Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 346 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 55 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 38 | 11% |
| Vehicle speed control | 34 | 10% |
| Power train | 29 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 27 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 24 | 7% |
| Exterior lighting | 20 | 6% |
| Structure | 16 | 5% |
| Visibility | 15 | 4% |
| Air bags | 13 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
HEAD LIGHT GOES ON-OFF FREQUENTLY. AUTO DELAY OFF SWITCH IS OPERATIONAL EVEN THOUGH HEAD LIGHT GETTING ON-OFF. I FOUND THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR, THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED TURNING OFF AN ON WHEN DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY 4 NIGHTS AGO. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED A YEAR AGO, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH , BURNED WIRE AND BURNED
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE LEAKED BRAKE FLUID AND FAILED. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM LEAKED FLUID CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO HIT THE FLOORBOARD, WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE M
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOAR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE.AFTER CONTINUALLY SWITCHI
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING THE CAR USING CRUISE CONTROL. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE FLUIDS ON THE CAR. NO PROBLEM. STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. PULLED OVER AGAIN AND
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
I PARKED MY 1992 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS ON FRIDAY, 2/5/10, NEXT TO MY HOME. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WHILE IN THE HOUSE, I HEARD A "POP." WHEN I LOOKED OUTSIDE, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 BUT BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1992 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.
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY
Risk: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAN DEVELOP A RESISTIVE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. A FIRE IS POSSIBLE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. ALSO, THE SHORT COULD
Risk: A FIRE CAN ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDERHOOD AREA.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR SHELL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 1999.
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 61 | average |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 69 | good |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 346 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 55 of them (16%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (good) 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 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. 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.