2003 Mercury Grand Marquis Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2003 Grand Marquis most often report headlights and taillights cutting out while driving at night, with many complaints pointing to the lighting control module as the cause. Steering that becomes very hard to turn, traced in several cases to a binding or corroded lower steering shaft, is the next most common theme. Reports also describe occasional unintended acceleration or engine racing while the brake is applied, and rear axle noise or bearing wear at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and taillights shut off while driving (LCM)

   • 203 complaints (56%)
   • median 95,550 mi at 10.5 yrs old (164 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $556 (median of 17 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Complaints describe the headlights, taillights, or both cutting out without warning while driving, sometimes coming back on after a few minutes or after the engine is restarted. Many owners say the only way to keep lights on the road was to hold the high-beam flash-to-pass lever. Several say a shop or dealer diagnosed the lighting control module as the cause, and some report the symptom returning after a recall repair had already been performed. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 50,000 to well past 200,000 miles, often during night driving on unlit roads.

   Recall 15V8610001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm whether the lighting control module recall work (15V861000) was completed and ask for documentation, since some owners report the failure returning afterward. Test headlights and taillights at night and note any flicker or dropout.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I drive 100 miles back and forth to work on a nightly basis, headlights might come on and stay on if I'm lucky. Headlights will come on for about 3 minutes when I first start the car, and then maybe once I get on the highway, they may stay on, for a few more minutes. However traveling down the highway at 75 MPH, in the dark, I feel imposes a safety risk. Ford wants over 700.00 to fix the problem. Mileage at 65,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10278402, filed 2009-07, 65,000 miles

   “While driving, lights turn off by themselves. It can be 3 minutes from departure they turn off or longer. They just don't stay on. Try to turn on manually and will not turn on. If I drive long enough they come on by themselves. Dangerous when on street with no lighting and oncoming traffic at night or driving next to trailer rigs who do not know my vehicle is on their right or left. Have read on internet many others have this issue with ford products and other years.”

   NHTSA complaint #10574873, filed 2014-03, 99,700 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering becomes stiff or binds while turning

   • 28 complaints (8%)
   • median 97,462 mi at 11.7 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2022

   Owners describe the steering wheel suddenly requiring much greater effort to turn, sometimes binding mid-turn at low speed. In several complaints a dealer or mechanic traced the problem to the lower steering shaft or joint, described as corroded or seized, and recommended replacement. Some owners note a steering-shaft recall covers later model years but not the 2003. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 140,000 miles, often noticed at low speed during turns.

   What to check: Turn the wheel slowly from lock to lock with the engine running and feel for binding or a stiff spot. Ask whether the lower steering shaft or joint has been inspected, lubricated, or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Steering locks up while driving. While driving the steering locks up and you have to apply real force regain steering. I took to a mechanic and was informed it was the lowet steering joint. He informed me that hes encountered ithis on several occasions on this model car and there was a recal on this issue. I called my local dealership to inquire on the issue to be informed that it was the 2005+ model. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10781098, filed 2015-10, 63,000 miles

   “Vehicle has become increasing difficult to steer and requires manual strength to turn the wheel. At this time we are not able to drive the vehicle, the steering is too hard and would be too dangerous to drive. Doing research on this vehicle I have found that it is the same problem that other marquis' have experience and for which there is a recall. The current recall only applies to the years of 2005 to 2011. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10586996, filed 2014-05, 96,924 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Engine surges or races unexpectedly while braking

   • 48 complaints (13%)
   • median 50,200 mi at 7.3 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2025

   Complaints describe the engine revving and the car lunging forward while the brake pedal is pressed, or the vehicle moving without throttle input from a stop. Owners report having to shift to neutral and shut the engine off to regain control. In one complaint a dealer replaced a valve on the engine associated with the speed control system. Reported from about 12,000 to 162,000 miles, often at low speed while braking or pulling away.

   What to check: During a test drive, confirm the throttle and cruise control release cleanly and that idle returns to normal. Ask whether the throttle valve or speed control components have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer complained about sudden acceleration. Consumer was in a parking lot and put the vehicle in drive. Did not press the accelerator, and vehicle jumped the curb and flattened two tires.consumer had the vehicle towed to a body shop.”

   NHTSA complaint #10103844, filed 2004-12, 20,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that sudden acceleration was experienced in the vehicle. The vehicle began gradually lunging forward sporadically until it became harder for the contact to stop the vehicle when the failure occurred. The contact stated that once pressure was release from the accelerator pedal, the vehicle rapidly accelerated at full force. The vehicle was not inspected for the failure. The failure and current mileage was 162,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10412009, filed 2011-07, 162,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Rear axle noise and bearing wear

   • 31 complaints (9%)
   • median 69,213 mi at 6.7 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2020

   Owners describe a roaring or humming noise from the rear that develops over time, and in some cases a cracked axle housing with a fluid leak and squeaking. Complaints also mention the bearing and shaft assembly needing replacement. A separate group of reports describes cracked steel wheels at the weld on the outer flange, leading to repeated tire air loss. Reported mostly between about 70,000 and 190,000 miles, often after sustained highway driving.

   What to check: Listen for a roar or hum from the rear during a test drive and check for fluid weeping at the axle ends. Inspect each wheel rim for cracks along the outer flange and ask about any history of tire air loss.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently had to replace two wheels on my wife's 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis due to substantial wheel cracks along the welds on the outer flange of the wheel causing the tires to deflate (two separate events). I see reported in USA today that interceptor are being recalled for this same 'serious safety' problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10184911, filed 2007-03, 75,584 miles

   “Rear end noise with axle bearing and shaft assy. With cars of that year used as fleet vehicles (note,NHTSA campaign id number 04v328000. Ford also had a safety recall number 04516 in july 15th 2004 to acknowledged that vehicles built for fleet service were prone to axle failures and issued a recall for ford suspension- rear defect on fleet vehicles for chassis overloading to wheel bearings an axles. Mine happened on trip of 3oo miles. Roaring noise”

   NHTSA complaint #11097053, filed 2018-05, 81,898 miles

Buying note. Verify the lighting control module recall work was completed and test the lights thoroughly at night, since owners report failures even after the repair. Also have the lower steering shaft, rear axle, and wheels inspected on any example with significant mileage.

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.