1986 Mercury Grand marquis problems

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The Mercury Grand Marquis is an automobile that was produced by Mercury from the 1975 until 2011 model years. Introduced as the flagship sub-model of the Mercury Marquis in 1975, the Grand Marquis became a stand-alone model line in 1983, serving as the largest Mercury sedan. The model line served as the sedan counterpart of the Mercury Colony Park station wagon up to 1991. The fourth generation was the basis of the 2003 and 2004 Mercury Marauder.

From 1979 until 2011, the Grand Marquis shared the rear-wheel drive (RWD) Panther platform with the Ford LTD Crown Victoria (Ford Crown Victoria after 1992), and from 1980, the Lincoln Town Car. For over three decades, the Ford and Mercury sedans were functionally identical, with two of the three generations of the model line sharing the same roofline. The Grand Marquis was available as a four-door sedan for nearly its entire run; from 1988 to its final year in 2011, it was the only body style that was offered. A four-door hardtop was available from 1975 to 1978 and a two-door hardtop coupe from 1975 to 1987.

The Grand Marquis was the second-best-selling Mercury line (after the Cougar) with 2.7 million units produced; at 36 years of continuous production, the Grand Marquis was the longest-running Mercury nameplate (the Cougar, 34 years). Ford manufactured the Grand Marquis, alongside the Mercury Marquis, Mercury Marauder, Ford (LTD) Crown Victoria, and (beginning in 2007) the Lincoln Town Car, at two facilities: the St. Louis Assembly Plant in Hazelwood, Missouri (1979-1985) and the St. Thomas Assembly Plant in Southwold, Ontario, Canada (1986-2011).

Ford announced the discontinuation of the Mercury brand in 2010, but a few 2011 model-year Mercurys were made. The last Grand Marquis - and the final Mercury branded car - was produced on January 4, 2011, at St. Thomas Assembly.

1986 Mercury Grand marquis

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Common 1986 Mercury Grand marquis problems

The 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis is known for experiencing several common problems, primarily related to the engine and electrical systems. One of the most frequently reported issues is the engine dying during idle. This problem is often accompanied by the engine light and battery light coming on. The engine may rev up and die down repeatedly, causing the car to shut off. This issue can be particularly problematic in stop-and-go traffic or at extended stoplights.

Another common problem reported by owners of the 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis is the presence of a rough engine sound during idling. This issue can be caused by various factors, including faulty spark plugs, a damaged engine block, or a malfunctioning fuel injection system.

In addition to engine problems, the 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis is also known for experiencing electrical issues. For example, the car's headlights may flicker and fade in and out when the car is idling, particularly if the headlights are on and the car is at a stoplight. This issue can be caused by a weak battery or a malfunctioning alternator.

Other common problems reported by owners of the 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis include issues with the transmission, fuel system, cooling system, and windows. For example, some owners have reported that the car's transmission may slip or fail, causing the car to lose power or become difficult to drive. Others have reported issues with the car's fuel injectors, which can cause the engine to run poorly or fail to start.

Despite these common problems, the 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis is generally considered to be a reliable car, particularly when compared to other cars of its era. The car's solid construction and durable design have made it a popular choice for taxi fleets and police departments, and many owners have reported that the car can last for hundreds of thousands of miles with proper maintenance.

In summary, the 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis is known for experiencing several common problems, primarily related to the engine and electrical systems. These issues can include engine dying during idle, rough engine sound during idling, flickering headlights, transmission failure, fuel injector problems, and cooling system issues. However, with proper maintenance and care, the car can be a reliable and durable choice for drivers looking for a comfortable and spacious sedan.

1986 Mercury Grand marquis engine

1986 Mercury Grand marquis car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mercury Grand marquis problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Electrical system problems
  • Engine and engine cooling problems
  • Service brakes problems
  • Hydraulic problems
  • Power train problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1986 Mercury Grand marquis vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1986 Mercury Grand marquis complaints

The NHTSA has received 21 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1986 Mercury Grand marquis.

2004-03-18

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2004-03-15
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: MY 1986 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS GOES FORWARD WHEN PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CLOSE CALLS WHEN SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW MY CAR TRIES TO DRIVE IT (CAR WASH PEOPLE, MECHANICS, RELATIVES, ETC.). I BELIEVE THE LINKAGE GOING TO MY DASHBOARD IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY.*AK
2002-07-30

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2002-05-29
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 2MEBP95F76X
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: OHIO POLICE REPORT. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE PRESSURE,THEN BEGAN TO SMOKE. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. CONSUMER STATED THAT MUFFLER HAD BEEN REPLACED AND A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES. *TT
1999-11-12

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1998-01-01
  • VIN: 2MEBP95F7GX
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: WHILE DRIVING IN LOW SPEED AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN, VEHICLE STALLED. *AK
1999-06-08

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1999-03-01
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 2MEBP95F9GX
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: VEHICLE VIBRATES ON RIGHT FRONT END WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WHEN BRAKES ARE LET GO, FEELS LIKE THEY ARE GRABBING. HAD STOPPED VEHICLE TO CHECK & NOTICED SMOKE FROM TIRES & THEN FLAMES SHOT OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. *AK
1998-08-27

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • VIN: 2MEBP95F2G4
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: IGNITION SWITCH FAILED.
1997-06-18

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • VIN: 2MEBP95F0GX
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: ENGINE SMOKES UNDER FULL POWER BUT NOT AT ANY OTHER TIME. *AK
1997-03-13

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1997-03-05
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 2MEBP95F8GX
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: WHILE PARKED, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSED THE WIRING IN DASH AREA TO SHORT OUT, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE. *AK
1996-10-17

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1996-10-08
  • Components: STRUCTURE
  • Summary: REAR DOOR LEAKS.
1996-10-04

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1996-10-01
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 2MEBP95F7GX
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: THE IGNITION SWTICH HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE, FIRST TIME IN AUGUST OF 1991, SECOND TIME ON OCT, 4TH. *AK
1996-08-09

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1996-07-06
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 2MEBP95F5XG
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: CAR WAS PARKED FOR FOUR DAYS AND CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
1996-05-10

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1996-05-10
  • VIN: 2MERP95F5GX
  • Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
  • Summary: IGNITION SWITCH SMOKES WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS IN USE. *SD
1996-05-08

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1993-01-01
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 1MEBP95F8GX
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
1996-05-04

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1986-04-01
  • VIN: 2MEBP95F3GX
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: IGNITION HEATS UP, CAUSING KEY TO BECOME HOT. *DSH
1996-05-03

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Fire: 1
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: WHEN STARTING THE CAR A FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND BURNED ALL THE WIRING IN THE CAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
1996-04-23

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1996-04-22
  • Fire: 1
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. SOURCE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
1996-04-22

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-05-15
  • Fire: 1
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE CAUSED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE DECRIBE. *AK
1996-04-22

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1996-04-21
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 2MEBP94F1GX
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNING IN THE IGNITION AREA, VEHICLRE TOTALED. *AK
1996-03-13

STEERING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-07-11
  • Fire: 1
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: OWNER HEARD (2) POPPING NOISES AND DROVE FIVE MINUTES. AFTER PARKING OVER NIGHT VEHICLE HAD BURNED UNTIL SMOLDERED W/STEERING COLUMN MELTED AND CRACKED WINDOW.
1995-11-03

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-08-03
  • VIN: 2MEBP95F6GX
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS LOCK UP. RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TT
1995-08-15

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • VIN: 2MEBP95F7GX
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: SOMETIME WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN CAR STALLED . TT
1995-04-28

TIRES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1995-04-01
  • Components: TIRES
  • Summary: GENERAL TIRE BLEW OUT, ALSO ANOTHER TIRE FELL APART AND ONE TIRE HAD A BROKEN WIRE BELT WHICH CAUSED TIRE TO THUMP BADLY. *SKD

1986 Mercury Grand marquis recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1986 Mercury Grand marquis.

2007-08-27
  • Manufacturer: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
  • Summary: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
  • Consequence: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
  • Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
1987-09-04
  • Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
  • Summary: SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
  • Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
  • Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
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