1987 Mercury Grand Marquis: common problems

Owners of the 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis filed 43 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and vehicle speed control. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 43
involving a crash: 2

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 44% of all complaints
2 Vehicle speed control 16% of all complaints
3 Seat belts 14% of all complaints
4 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
5 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
6 Wheels 5% of all complaints
7 Equipment 2% of all complaints
8 Exterior lighting 2% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Electrical system: 19 complaints (44% of all).
Vehicle speed control: 7 complaints (16% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Seat belts: 6 complaints (14% of all).
Engine and cooling: 5 complaints (12% of all).
Fuel system: 2 complaints (5% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
automatic, 4-speed

Drive: RWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 43 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

smoke, burning smell, fire17 · 40%
seat belts6 · 14%
unintended acceleration3 · 7%
rust, corrosion2 · 5%
fuel system, fuel smell1 · 2%
hesitation when accelerating1 · 2%
jerking, harsh shifts1 · 2%
overheating, coolant loss1 · 2%
tires: bulges, blowouts1 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Electrical system	19	0
Vehicle speed control	7	2
Seat belts	6	0
Engine and cooling	5	0
Fuel system	2	0
Wheels	2	0
Equipment	1	0
Exterior lighting	1	0
Powertrain	1	0
Steering	1	0
Structure	1	0
Tires	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

When the brakes were applied the vehicle accelerated suddenly, causing the vehicle to collide into two trees. The driver sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was totaled. The manufacturer has been notified.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 1998-09-18 · NHTSA complaint #828011
The vehicle operated normally for a while, but now it is hesitates and jerks. When the contact depresses hard on the accelerator pedal, the vehicle drives normally. The current mileage was 144,000 and failure mileage was 133,000. Updated 09/06/07
Fuel system · 2007-08-10 · NHTSA complaint #10199072
Driver side seatbelt buckel. A spring on the release button breaks and no longer latches correctly. The buckel will hold if it is shaken but releases easily. This is the second 1987 grand marquis that I have owened that this happened to. I replaced them with parts from a salvage yard.
Seat belts · 2005-05-21 · NHTSA complaint #10121805
The seat belt buckle was defective and did not work properly.
Seat belts · 2003-03-12 · NHTSA complaint #10011449
Vehicle experienced intermittent sudden acceleration due to failed throttle position sensor.
Vehicle speed control · 2000-02-04 · NHTSA complaint #550692
Cable that runs from transmission to throttle came loose, causing vehicle to accelerate unexpectedly, even with brakes applied, resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Powertrain · 1999-10-19 · NHTSA complaint #851092
Engine oil pan has rusted out within 100,000 miles, causing oil to leak.
Engine and cooling · 1999-09-08 · NHTSA complaint #847113
Had noticed smoke coming from under hood. Stopped & lifted hood. Flames shut out. Called fire department who put flames out. Indcation of electrical wires.
Electrical system · 1999-06-02 · NHTSA complaint #836326

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19956
199619
19974
19981
19997
20003
20031
20051
20071

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 5,758 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 16% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Grand Marquis has 117 complaints (34 years in the data). This year has 43, below average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, vehicle speed control, seat belts. Total complaints: 43. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (40%), seat belts (14%), unintended acceleration (7%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Mercury 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 1987 Mercury 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 1987 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 2026-11-05.