2006 Mercury Grand Marquis Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the airbag warning light coming on — frequently traced to a seat belt pretensioner — and unexpected acceleration or surging while braking. Fuel tank straps rusting through and plastic intake manifold cracks also appear in the sample, typically at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag light on, traced to seat belt pretensioner

   • 43 complaints (30%)
   • median 72,800 mi at 9.0 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2025

   Owners describe the airbag warning light coming on, often with a repeating chime of about five beeps, sometimes right after start-up and sometimes while driving. Several say a dealer or shop traced it to a failed front seat belt pretensioner or retractor and quoted a repair that often ran several hundred dollars. Some report the warning returning after a replacement, and a few note parts were on back order. Mostly reported between roughly 14,000 and 120,000 miles, with many in the 38,000-90,000 mile range.

   What to check: Start the car and confirm the airbag light goes out and no beep sequence sounds; ask whether either front seat belt assembly or pretensioner has been replaced, and get a written diagnostic if the light is on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In feb, 2014, I originally had a minor crash when another driver was cited for reckless driving. His insurance paid for my damage. No airbags were deployed on either me, the driver, or my mother, the passenger. We were belted in. Recently, on september 7th, 2015, the airbag warning light and chimes came on when I started the vehicle. The light continues to come on, the chime rings in 3 sets of 5 periodically. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10767127, filed 2015-09, 112,456 miles

   “On september 9, 2015 I purchased a used 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis ls. I was informed that the airbag light was on. I subsequently found that there had been some minor damage to the lower front of the vehicle, not resulting in airbag deployment. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10785587, filed 2015-10, 85,900 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration or surging while braking

   • 34 complaints (24%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2020

   Owners describe the car accelerating on its own or surging forward while the brake pedal is applied, sometimes at low speed in traffic or at a stop, and occasionally after passing at full throttle. Some say they had to stand on the brake or shift to neutral to stop it, and several report dealers could not reproduce the problem or suggested the brake and accelerator were pressed at once. A rear-end collision and a curb impact are described in a few complaints. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few hundred miles to about 168,000, with many between 17,000 and 60,000 miles.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that the accelerator returns freely and that floor mats are properly clipped and clear of the pedal; ask whether any prior throttle or pedal work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving up to a light and slowing down. When at 25mph the car suddenly accelerated and I had to put all my weight on the brake to stop. After about 10 seconds the car went back to normal and ran fine. Since that incident my car has done that twice with the same result and I am worried someone will get hurt. I have been researching this online and have found other complaints. I will be taking the car to my mechanic asap.”

   NHTSA complaint #10532071, filed 2013-07, 22,538 miles

   “Upon readying for stop the vehicle surged forward. I had to put in neutral and wait until the surge discontinued. This has been going on for several months. It has become a incident that happens more often. It is very scary. A had jump happens when I put it back in gear.”

   NHTSA complaint #10637999, filed 2014-09, 102,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank straps rusted through, tank drops

   • 8 complaints (6%)
   • median 93,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2019

   Owners describe finding the fuel tank hanging low, held only by the filler neck, after the two straps rusted through; in some cases the tank was already resting on the ground while parked. Others report fuel leaking or a corroded fuel rail spraying fuel. Repairs described include replacing both straps or the fuel rail assembly. Mostly reported between about 83,000 and 102,000 miles.

   What to check: Look underneath at the two fuel tank straps for heavy rust or flaking, and check for a fuel smell around the tank and under the hood; ask whether the straps or fuel rail have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My husband noticed (the week of august 11th 2014 that our gas tank was hanging loose, only held up by the filler hose. The straps had rusted out. He had just filled up the tank approx. A day or two before he noticed the gas tank hanging down.we had to have a tow truck take it to the mechanic for fear of sparks causing an explosion. Many older people have this car and it would be horrible if they didn't notice something like this and drove it on expressway with the tank hanging. We also reported to ford mtr. Co. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10626870, filed 2014-08, 83,000 miles

   “Straps holding the fuel tank broke due to rust. The tank fell off. The right side of the tank was resting on the ground, the left side held up by the filler tube only.this happened while vehicle was parked in driveway overnight. Could have had very serious consequences if it happened while moving.”

   NHTSA complaint #10911257, filed 2016-10, 87,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering assist loss or hard steering

   • 12 complaints (8%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2026

   Owners describe the steering becoming very heavy, sometimes right after start-up and then returning, and in some cases losing power assist at highway speed. Complaints mention a recall covering the steering shaft on certain vehicles, that parts were not available to complete the repair, and that a steering rack replacement was recommended. Reported from about 20,000 to over 140,000 miles.

   Recall 13V385000Recall 14V7040004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for proof that the steering shaft recall work was completed, and check whether the steering feels heavy at low speed or on start-up during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that after the vehicle was started and shifted into drive(D), the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that once the vehicle was driving the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11462731, filed 2022-04, 140,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the vehicle suddendly accelerated and brakes failed intermittently. Also, the contact mentioned that the power steering malfunctioned and as a result, the steering wheel became hard to maneuver whenever attempting to make a turn. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle was included in recall NHTSA campaign id number: 13v385000 (steering). The vehicle was repaired under the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10598780, filed 2014-06, 55,749 miles
5. 5
   Seat belts

   Seat belt buckle or retractor failure

   • 23 complaints (16%)
   • median 60,177 mi at 8.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2023

   Owners describe a front seat belt buckle that will not latch or a retractor that fails, often found while the airbag light is being diagnosed. Shops typically replaced the full seat belt assembly rather than the individual part. Reported from roughly 38,000 to 123,000 miles.

   What to check: Buckle and unbuckle each front seat belt several times and pull the belt out fully to confirm it retracts smoothly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2006 Grand Marquis original plastic intake manifold developed a crack at the drivers side rear intake bolt area causing it to leak antifreeze. This caused me to have to spend $240.00 to buy a new dorman replacement and install it. Ford continues to use these cheap plastic manifolds despite losing a class action lawsuit against them for this problem. There will be more of these plastic manifold failing in the near future to be sure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10473802, filed 2012-09, 219,000 miles

   “Airbag warning light came on. Dealership said it was a faulty tensioner on passenger seatbelt. Cost over $800 to replace. 2 months later the warning light is on again. Now the drivers side seatbelt tensioner is bad. After websearches, I've found thus to be very common with this model/year vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10733477, filed 2015-07, 63,706 miles

Buying note. Have a shop check the airbag system for stored codes and inspect the fuel tank straps and steering shaft recall status before purchase. Ask for service records showing whether the steering recall repairs and any seat belt pretensioner replacements were completed.

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.