2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Suspension Problems

Almost had accidents because lights failed, headlights and taillights failed at night, including dash lights today, creating safety hazard. Seat tilt failed, and body mount frame bushing failed. Mirror tilt switch failed. Fuel filler neck leaks when filled. Very scary especially at night. Please recall and fix before we get hurt.

1.REAR SEATBELTS OFTEN JAM AND HAVE TO BE UNLOCKED BY A PROFESSIONAL. 2. BLEND DOOR SWITCH THAT CONTROLS HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING GETS STUCK ON HEAT AND BLOWS EXTREMELY HOT AIR YEAR ROUND EVEN IF THE UNIT IS TURNED OFF. VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS. 3. VEHICLE SQUEAKS WHILE IN MOTION DUE TO FAULTY BALL BEARINGS. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

REAR END NOISE WITH AXLE BEARING AND SHAFT ASSY. WITH CARS OF THAT YEAR USED AS FLEET VEHICLES (NOTE,NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V328000. FORD ALSO HAD A SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 04516 IN JULY 15TH 2004 TO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT VEHICLES BUILT FOR FLEET SERVICE WERE PRONE TO AXLE FAILURES AND ISSUED A RECALL FOR FORD SUSPENSION- REAR DEFECT ON FLEET VEHICLES FOR CHASSIS OVERLOADING TO WHEEL BEARINGS AN AXLES. MINE HAPPENED ON TRIP OF 3OO MILES. ROARING NOISE

Mileage: 81,898

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SOUND FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000(SUSPENSION). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000.

Mileage: 117,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR AXLE CRACKED RESULTING IN AN OIL LEAK AND SQUEAKING NOISES. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

Mileage: 151,000

REAR AXLE AND BEARING NOISES. MARQUIS BOUGHT NEW. OWNER'S SON-IN-LAW NOTED MINOR BEARING NOISE IN REAR WHEN VISITING IN 2004. SON-IN-LAW RECEIVED CAR AFTER DEATH OF MOTHER-IN-LAW IN 2012, CAR HAD 24K MILES AT THAT TIME. NOTICED PRONOUNCED REAR END NOISE AT THAT TIME (A WHAA-WHAA-WHAA MATCHING SPEED CHANGES). LEFT REAR AXLE AND OUTBOARD BEARING FOUND TO BE PITTED AND WERE REPLACED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. RESEARCH BY OWNER INDICATES THAT AXLES FOR THIS, AND OTHER SIMILAR MERCURY AND FORDS HAD FACTORY AXLES INSTALLED THAT HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY HEAT TREATED. NOW, NOV. 2014, AT 43.4K MILES THE RIGHT AXLE IS STARTING TO EXHIBIT NOISE SIMILAR, SO REPAIR IS UP-COMING. WILL EXAMINE NHTSA RECALL 04V328000 AS NOTED HERE IN OTHER COMMENTS POSTED. ALSO REFERENCE FORD/MERCURY SERVICE BULLETIN 0355. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

I PURCHASED NEW TIRES TODAY FOR THIS VEHICLE. DEALER ADVISED HAVING FRONT END ALIGNMENT CHECKED DUE TO WEAR PATTERNS ON TIRES. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY FRONT END ALIGNMENT SHOP AND TOLD THEN THAT THERE IS "A FLAT SPOT WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL' THE TECHNICIAN DROVE THE VEHICLE AND BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHOP TO INSPECT THE FRONT END PRIOR TO DOING ANY ALIGNMENT WORK. THE TECHNICIAN CALLED THE PARTS DEALER AND GAVE THE VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THE AVAILABILITY OF THE OEM AND AFTER MARKET PARTS. AFTER HANGING UP THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT FORD HAD PREVIOUSLY RECALLED THE 2003 GRAND MARQUIS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, (LOWER STEERING SHAFT BINDING), BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY OPEN RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. I WAS QUOTED $270.00 FOR THE PART NOT INCLUDING LABOR, ALIGNMENT AND TAX. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RE-VISITED IF IT WAS ORIGINALLY A RECALL ISSUE. OTHER THAN THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE REPAIR BILL. AND FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS MY 4TH MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS THAT I OWN AND NEVER IN TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER , THIS ISSUE EVER SURFACED. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 91,991

I OWN A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. MY STEERING SHAFT IS CORRODED AND IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE AFTER REALIZING THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME PART BUT ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR 2005-2011 . BUT WHEN I GO TO BUY THE PART. ITS LISTED FOR YEARS 2003-2011. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY 2003 WAS NOT ON THE RECALL? *TR

Mileage: 61,000

2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, THE BUILT DATE IS 10/2002.GRINDING NOISE AT RIGHT REAR AXLE AND FLUID LEAKING AT RIGHT REAR AXLE SEAL COATING THE REAR BRAKES. RIGHT REAR AXLE BEARING AND SHAFT ASSY FAILURE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V328000. THE VEHICLE BELONGED TO MY 75 YEAR OLD FATHER WHOM PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR. I NOW OWN THE CAR. I'LL ASSUME THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR QUITE SOME TIME. ACCORDING TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY THERE IS NO SUCH PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, FORD DOES SELL A HALF SHAFT REAR AXLE BEARING REPAIR KIT PART NUMBER 4A109 $618.91 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CAN'T SEEM TO GET FORD LINCOLN MERCURY TO COVER COST OF REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 68,426

PREMATURE FAILURE OF REAR AXLE SHAFT BEARING. ORIGINAL NHTSA RECALL # 04V328000 IN JULY OF 2004. MY CAR WAS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL, BUT I HAVE JUST HAD THIS VERY PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. IF I HADN'T TAKEN THE CAR IN, I COULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM IF THE BEARING HAD GONE OUT TOTALLY. PLEASE FORCE FORD MOTOR CO. TO EXPAND THIS RECALL TO PAY FOR SIMILAR REPAIRS EVEN IF NOT INCLUDED IN ORIGINAL RECALL. A CAR WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM! *TR

Mileage: 50,026

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE REAR AXLE SHAFT, BEARINGS AND, SEALS PREMATURELY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 52,000. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BANGING SOUND HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Mileage: 110,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SAME GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND STATED THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE REAR BEARINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS AND REPAIRED THE REAR AXLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 04/25/11 *BF SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE CONSUMER STARTED HEARING A NOISE WHEN DRIVING. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FINE TO DRIVE. SOON, THE NOISE BECAME WORSE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WA DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS THE REAR AXLES. THE MECHANIC PULLED THE AXLES OFF AND FOUND BOTH HAD GROOVE CUTS IN THEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND HE BELIEVED IT WAS INADVERTENTLY MISSED. UPDATED 08/31/11

Mileage: 40,000

I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, HAVE A METAL TO METAL SOUND IN THE FRONT END, HAVE CARRIED TO SHOP TO HAVE IT GREASED, NO GREASE FITTINGS AND NO PLACE TO INSTALL ANY. TOLD NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE A GREASE FITTING????? *TR

Mileage: 70,000

I OWN A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS THAT WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO BE PLACED INTO FLEET SERVICE AS A HERTZ RENTAL VEHICLE IN JULY 2002. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AS A USED CAR FROM A DEALER IN ASHLAND KY KNOWING THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN IN PREVIOUS FLEET SERVICE. ON JULY 15, 2004, FORD ACKNOWLEDGED THAT PANTHER VEHICLES BUILT FOR FLEET SERVICE WERE PRONE TO PREMATURE AXLE FAILURES AND ISSUED THE FOLLOWING RECALL. ------ FORD MOTOR COMPANY COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: SUSPENSION:REAR DEFECT SUMMARY CERTAIN POLICE, COMMERCIAL, AND PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD TO FLEETS TYPICALLY INPUT HIGHER LOADS INTO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS OVERLOADING THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLES. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY THIS COULD LEAD TO EARLY BEARING FAILURE AND ULTIMATELY TO AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE. IN THE EVENT OF AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE DRIVE FUNCTION AND WOULD COAST TO A STOP. LOSS OF DRIVE FUNCTION COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. CORRECTIVE SUMMARY DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, SEALS,AND AXLE SHAFTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. MADE BETWEEN 11/14/2001 AND 12/3/2002 POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 47,314 DATE OWNER NOTIFIED BY MFR: 7/15/2004 RECALL INITIATOR: OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000. *JB MISSING FROM THIS RECALL ARE ALL MERCURY MODELS THAT WERE BUILT FOR FLEET SERVICE AS RENTAL VEHICLES. MY VEHICLE HAS PRODUCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE CARS MENTIONED IN THE ASSOCIATED RECALL, BUT IT WAS NOT INCLUDED. HOW DO I SEEK MEDIATION FOR DAMAGES SUFFERED DUE TO A KNOW MANUFACTURERS DEFECT?

Mileage: 70,950

SAME AS ODI 10142807.....FORD MOTOR ISSUED A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V328000 & NHTSA PE 04010) FOR 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA & LINCOLN TOWN CAR ABOUT REAR BEARING SEALS AND AXLES. FORD L/M WILL NOT REPAIR MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER BASED ON THIS. IT IS THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THE REAR END. MARAUDER IS A LIMITED ADDITION WITH THE POLICE PACKAGE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *JB

Mileage: 48,900

I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS WITH 49,000 MILES. IT STARTED HAVING A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR END. I CARRIED THE VEHICLE TO MY MERCURY DEALER. HE STATED THAT FORD HAD MADE AXLES WITH A SOFT METAL WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL BEARING TO MAKE A GROOVE IN THE AXLE. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH AXLES AND WHEEL BEARINGS. I FEEL THAT FORD DOES NOT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF THE AXLES BREAKING AND CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME OFF AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I THINK FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE AXLES. *NM

Mileage: 49,000

2003 GRAND MARQUIS DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR, THE THROTTLE STICKING OPEN AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS.*MR THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE DIGITAL READOUT ON THE DASH WAS NOT READING PROPERLY. *TT

Mileage: 1,000

THE REAR AXLE WAS MAKING A GROWLING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE REAR WHEELS COULD FALL OFF IF NOT REPAIRED. *JB

THE REAR END MAKES A THUMBING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE SPEED REACHES 40 MPH AND FASTER. TIRES WERE REPLACED,BUT THE NOISE BECAME WORSE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHO MAINTAINS THAT THERE IS MAJOR PROBLEM, AND THE REAR END HAS TO BE TAKEN APART. THERE IS RECALL 04V328000 FOR THE REAR AXLE FRACTURE THAT CONSUMER FEELS MIGHT BE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. *AK

Mileage: 33,000

2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO ENTER THE STREET, THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES CREAKING METALLIC SOUND. THE DEALER SAID THE THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION. *JB

Mileage: 35,000

OCCASIONAL "POPPING" IN RIGHT REAR OF CAR. ON GOING SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED ON NOV. 26, 2002. REPORTED EACH TIME CAR WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE. AT SERVICING ON NOV. 11, 2003, TECHNICIANS FOUND "RIGHT REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM MISSING... FOUND RIGHT REAR UPPER CONTROL ARE BOLT OUT." *LA

HARSH RIDE. *AK

Mileage: 100

VEHICLE VIBRATES AT ANY SPEED, GETTING WORSE AS SPEED INCREASES. WHEN HITTING A BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL TWISTS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, SAID HE FELT THE VIBRATION, AND IT WAS A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASED.DEALER SAID THAT VIBRATION WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. *AK

THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE, WHEN THE VEHICLE IDLED. *JB THERE WAS A GENERAL CHASSIS VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OF 38 WHICH WAS ATTRIBUTED TO OUT OF ROUNDS TIRES.*TS

Mileage: 39

THE VEHICLE HAS A VIBRATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIBRATION IS CAUSED BY THE SUSPENSION AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT UNTIL A NEW MODEL COMES OUT. CONSUMER INDICATED OF HAVING PROBLEM WITH A FOUR SET OF TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WHICH ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES MODEL #P225/60R16 MODEL. *NLM

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IDLING THERE IS A ROUGHNESS AND KNOCKING NOISE. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR