NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Mercury Grand Marquis Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 362 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mercury dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2003 Mercury Grand Marquis owner complaints

Owners have filed 362 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis, describing incidents dated August 30, 2002 to April 8, 2026.

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting 207 complaints
Electrical System 51 complaints
Steering 28 complaints
Suspension 28 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 27 complaints
Engine 18 complaints

Of the 362 complaints on file, 22 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 362 complaints, owners report 14 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11737780 · Filed May 14, 2026
While driving my vehicle headlights turn off and back on, sometimes off for minutes sometimes flickering.
ODI #11660627 · Filed May 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact that the headlights were intermittently inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated that the instrument panel lights, the brake lights, and the turn signal lights were inoperable. The contact who is a mechanic, had inspected the fuses, the…
ODI #11659286 · Filed May 6, 2025
The Lighting Control Module has failed and my brake lights and dash board lights turn off after couple minutes while driving with the lights on. I took my vehicle in to dealer already once for problem to be fixed a year ago. They did repair but now same problem is occurring again. I went back to…

Read all 362 complaints

Owner-reported

2003 Mercury Grand Marquis mileage at failure

285 of the 362 complaints on file for the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Exterior Lighting	Median 95,000 miles	Middle half 75,000–125,000 miles	Based on 163 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis in 6 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE15-028: Loss of headlights
Closed January 8, 2016
- Recall 15V-861
Defect Petition DP15-002: Loss of headlamp/exterior lighting
Closed August 11, 2015
Preliminary Evaluation PE08-066: LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION
Closed March 24, 2009
Defect Petition DP05-005: SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
Closed January 4, 2006
Preliminary Evaluation PE04-010: REAR AXLE FRACTURE
Closed July 8, 2004
- Recall 04V-328

1 more NHTSA investigation

Preliminary Evaluation PE03-009: FRACTURE OF THE STEEL WHEEL RIM
Closed August 8, 2003
- Recall 03V-279

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Loss of Headlights

NHTSA #15V861000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported December 22, 2015 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 296,004 vehicles

Repair completion: 40.29% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 15S39 · Owners notified April 14, 2017 · Vehicles built October 3, 2001 – August 2, 2005 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured October 3, 2001, to August 2, 2005. The affected vehicles have a lighting control module (LCM) that may fail, resulting in a loss of headlights.

Safety consequence

A loss of headlights can reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the LCM, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S39.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

FUEL LEAK/FIRE

NHTSA #06E056000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported June 13, 2006 · UFI FILTERS USA

Potentially affected: 58,640 vehicles

Owners notified August 4, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.

Safety consequence

FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO UFI FILTERS USA (PUROLATOR) AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2003 Mercury Grand Marquis 4-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

6 investigations

362 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11737780

Incident: April 8, 2026 · Filed: May 14, 2026

While driving my vehicle headlights turn off and back on, sometimes off for minutes sometimes flickering.

Exterior Lighting; Electrical System

ODI #11660627

Incident: April 22, 2025 · Filed: May 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact that the headlights were intermittently inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated that the instrument panel lights, the brake lights, and the turn signal lights were inoperable. The contact who is a mechanic, had inspected the fuses, the fuse box, and other unknown parts, but found no failures. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11659286

Incident: May 6, 2025 · Filed: May 6, 2025

The Lighting Control Module has failed and my brake lights and dash board lights turn off after couple minutes while driving with the lights on. I took my vehicle in to dealer already once for problem to be fixed a year ago. They did repair but now same problem is occurring again. I went back to dealer Sunrise Ford in Fontana and they said recall work is only warranty for 1 year or 12k miles. The work was done in December 2023. They want to charge me $230.00 for diagnostic. But issue is same problem as before. Recall number is 15S39. Driving without brake lights is dangerous and has limited my driving. I cannot go out at night. I do not have another vehicle. This affects my life. I've called other dealers and they refuse to do the work.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11638746

Incident: December 27, 2024 · Filed: January 27, 2025

The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis The contact stated that both the headlamps and the taillights intermittently failed to operate as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed. The dealer placed a processor on the vehicle and rewired the lights however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #11632025

Incident: November 30, 2024 · Filed: December 22, 2024

The headlights shut off without warning

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11629900

Incident: November 15, 2024 · Filed: December 10, 2024

The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front headlights shutoff independently while turned on. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact who is an independent mechanic determined that the lighting control module (LCM) needed to be replaced. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 285,000.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11616251

Incident: September 16, 2024 · Filed: September 24, 2024

The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while attempting to pull out of the parking lot, the headlights and the taillights became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Exterior Lighting; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11612352

Incident: September 2, 2024 · Filed: September 3, 2024

Head lights suddenly went out while driving at night causing near accident, happening frequently. Also, the gas tank leaks when I put gas in car, making it smell badly and making it dangerous if someone drops a cigarette near it.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11611699

Incident: August 29, 2024 · Filed: August 29, 2024

The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the headlights were inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the lighting control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11603129

Incident: July 15, 2024 · Filed: July 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the lighting control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 181,000.

Other Mercury Grand Marquis model years

Check your 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercury Grand Marquis at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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