AI Damage1998 Ford Grand Marquis reliability: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Ford Grand Marquis filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and exterior lighting. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 33% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 33% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 33% of all complaints
- Air bags: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 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.
Headlight lenses are fading/discoloration, causing poor visibility when headlights are used during night driving. Feel free to provide any further information on this matter.
When making hard turns at low speeds, consumer hears a loud metal on metal popping sound that comes from the front wheel well area, dealer informed consumer that the steering gear has no stop and that is what's causing the noise and that it's normal.
Passenger side airbag needs to be disarmed. We have govt perm. No one will handle the problem. Help please. I must carry small children in the front seat.
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 15,525 of 32,261 model years in the NHTSA data (top 48% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Grand Marquis has 6 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ford Grand Marquis?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, exterior lighting, steering. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 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 1998 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 1998 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.