2010 Mercury Grand Marquis: common problems

Owners of the 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis filed 25 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and structure. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 25
involving a crash: 6

What fails most often

1 Steering 24% of all complaints
2 Structure 20% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
4 Vehicle speed control 12% of all complaints
5 Air bags 8% of all complaints
6 Equipment 8% of all complaints
7 Exterior lighting 8% of all complaints
8 Powertrain 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.

Steering: 6 complaints (24% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Structure: 5 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 3 complaints (12% of all).
Vehicle speed control: 3 complaints (12% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Air bags: 2 complaints (8% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

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 25 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

jerking, harsh shifts3 · 12%
seat belts3 · 12%
steering or power steering problems3 · 12%
warning lights, check engine3 · 12%
A/C or heater2 · 8%
knocking, grinding or other noise2 · 8%
windows, sunroof2 · 8%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 4%
headlights and tail lights1 · 4%
rust, corrosion1 · 4%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Steering	6	2
Structure	5	1
Electrical system	3	0
Vehicle speed control	3	2
Air bags	2	2
Equipment	2	0
Exterior lighting	2	1
Powertrain	2	0
Service brakes	2	1
Visibility	2	0
Engine	1	0
Engine and cooling	1	1
Fuel/propulsion system	1	0
Seat belts	1	1

What owners report

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

the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash. Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash
Steering · crash · 2025-10-22 · NHTSA complaint #11695076
The contact stated that the wheels were squealing. The contact stated that the failure occurred while approaching a stop light. The contact's vehicle rear-ended the vehicle in front of his vehicle. The contact's vehicle was damaged to the front bumper. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence.
Service brakes · crash · 2024-07-26 · NHTSA complaint #11604771
It jerked out of my hands, the engine roared and the car flew to the left across the road into a large tree. I had no control over the steering wheel. On impact of the tree, there was no balloon with air bag deployment, only pungent fumes and white flecks. The car was towed and totaled.
Steering · crash · 2015-06-12 · NHTSA complaint #10725032
She was wearing seat belt. Her side seat and steering wheel air bags deployed. My wife still hit the windshield with her head. No secondary impacts occurred (I.e., 3rd vehicle or fixed object). Accident sheared the driver's wheel and brake assembly off completely. Completely splitting the aluminum wheel in half.
Air bags · crash · 2015-01-19 · NHTSA complaint #10676464
It lurched forward at a tremendous high speed and although I hit the brakes, the auto slammed into the retaining wall at the parking spot I had just backed out of. I was wearing my seat belt and the air bag deployed. I received minor bruising on my arms, legs and ribs due to the air bag deployment.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2014-06-23 · NHTSA complaint #10605276
I was pulling into a parking space and had almost come to a stop when the vehicle suddenly lurched forward & hit a (vacant) store front. I feel the vehicle accel- erated on it's own as I was applying the brake at the time, my foot did not slip off of the brake.
Structure · crash · 2013-02-04 · NHTSA complaint #10496292
BRAKES: The Dashboard Brake Warning Lights are Illuminated most of the time. 1. The ABS warning Light is illuminated. 2. The Brake Warning Light is illuminated also.
Service brakes · 2023-07-11 · NHTSA complaint #11531514
Intermittantly both headlights flickering. Lighting control module (lcm) problem ?
Exterior lighting · 2023-03-01 · NHTSA complaint #11509700

When owners complained

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

20102
20114
20133
20145
20152
20161
20171
20181
20211
20232
20241
20251
20261

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 7,448 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 25, below average.

What to check before buying

Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
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 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, structure, electrical system. Total complaints: 25. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: jerking, harsh shifts (12%), seat belts (12%), steering or power steering problems (12%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 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 2010 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 2010 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.