2005 Mercury Grand Marquis Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis ranks worst of 7 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 488 complaints, mostly electrical (65%). It carries 4 recalls, including a lighting control module issue and two steering shaft campaigns, earning it an Avoid verdict.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 7 Grand Marquis years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 488
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 24
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 21
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16 city / 23 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 21 / 0
Top 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System319 (65%)
- Airbags67 (14%)
- Engine47 (10%)
- Seat Belts36 (7%)
- Brakes20 (4%)
- Steering20 (4%)
- Structure & Body14 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (2%)
- Other10 (2%)
- Visibility & Wipers9 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some drivers describe sudden unintended acceleration where the vehicle surged forward even while braking or shifting into park.
- Owners report the accelerator pedal sticking at low speeds, sometimes leading to a crash.
- Several complaints describe electrical fires starting near the engine with no clear trigger, in some cases while the vehicle was parked or turning.
- Side airbags reportedly failed to deploy during head-on or side-impact collisions, resulting in injuries.
- One owner reported the parking brake failing and the car unexpectedly dropping into reverse, running over the driver.
2005 Mercury Grand Marquis recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V861000Dec 22, 2015Electrical System296,004 vehicles
Exterior lighting:headlights
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured October 3, 2001, to August 2, 2005. The affected vehicles have a lighting control module (LCM) that may fail, resulting in a loss of headlights.
Risk: A loss of headlights can reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the LCM, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S39.
- NHTSA 14V704000Nov 5, 2014Steering36,888 vehicles
Steering:rack and pinion:pinion shaft
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 13V385000Aug 29, 2013Steering355,000 vehicles
Steering
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.
Risk: 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.
2005 Mercury Grand Marquis fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Grand Marquis years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis reliable?
- Based on NHTSA data, the 2005 model has the highest complaint index (100) and the most complaints (488) of the 7 Grand Marquis model years tracked, ranking it worst overall and earning an Avoid verdict.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2005 Grand Marquis?
- Electrical System complaints dominate, accounting for 65% of all reports (319 of 488), with a median failure mileage of 72,800 miles and several complaints describing engine-area fires.
- Does the 2005 Grand Marquis have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2005 model, covering a lighting control module defect, two separate steering intermediate shaft campaigns, and a battery cable fusible link issue.
- How does the 2005 Grand Marquis compare to later years?
- Complaint counts and complaint index drop sharply after 2005, from 488 complaints and an index of 100 in 2005 down to just 9 complaints and an index of 0 in 2011, which carries a Best verdict.