2009 Mercury Grand Marquis: common problems

Owners of the 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and steering. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 26
involving a crash: 3

What fails most often

1 Service brakes 23% of all complaints
2 Steering 19% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
4 Vehicle speed control 15% of all complaints
5 Engine 8% of all complaints
6 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
7 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
8 Suspension 8% of all complaints

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

Service brakes: 6 complaints (23% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Steering: 5 complaints (19% of all).
Electrical system: 4 complaints (15% of all).
Vehicle speed control: 4 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine: 2 complaints (8% of all).

Engines and transmissions

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

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

Drive: RWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 26 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

smoke, burning smell, fire3 · 12%
rust, corrosion2 · 8%
airbags did not deploy1 · 4%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 4%
fuel system, fuel smell1 · 4%
jerking, harsh shifts1 · 4%
rollaway, parking brake1 · 4%
seat belts1 · 4%
windows, sunroof1 · 4%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Service brakes	6	1
Steering	5	0
Electrical system	4	0
Vehicle speed control	4	1
Engine	2	0
Fuel/propulsion system	2	0
Powertrain	2	0
Suspension	2	0
Tires	2	0
Air bags	1	1
Exterior lighting	1	0
Fuel system	1	0
Seat belts	1	0
Structure	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.

An SUV crashed into an apple store in Hingham Mass. The driver told police his foot became stuck to the gas pedal. More likely his foot became hooked under the brake pedal as he tried to quickly shift his foot from the gas pedal up and to the left onto the brake pedal.
Service brakes · crash · 2023-01-24 · NHTSA complaint #11503443
He stated that he hit a deer in december of 2009 and the air bags did not deploy. He drove the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer said they would order a new air bag for him. The dealer stated that the part is on back order. The contact stated it had been 5 months since the dealer ordered the part.
Air bags · crash · 2010-03-08 · NHTSA complaint #10317810
He applied pressure to the brake pedal when attempting to park the vehicle, but it lurched forward. The vehicle crashed through the garage walls into the adjacent room. There was no personal injury. There were damages to the walls and furniture which occupied the adjacent room.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2009-11-03 · NHTSA complaint #10290778
About a month ago I contacted Beechmont Ford ([address] Cincinnati, [ZIP]) in reference to Manufacturer Recall Number # 13S08 NHTSA Recall Number # 13V385000. I've wrote them three time and they have not responded. A week ago I chatted with Fords Hotline and they said they would do what they could.
Steering · 2024-08-19 · NHTSA complaint #11609513
Driver side door jambed locked. Cannot exit the vehicle without sliding across to passenger door.
Structure · 2021-07-17 · NHTSA complaint #11425289
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 mercury grand marquis. While driving various speeds, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the steering wheel. The contact also stated that the vehicle had to be placed in neutral to be started.
Steering · 2019-08-01 · NHTSA complaint #11241038
On october 21, 2016, while I was driving on I-30 in dallas county, a fire occurred in the daimay-supplied driver-side visor lamp assembly of my 2009 ford mercury grand marquis. The ford fuse system failed, allowing the fire to burn, melting portions of the visor and roof material.
Electrical system · 2017-11-02 · NHTSA complaint #11042676
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 mercury grand marquis. While driving and exiting off the ramp the vehicle drove over a bump and the rear of the vehicle elevated highly without warning. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed.
Suspension · 2017-01-23 · NHTSA complaint #10947126

When owners complained

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

20091
20105
20111
20123
20134
20142
20152
20162
20172
20191
20211
20231
20241

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 7,316 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Grand Marquis has 117 complaints (34 years in the data). This year has 26, below average.

What to check before buying

Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
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.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, steering, electrical system. Total complaints: 26. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (12%), rust, corrosion (8%), airbags did not deploy (4%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 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 2009 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 2009 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.