US vehicle recalls and complaint patterns, explained

Mercury MARQUIS recalls and complaints by year

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Mercury MARQUIS, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 19
Total Complaints 501
Years Covered 1973–2004

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data. Always check your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov for vehicle-specific recall information.

Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Mercury MARQUIS, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Brakes

5 campaigns · Years: 1979, 1985, 1997

These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.

Official notices (evidence):
  • 05V086000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  • 85V068000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Vacuum
  • 78V199000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
+ 2 more notices in this theme

Powertrain

4 campaigns · Years: 1973, 1977, 1983

These campaigns relate to drivetrain or transmission components that can affect shifting, power delivery, or control.

Official notices (evidence):
+ 1 more notice in this theme

Electrical

3 campaigns · Years: 1979, 1981

These campaigns relate to wiring or electrical components that can cause warning lights, loss of function, or fire risk in some cases.

Official notices (evidence):

Steering and suspension

2 campaigns · Years: 1979, 1981–1982

These campaigns relate to steering or suspension components that can affect vehicle control or stability.

Official notices (evidence):

Fuel and emissions

1 campaign · Years: 1973

These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.

Official notices (evidence):
  • 72V272000 · Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system

Other

1 campaign · Years: 1974

These campaigns do not fit a single dominant theme, or the component taxonomy is broad.

Official notices (evidence):

Seats and restraints

1 campaign · Years: 1984

These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.

Official notices (evidence):

Structure

1 campaign · Years: 1974

These campaigns relate to structural components such as frame/body parts that can affect crash protection or integrity.

Official notices (evidence):

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the Mercury MARQUIS in NHTSA complaint data are Vehicle speed control, Power train:automatic transmission, Electrical system.

Jump to Model Year

Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
2004 0 15 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Exterior lighting, Steering, Electrical system.
2003 0 42 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Exterior lighting, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control.
2002 0 11 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys, Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal.
2001 0 27 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling, Tires, Air bags:frontal.
2000 0 24 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Structure:body, Structure:body:door, Engine and engine cooling:engine.
1999 0 31 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc.
1998 0 40 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Suspension, Power train:automatic transmission, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
1997 1 62 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe, Engine and engine cooling, Power train:automatic transmission.
1996 0 40 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling, Visibility:power window devices and controls, Engine and engine cooling:engine.
1995 0 26 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Vehicle speed control.
1994 0 44 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Visibility:power window devices and controls, Vehicle speed control, Vehicle speed control:cruise control.
1993 0 25 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Air bags, Visibility:power window devices and controls, Vehicle speed control.
1992 0 30 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Exterior lighting:headlights, Engine and engine cooling:engine.
1991 0 10 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator, Seats, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components.
1990 0 8 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Air bags:frontal, Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1989 0 11 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Air bags:frontal, Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash.
1988 0 14 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Electrical system:ignition, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1987 0 5 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Seats:front assembly:recliner, Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal.
1986 0 4 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers, Vehicle speed control, Wheels.
1985 1 6 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:wiring, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:gas recirculation valve (egr valve).
1984 1 23 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Fuel system, other, Power train:automatic transmission.
1983 2 1 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:wiring:front underhood.
1982 1 1 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:module.
1981 3 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1979 5 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1977 1 1 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components.
1974 2 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1973 2 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.

What to Do Next

Check Your VIN on NHTSA.gov

Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Service brakes , Power train and Electrical system

Show recall evidence by year

1997

  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (05V086000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: On certain passenger vehicles built with electronic traction control, the rear brake line may chafe due to contact between it and a floor pan stiffening rib, and a brake fluid leak may occur.

1985

  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Vacuum: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (85V068000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Brake booster rear shells may have reduced wall thicknesses which could cause the shell to break. Consequence of defect: repeated brake use could cause the shell to crack and the booster assembly to come apart. Service brakes capability would be totally lost without warning and could result in an

1984

  • Seat belts: Anchorage: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (83V134000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The bolts that attach the d-shaped ring for the shoulder belt are inadequately supported by the material in which they are mounted. The attachment does not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages".

1983

  • Power train: Column shift: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (83V017000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The shift indicator may not accurately reflect the shift selector position. Some vehicles were produced with transmission control selector tube retaining clips that may not be hard enough. The clip may loosen or fall off, and the selector tube may become displaced.
  • Power train: Automatic transmission: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (83V028000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The parking gear may not engage, even though the gear shift lever is placed in the "park" position. This occurs if the linkage inside the transmission that actuates the park gear was improperly manufactured. A pin that retains components on a linkage (actuating) rod could break and the linkage ma

1982

  • Suspension: Rear: Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (82V135000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The lower control arms may have been manufactured from steel with material thickness below the minimum specifications for police duty. This could lead to cracks developing in the control arms, and eventually, the possibility of fracture of an arm.

1981

  • Electrical system: Switch: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (80V121000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The involved vehicles may start in reverse gear. This does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking affect". Some of these vehicles may be equipped with a defective neutral start switch that occa
  • Electrical system: Interior/under dash: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (80V147000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some of the involved vehicles have electrical relay systems which may be susceptible to water leakage into the relay case. Water entry may cause a short circuit within the relay.
  • Suspension: Rear: Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (82V135000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The lower control arms may have been manufactured from steel with material thickness below the minimum specifications for police duty. This could lead to cracks developing in the control arms, and eventually, the possibility of fracture of an arm.

1979

  • Electrical system: Fuses and circuit breakers: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (78V198000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The windshield wiper and washer system contains an incorrect 6 amp circuit breaker instead of the 8.25 Amp circuit breaker. If the system is heavily loaded, as in the case of a partially dry windshield, the motor current may exceed the 6 amp breaker"s capacity. This would cause the breaker to ope
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
  • Steering: Steering wheel/handle bar: Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (78V212000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The lower steering shaft assemblies contain coupling rivet pins which were not riveted securely enough during manufacture. Consequently one or both of the pins could loosen from the flange of the flexible coupling during vehicle operation. If one pin is loose, free play would result. If both pins
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (79V106000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some of these vehicles were produced with misindexed front brake hoses which could contact a tire or wheel in a full-turn condition. Chafing and wear to the brake hose could result in loss of brake fluid and front wheel braking capability.
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Pedals and linkages: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (79V117000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The involved vehicles were produced with brake push-rod to brake pedal retaining pins which were not heat-treated as specified. This could allow the brake pedal to become disengaged from the push-rod.

1977

  • Power train: Column shift: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (77V140000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The involved vehicles were fitted with tilt steering columns containing transmission control inserts intended for trucks rather than passenger vehicles. This may cause the transmission selector pointer to be misaligned and the possibility of starting the engine when the selector is between the ne

1974

1973

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⚠️ Important Safety Information

Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.

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