IllustrationGRINDING NOISE IN STEERING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AND ESPECIALLY WHILE SITTING STILL. STEERING IS NOT AS RESPONSIVE AS IT USE TO BE. THIS HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME WHILE BEING USED FOR THE LAST YEAR, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL OF A SUDDEN. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT.
2001 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: 12 of 26 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
26 reportsTHE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNLATCHES FREQUENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. MY HUSBAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ONE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAS IGNORED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I AM DRIVING THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS NOW AND I'M CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS AND RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY …
Read full complaint
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNLATCHES FREQUENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. MY HUSBAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ONE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAS IGNORED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I AM DRIVING THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS NOW AND I'M CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS AND RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VIN. HELP!! WHY IS THIS PROBLEM A SAFETY HAZARD AND RECALL ON SOME CARS AND NOT OTHERS???? IT IS TERRIBLY UNSAFE ON ANY CAR! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT INDEPENDENTLY BECAME LOOSE FROM AROUND THE CONTACT. HE REFASTENED THE SEAT BELT AND PROCEEDED DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE WITHOUT WARRANT. THE CONTACT MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER F…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT INDEPENDENTLY BECAME LOOSE FROM AROUND THE CONTACT. HE REFASTENED THE SEAT BELT AND PROCEEDED DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE WITHOUT WARRANT. THE CONTACT MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,952 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY MARQUIS. WHILE SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SOUND THE HORN, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. A CRASH OCCURRED, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HORN IN THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO BE DIFFICULT TO FIND. THE CONTACT WANTS TO KNOW IF THE HORN IS LOCATED UNDER THE HOR…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY MARQUIS. WHILE SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SOUND THE HORN, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. A CRASH OCCURRED, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HORN IN THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO BE DIFFICULT TO FIND. THE CONTACT WANTS TO KNOW IF THE HORN IS LOCATED UNDER THE HORN SYMBOL OR UNDER THE AIR BAG. HE HAS TO REMOVE HIS HANDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO BLOW THE HORN, WHICH TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT. HE FEELS THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,414.
I TRADED A 1999 GRAND MARQUIS IN ON A 2001 GRAND MARQUIS ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO. A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 99 WAS THAT THE DASH LIGHTS KEPT BLOWING FUSES. NOW THE 2001 IS DOING THE SAME THING, THERE IS ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF EXPIRING WARRANTY, 3 COILS FAILED ONE AFTER THE OTHER RESULTING IN VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR COST. WITHIN YEAR 4TH COIL FAILS. TRIED TO GET WARRANTY TO COVER AFTER 1ST FAILURE; FELT LIKE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. STILL THINK SOME SORT OF DEFECT. AM JUST PRAYING THAT I WON'T BE ON THE ROAD ON A LONG DISTANCE TRIP WH…
Read full complaint
WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF EXPIRING WARRANTY, 3 COILS FAILED ONE AFTER THE OTHER RESULTING IN VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR COST. WITHIN YEAR 4TH COIL FAILS. TRIED TO GET WARRANTY TO COVER AFTER 1ST FAILURE; FELT LIKE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. STILL THINK SOME SORT OF DEFECT. AM JUST PRAYING THAT I WON'T BE ON THE ROAD ON A LONG DISTANCE TRIP WHEN #5 FAILS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER HYDRAULIC UNIT FOR THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS THE ONLY ONE THAT SELLS THE PART. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED A…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER HYDRAULIC UNIT FOR THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS THE ONLY ONE THAT SELLS THE PART. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS LOCATED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
I AM REPORTING THE FAILURE OF THE BUCKLE ON THE FRONT SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE. IT APPEARED TO CLICK"CLOSED BUT UNEXPECTEDLY POPPED OPEN WHEN I DRIVING. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER . WHO SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE VIN.. HOWEVER, NHTSA SITE SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A …
Read full complaint
I AM REPORTING THE FAILURE OF THE BUCKLE ON THE FRONT SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE. IT APPEARED TO CLICK"CLOSED BUT UNEXPECTEDLY POPPED OPEN WHEN I DRIVING. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER . WHO SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE VIN.. HOWEVER, NHTSA SITE SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE VEHICLE FOR JUST THIS PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT RECALLS WERE TYPICALLY ASSEMBLY PLANT RELATED AND THAT THIS VEHICLE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE SIMILARITY WAS TOO GREAT TO IGNORE ,AND I WISHED TO REPORT THIS MATTER TO YOU. PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED BUT THE HAZARD TO MY SAFETY WAS CONSIDERABLE. I WILL REPLACE THE FAULTY PART AT MY OWN EXPENSE IN THE MEANTIME BUT URGE YOUR AGENCY TO FURTHER REVIEW THE POSSIBILITY THAT NOT ALL THE VEHICLES SO IMPAIRED HAVE BEEN RECALLED. LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON APRIL 7 BUT WAS PRECEDED BY MANY MORE.*AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TWO COIL ASSEMBLIES AND ONE VALVE ASSEMBLY.
DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM / BALL JOINT FAILED ALLOWING THE FRONT WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE CAR. PRIOR TO THIS DRIVER EXPERIENCED SQUEAKING FROM THE FRONT END AND STIFFNESS IN STEERING/CASTOR ACTION AT SLOW SPEEDS NOT WORKING. *JB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1EA05004 · Front Seat Belt Buckle Assembly
Opened Feb 17, 2005 · Closed Jul 6, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts; Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2001, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIPS USING A TEST TOOL THAT WOULD DETECT A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION VEHICLES PASSED THE INSPECTION TEST FOR ONE OR BOTH FRONT BUCKLES.SUBSEQUENT TO THE RECALL SERVICE ACTION, ODI RECEIVED 15 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING THAT A PASSED INSPECTION BUCKLE SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO LATCH OR INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED DURING USE.IN ADDITION, FORD HAS IDENTIFIED 543 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS ALLEGING BUCKLE FAILURE SUBSEQUENT TO PASSING THE INSPECTION TEST.FORD TESTED AND EXAMINED OVER 100 WARRANTY-RETURNED BUCKLES AND FOUND THAT 44% OF THE BUCKLES HAD NO PROBLEM OR A CONDITION NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL INSPECTION (NON-LATCH RELATED BUCKLE DAMAGE OR FOREIGN CONTAMINATION).WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE HIGHEST DURING THE 18-MONTH PERIOD AFTER THE START OF THE RECALL (JULY 2001) AND HAVE BEEN DECLINING DURING THE PAST 24 MONTHS.OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, FORD HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 12 WARRANTY CLAIMS PER MONTH OUT OF A VEHICLE POPULATION OF ABOUT ONE MILLION.COMPLAINTS COUNTS ARE ALSO DECREASING.DURING THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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 RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seat Belts
DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2001, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIPS USING A TEST TOOL THAT WOULD DETECT A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION VEHICLES PASSED THE INSPECTION TEST FOR ONE OR BOTH FRONT BUCKLES.SUBSEQUENT TO THE RECALL SERVICE ACTION, ODI RECEIVED 15 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING THAT A PASSED INSPECTION BUCKLE SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO LATCH OR INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED DURING USE.IN ADDITION, FORD HAS IDENTIFIED 543 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS ALLEGING BUCKLE FAILURE SUBSEQUENT TO PASSING THE INSPECTION TEST.FORD TESTED AND EXAMINED OVER 100 WARRANTY-RETURNED BUCKLES AND FOUND THAT 44% OF THE BUCKLES HAD NO PROBLEM OR A CONDITION NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL INSPECTION (NON-LATCH RELATED BUCKLE DAMAGE OR FOREIGN CONTAMINATION).WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE HIGHEST DURING THE 18-MONTH PERIOD AFTER THE START OF THE RECALL (JULY 2001) AND HAVE BEEN DECLINING DURING THE PAST 24 MONTHS.OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, FORD HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 12 WARRANTY CLAIMS PER MONTH OUT OF A VEHICLE POPULATION OF ABOUT ONE MILLION.COMPLAINTS COUNTS ARE ALSO DECREASING.DURING THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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 RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2001, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIPS USING A TEST TOOL THAT WOULD DETECT A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION VEHICLES PASSED THE INSPECTION TEST FOR ONE OR BOTH FRONT BUCKLES.SUBSEQUENT TO THE RECALL SERVICE ACTION, ODI RECEIVED 15 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING THAT A PASSED INSPECTION BUCKLE SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO LATCH OR INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED DURING USE.IN ADDITION, FORD HAS IDENTIFIED 543 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS ALLEGING BUCKLE FAILURE SUBSEQUENT TO PASSING THE INSPECTION TEST.FORD TESTED AND EXAMINED OVER 100 WARRANTY-RETURNED BUCKLES AND FOUND THAT 44% OF THE BUCKLES HAD NO PROBLEM OR A CONDITION NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL INSPECTION (NON-LATCH RELATED BUCKLE DAMAGE OR FOREIGN CONTAMINATION).WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE HIGHEST DURING THE 18-MONTH PERIOD AFTER THE START OF THE RECALL (JULY 2001) AND HAVE BEEN DECLINING DURING THE PAST 24 MONTHS.OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, FORD HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 12 WARRANTY CLAIMS PER MONTH OUT OF A VEHICLE POPULATION OF ABOUT ONE MILLION.COMPLAINTS COUNTS ARE ALSO DECREASING.DURING THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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 RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.