IllustrationI PURCHASE A USED VEHICLE ON 2-03-03 AT 11:OO AM I WAS ENSURED THAT IT WAS A GREAT VEHICLE. ABOUT 5:15 PM I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, AND IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND IT LOOSE COMPRESSION. I HAD SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND HE STATED THAT IT WASEN'T HIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT I WAS SOLD A UNSAFE VEHICLE.
1984 Mercury Marquis
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 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: 1 of 10 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
10 reportsVEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. PULLED OVER AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPS THE CAR STARTED, BUT WHEN YOU PUT IT INTO GEAR IT WOULD LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER. AFTER INVESTIGATING, I FOUND THE IGNITION WIRING SEPARATED FROM ITS HOUSING.
IGNITION SWITCH STARTED SMOKING DUE TO SHORT.
UPON TURNING ON IGNITION SWITCH, SMOKE CAME OUT DUE TO A CABLE NEXT TO BRAKE BOOSTER MELTED.
RADIATOR/RADIATOR HOSE FAILED, RESULTING INN AN OIL LEAK; ALSO REPLACED BELTS/BRAKE PADS, SHOES, DRUMS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS/ EXHAUST SYSTEM/ALTERNATOR/HEADLAMPS. *AK
IGNITION FIRE. *AK
HEAD LINER FABRIC HANGING DOWN, OBSCURING VISION TO THE REAR. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 502774)
GAS GUAGE INDICATOR FAILED.
CONSUMER PARK CAR DRIVE WAY CAR WAS RUN IN PARK IT CAME OUT OF PARK WENT INTO REVERSE WENT DOWN HILL AND HIT AN ENBANKMENT. TT
GAS TANK HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE LEAKAGE. TT
Official recalls
183V134000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Dec 20, 1983
THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE D-SHAPED RING FOR THE SHOULDER BELT ARE INADEQUATELY SUPPORTED BY THE MATERIAL IN WHICH THEY ARE MOUNTED. THE ATTACHMENT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW ATTACHING HARDWARE TO IMPROVE THE STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING.
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
3PE89039 · Parking Brake Failure
Opened Feb 9, 1989 · Closed Jun 13, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake
SUMMARY:THE SPRING UNDER INVESTIGATION CAUSES THE LATCHING PAWL TOENGAGE THE TEETH OF THE RATCHET WHEREBY THE PARKING BRAKE IS RETAINEDIN THE APPLIED POSITION.IF THE SPRING FAILS, THE PEDAL FOLLOWS THEOPERATORS FOOT BACK UP INTO THE RELEASED POSITION.FORD STATES THAT IT ISSUED THE BULLETIN IN ORDER TO INFORM DEALERSTHAT THE SPRING WAS NEWLY AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE PART.PREVIOUSLY,IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL ASSEMBLY INORDER TO OBTAIN A NEW SPRING.SINCE THE FAILURE OF THE SPRING WILL NOT CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TOSUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY RELEASE AND SINCE THERE IS ADEQUATE WARNINGOF THE FAILURE, NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND WAS FOUND.===
PE87028 · Stalling
Opened May 1, 1987 · Closed Jan 21, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===
EA86010 · Seatback Failure
Opened Mar 26, 1986 · Closed Jul 28, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1987 MODELSWILL BE PRODUCED WITH A LONGER M10 BOLT AND A NUT TO INCREASE AND MAIN-TAIN CLAMPING FORCE. BOLTS WERE FORMERLY SELF TAPPING. REPORTS LISTEDABOVE SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THE BOLT BROKE. NONE REFER SIMPLY TOSEAT BACK COLLAPSE ALONE.STATUS:FORD REPLY TO ODI IR DATED 2/2/87.FORD RECALLED 195,7321984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986 (86V-082). ANALYZING REPONSE,MONITORING CANADIAN PROGRESS. RESPONSE TO 4/6/87 LETTER TO FORDRECEIVED 7/15/87. WILL PROBABLY CLOSE AFTER CANADA COMPLETES THEIRACTIONS.===