YearToAvoid

2006 Mercury Grand Marquis Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

83/100

#2 most-complained of 7 Grand Marquis years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis has 143 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 83 out of 100 — #2 highest of 7 Grand Marquis model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is engine (45 complaints, 31% of the total). Complaints report 16 crashes, 2 fires, and 9 injuries.

Complaints
143
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
16 / 2
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18
15 city / 23 hwy

Top 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine45 (31%)
  2. Airbags37 (26%)
  3. Seat Belts22 (15%)
  4. Electrical System13 (9%)
  5. Fuel System13 (9%)
  6. Steering13 (9%)
  7. Brakes12 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body9 (6%)
  9. Other7 (5%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (3%)
2006 Mercury Grand Marquis complaints: complaints filed per quarter142006 Q12008 Q42011 Q32013 Q32015 Q32017 Q32020 Q12025 Q1
183 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2006 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2014 Q3 (14).

2006 Mercury Grand Marquis recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

2006 Mercury Grand Marquis fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
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.

2006 compared with other Grand Marquis years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002005200620072008200920102011
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid100488419
2006Avoid83143218
2007Caution5096318
2008Caution6779318

All Mercury Grand Marquis years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis ranks #2 of 7 among Grand Marquis model years (Complaint Index 83/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 143 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis?
The most reported problem areas are engine (45 complaints), airbags (37 complaints), and seat belts (22 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 63,706 miles.
Does the 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis, most recently reported 2014, covering steering.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis?
EPA rates the 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis at 18 MPG combined (15 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,600. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.