1997 Mercury Grand Marquis Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 124about this part
- Share
- 39%of 316 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,036miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 124 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis, 39% of the 316 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,036 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The intake manifold on my 1997 Grand Marquis has cracked leaking coolant. I am told Mercury had an extended warranty for such failures, but my car is not included. This is a very costly item and the result of ford using inferior plastic for their manifolds is there any way to recover these costs?”
NHTSA complaint #10173073, filed 2006-11, 60,320 miles“The engine on my '97 Grand Marquis blew up with 37,057 miles on it. According to the service dept, a valve stuck open, the engine backfired into the intake and blew it out. I need to replace the intake and the cylinder head, and have been quoted about $3500 to repair it. According to the ford factory rep, ford will not participate in the repair because the car is over 6 years old.”
NHTSA complaint #10045316, filed 2003-11, 37,057 miles“Driving down highway, 60 MPH, temperature guage showed an extreme increase in temperature. I smelled anitfreeze inside the car. The voltage meter guage was increasing and decreasing. I then pulled off the highway and turned car off. Steam was coming from under the hood. Popped the hood, antifreeze was everywhere, none left in resevoir. Intake manifold is cracked directly behind the alternator, causing car to leak all antifreeze. Had to have car towed home.”
NHTSA complaint #10125319, filed 2005-06, 81,760 miles“I own a 97 Mercury Grand Marquis we were losing radiator fluid. Found that our plastic intake manifold was cracked where the alternator hits against it. Ford motors answer is a kit that will run me $621. This should be a recall item, please help.”
NHTSA complaint #10072889, filed 2004-05, 70,000 miles“I would like to be on a notification list when the recall on intake manifolds for 4.6l ford/merc engines finally happens. Our '97 Grand Marquis intake manifold cracked, while on the highway and we (fortunately) had just returned from a back roads area. We had to get towed to a ford dealership where for $700 they replaced the 'composite' plastic manifold. I also have a 2001 g.marquis, if it's covered by the rumored forth coming recall.”
NHTSA complaint #10016502, filed 2003-04, 105,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10023943Oct 1, 2007Some 1997-2008 vehicles equipped with a 4.6l 2v, 5.4l 2v, or 6.8l 2v engine--spark plug thread repair procedure--not covered under new vehicle limited warranty. *nj this includes…
- 10018959Dec 14, 2005Extended coverage program 05n04 - extended coverage for composite intake manifold. This program is being provided as a settlement to a class action lawsuit. The terms of the…
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | 4% |
| 2008 | 5 | 6% |
| 2007 | 3 | 3% |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% |
| 2005 | 9 | 2% |
| 2004 | 10 | 3% |
| 2003 | 13 | 4% |
| 2002 | 10 | 13% |
| 2001 | 20 | 13% |
| 2000 | 17 | 10% |
| 1999 | 26 | 16% |
| 1998 | 26 | 18% |
| 1997 | 124 | 39% |
| 1996 | 85 | 36% |
| 1995 | 8 | 4% |
| 1994 | 15 | 10% |
| 1993 | 7 | 5% |
| 1992 | 19 | 7% |
| 1991 | 10 | 12% |
| 1990 | 3 | 5% |
| 1989 | 6 | 10% |
| 1988 | 7 | 10% |
| 1987 | 5 | 12% |
| 1986 | 4 | 19% |
| 1985 | 3 | 14% |
| 1984 | 5 | 33% |
Other parts of the 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis
35 complaintsFuel system
32 complaintsSuspension
26 complaintsVehicle speed control
24 complaintsSteering
22 complaintsExterior lighting
19 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsElectrical system
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology