR ON THE FIRST TRY AND THIS INCIDENT HAS NOT RECURRED. I D…
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WHILE DRIVING UP A SHORT MODERATE GRADE, THE CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE BATTERY (NEARLY NEW) WAS FINE AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED WITH ICONS LIT. THE STEERING WAS AFFECTED AND THE CAR DRIFTED TO A STOP ON A LEVEL SURFACE. I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN RESTARTING THE CAR ON THE FIRST TRY AND THIS INCIDENT HAS NOT RECURRED. I DID NOT MAKE NOTE OF WHAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE, AS I WAS MORE INTERESTED IN RESTARTING THE CAR. I DO HAVE A RATHER HEAVY KEY SET (HEAVIER THAN MOST). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10575520
100,000 miles · Mar 7, 2014
Steering
NHTSA RECALL 13V385 STEERING DEALERSHIP HAS INDICATED THAT REPAIR PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. INITIAL NOTICE 10/2013 SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 13S08. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10567841
300 miles · Mar 6, 2014
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE REQUIRED REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED AN UNREASONABLE DATE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V385000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE REQUIRED REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED AN UNREASONABLE DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL SERVICE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10567568
47,000 miles · Nov 15, 2013
SteeringCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH, CAUSING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH, CAUSING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT HIP AND RIGHT LEG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
NHTSA ODI #10552433
39,000 miles · Sep 27, 2013
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
CAR SPEEDING UP WHILE BRAKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10545658
87,500 miles · Aug 26, 2013
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
WHEN REVERSING OUT OF DRIVEWAY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. PRESSED BRAKES BUT CAR STILL MOVED BACKWARDS. HAVE SKID MARKS IN DRIVEWAY TO SHOW FOR IT. THREW CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL. DROVE CAR ON TRIP AND WHEN REDUCING SPEED TO SLOW DOWN BY PUSHING ON BRAKE CAR AGAIN ACCELERAT…
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WHEN REVERSING OUT OF DRIVEWAY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. PRESSED BRAKES BUT CAR STILL MOVED BACKWARDS. HAVE SKID MARKS IN DRIVEWAY TO SHOW FOR IT. THREW CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL. DROVE CAR ON TRIP AND WHEN REDUCING SPEED TO SLOW DOWN BY PUSHING ON BRAKE CAR AGAIN ACCELERATED AND NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR. AGAIN THREW CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. AND AGAIN WHEN RESTARTING CAR EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL AGAIN. WIFE IS EXTREMELY AFRAID OF DRIVING CAR. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN THAT I PUSHED THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME, THIS HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IS NOT THE CASE. DEALERSHIP HOWEVER KEPT THE CAR FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE. WILL HEAR IN A DAY OR TWO. *TR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermediate shaft was serviced during the course of safety recall 13V-385. The prior repairs may not have been correctly performed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if necessary free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S25.
Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate shaft which may cause the upper intermediate shaft to collapse and the steering column lower bearing to separate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lower intermediate shaft corrosion, and repaired or replaced as necessary. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed. The recall began on October 23, 2013. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13S08.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY MAY FRACTURE DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A HUB FRACTURES, IT MAY POTENTIALLY DETACH FROM THE WHEEL KNUCKLE, RESULTING IN THE WHEEL BEING RETAINED ONLY BY THE BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT, THE WHEEL MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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
PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking
Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO
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