2000 Mercury Grand Marquis Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe headlights that cut out while driving, and coolant leaks from a cracked plastic intake manifold that lead to overheating and misfires. Many reports come from vehicles with well over 100,000 miles, though the manifold and wiper complaints appear at lower mileage too. Several complaints note that the vehicle was not covered by the related recall or extended-coverage program.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights cutting out or lighting system failure

   • 15 complaints (9%)
   • median 124,000 mi at 14.7 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2019

   Complaints describe headlights going dark without warning, sometimes with a buzzing or clicking sound from the dash, and in some cases interior lights flickering at the same time. Some owners say the lights came back after restarting the car or cycling the switch, while others were told the lighting or headlamp control module was at fault and was draining the battery. Dealers and the manufacturer are reported as having no recall or assistance for the condition. Reported from roughly 63,000 to 237,000 miles, often during night driving at highway speeds.

   What to check: At night or in a dark garage, cycle the headlight switch and high beams several times and watch for flicker or dropouts; ask whether the lighting or headlamp control module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Headlights keep cutting in and out. Turning on and off while driving. Going 65 down an expressway and having your headlights just shut off is not the safest of conditions. I have been told the headlight module has a noted issue on other ford vehicles and its very dangerous. I had my 5 year old niece in the car with me when this happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #10692002, filed 2015-03, 133,240 miles

   “I was driving on a two lane road after dark when suddenly the headlights went out and a very loud buzzing noise occurred simultaneously in the dash. I was able to slow down safely because two cars were meeting us and their lights afforded enough vision to keep my car in my lane. I pulled off the road and tried various positions with the light switch and high and low beam switch. All the lighting seemed to work except the headlights. Finally, I turned off the ignition. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10608715, filed 2014-07, 128,325 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Cracked plastic intake manifold and coolant leak

   • 10 complaints (6%)
   • median 87,500 mi at 10.1 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2020

   Owners describe overheating, a burning smell, and coolant leaking from cracks in the plastic intake manifold, sometimes with coolant reaching the spark plugs and coils and causing misfires and rough running. Some say the leak was sealed temporarily or the manifold replaced at their own expense, and a few mention an extended coverage program tied to a class action settlement that they were told had expired. Others report hesitation or a check engine light traced to a cracked manifold. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 132,000 miles, with several reports past 100,000.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Look for coolant residue or staining around the plastic intake manifold and crossover, and ask whether the manifold has been replaced with the updated design; watch the temperature gauge on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The cars started missing and running rough even after having a complete tune-up and after about week later it started all over and was taken into the Mercury dealership that found that the intake manifold was cracked and had to be replaced at our expense, which we just received a letter in the mail regarding a class-action lawsuit against ford for the same problem. I do believe that this needs to be followed up and ford needs to refund all expenses due to the customers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10133842, filed 2005-08, 52,584 miles

   “Car started running hot all of a sudden..found out the intake manifold was cracked and the coolant was leaking on spark plugs and fuel injectors. Causing the car to misfire and slow to pick up speed. Tried to get fixed but was told the exp. Date was in 07.so I have to pay out of pocket..I feel a recall shouldn't have an expiration date cause it tells you that one of these days the part on the car is going to need to be fixed. I feel ford should live up to their word and fix the problem no cost to customer...”

   NHTSA complaint #10250679, filed 2008-12, 87,000 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stopping or failing

   • 12 complaints (7%)
   • median 78,957 mi at 8.3 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2022

   Complaints describe wipers that quit mid-swipe or stop in the middle of the windshield, often in rain, snow, or a blizzard, leaving the driver unable to clear the glass. Some owners link the failure to a wiper control module, and several say they were told their vehicle was not covered under the wiper recall or that the replacement module failed as well. Reported across a wide range, from about 58,000 to 300,000 miles, often in winter weather.

   Recall 00V138000

   What to check: Run the wipers on every speed, including high and intermittent, and check whether the wiper control module was replaced under the recall for this vehicle's VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The blower motor on my Grand Marquis ls became inoperative. After troubleshooting the problem, my service provider determined that the blower motor speed controller was the source of the problem. They proceeded to order a new one, and were informed that this item was on nationwide backoreder and they had no idea when a new one could be obtained. This tells me that there must be a significant number of Grand Marquis autos with the same problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10126828, filed 2005-06, 47,530 miles

   “The contact owns a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact was driving 25 MPH when the windshield wipers failed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN failed to qualify for repairs under NHTSA campaign id number: 00v138000(visibility:windshield wiper/washer). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 100,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10445012, filed 2012-01, 100,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration or high idle

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 98,900 mi at 7.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2011

   Owners report the car accelerating on its own, sometimes with cruise control engaged and sometimes at low speed near stop lights, requiring neutral or shutting off the engine to stop it. Several mention an idle control valve or cruise control line as the diagnosed cause, and some say dealers could not reproduce or identify the problem. A few reports describe the vehicle stalling instead. Reported from about 30,000 to 200,000 miles, at both low speeds around town and highway speeds.

   What to check: Ask whether the idle control valve or cruise control servo and cable have been serviced, and test the cruise control engagement and disengagement on a quiet road.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving 70 MPH vehicle stalled. Cruise control was engaged. After waiting for a little while the vehicle was restarted. Vehicle continued to run for a while before it stalled again. Vehicle was towed to a repair shop, and nothing could be found.”

   NHTSA complaint #10109241, filed 2005-01, 30,000 miles

   “The contact stated when the cruise control was deactivated manually or deactivated by applying brake pressure, there was a loud popping noise. The dealership determined this was by pressure in the cruise control line. The contact expressed this problem was related to brake repair work performed by the dealership.”

   NHTSA complaint #10164914, filed 2006-08, 63,196 miles

Buying note. This model year is old enough that maintenance history matters more than the badge: check the intake manifold, wiper and lighting modules, and seat belts specifically, and confirm by VIN which recalls and coverage programs were completed. Records of prior repairs to those parts are more useful than the odometer alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.