Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 39 | 44% |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 15% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 6% |
| Tires | 4 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 4% |
| Power train | 4 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 3% |
| Visibility | 2 | 2% |
| Steering | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 94 IN CHICAGO, I ACCELERATED TO PASS A CAR. THE ACCELERATION DEVICE WITHIN THE ENGINE, NOT ONLY STUCK, BUT IT INCREASED SPEED. I TRIED TO BRAKE THE CAR WITH LITTLE RESPONSE. I GOT ON THE EX
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW ROLLED DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
THERE IS NO TREAD WEAR/ TRACTION, OR TEMPERATURE CODE ON THE TIRES.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Tires
FORD SAYS THE STARTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER THE STARTER SWITCH RECALL. THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH AGAIN. THE SWITCH HAS BURNED CONTACTS AND IS DEFORMED PROBABLY FROM HEAT. THE HARNESS CONNECT
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
IGNITION SWITCH / STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN HEAT UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON 2 OCCASSION AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACED IGNITION
NHTSA complaint: Steering
ON TWO OCCASIONS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND ROAD CONDITIONS VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. ANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THIS TIRE WAS ON AN MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 1988. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE. WHEN CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE A TREAD SEPERATION WAS NOTICED. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Tires
3 OF THE 4 FIRESTONE TIRES ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Tires
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTA
Risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR FOR SEAT BELTS FOR DUAL FACING REAR SEATS MAY BE INSTALLED IN AN IMPROPER LOCATION.
Risk: SEAT BELT COULD BIND BETWEEN SEAT CUSHION AND SEAT BACKCAUSING THE RETRACTOR TO BE SLUGGISH OR UNABLE TO TAKE UP EXCESS BELT SLACK.
Fix: REMOVE AND PROPERLY INSTALL THE RIGHT AUXILIARY SEAT BELTS.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 59 | average |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 71 | good |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 39 of them (44%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1988 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.