Complaints
69
Crashes
10
Fires
19
Injuries
3
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#115 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:64,000 mi
Crash-related:8
#27 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:7
#34 complaints
Automatic Transmission
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 15 | 8 | — | 64,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 7 | — | 7 | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Body Structure | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — |
Unintended Acceleration
15
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
—
Avg Miles
64,000
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
7
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Parking Brake:Conventional
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mercury Grand Marquis Years
1989 Mercury Grand Marquis — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis has 69 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 15 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (15 complaints, avg 64,000 mi); Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (7 complaints); Automatic Transmission (4 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 64,000 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis?
NHTSA complaints for the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis include 10 crash-related reports, 19 fire reports, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mercury Grand Marquis reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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