AI Damage1997 Ford Grand Marquis reliability: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Ford Grand Marquis filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 19
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 58% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 11% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- 7 Seats 5% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 5% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 11 complaints (58% of all).
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (16% of all).
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (11% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (11% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 19 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The mechanic informed the driver that the hydraulic rear brake line needed replacement due to corrosion. Please fill in additional information.
There was a clunking noise that had come from the right front wheel area when braking and going over bumps.
While driving, the temperature gauge was very high because the intake manifold failed. This caused the coolant to go inside the engine. The vehicle was towed to an independent shop. The mechanic replaced the intake manifold. The vehicle overheated in traffic. This was a known problem.
The vehicle stalled in heavy traffic almost hitting an 18 wheeler and ford denied responsibility. The water pump was replaced but the steam continued to escape and the problem was diagnosed as a cracked manifold.
The vehicles faulty regulator caused problems with the power windows.
The vehicle experienced problems with it's turn signals as well as other electrical components.
The vehicle made a loud pop noise. The dealer inspected the vehicle and found the frame cracked, however the dealer refused to fix the problem.
Consumer contacted several dealerships in search for parts to repair a problem with brake line. Parts were no longer being manufactured by ford company . Please give any further details.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 8,011 of 32,261 model years in the NHTSA data (top 25% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Grand Marquis has 6 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 19, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford Grand Marquis?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, electrical system, fuel system. Total complaints: 19. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: overheating, coolant loss (26%), stalls while driving (11%), knocking, grinding or other noise (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Ford Grand Marquis?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Ford Grand Marquis from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-07.