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 143 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 25 | 17% |
| Air bags | 22 | 15% |
| Air bags | 11 | 8% |
| Steering | 9 | 6% |
| Seat belts | 9 | 6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 3% |
| Structure | 4 | 3% |
| Visibility | 4 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver’s side exhaust manifold shield fell into the steering linkage and caused the vehicle to run over a
NHTSA complaint: Steering
5/9/2021 The SRS dashboard light came on with a bell warning. Bell quits after a short time but the light stays on solid. When turning ignition on, light and bell comes on, blinks 3 times, does this 6 times and then stay
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that there was a loud cla
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle was pulling to the left. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated after coming to a complete stop at a
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Driver and Passenger side seat belt pretensioners failed and have resulted in airbags being inoperable.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
Around 12 years ago, when my 2006 Marquis, which I purchased brand new, had only approximately 40,000 miles on it, the seatbelt-airbag system warning appeared on the instrument panel and a warning bell sound went off wit
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that after the vehicle was started and shifted into drive(D), the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that excessive force was n
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING FOR 2 MINUTES, THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE WITH AN AUDIBLE BEEP. THE VEHIC
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2006 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 Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermedia
Risk: 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.
Fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and re
Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois
Risk: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage
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
Risk: FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: 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.
| Reliability raw | 74 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 61 | average |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 69 | 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 143 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and vehicle speed control is the most reported area with 25 of them (17%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 74/100 (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 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2006 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 65/100. 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.