NHTSA — Exterior Lighting Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
82,676 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Mercury Grand Marquis lights problems

lights problem

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2003 Mercury Grand Marquis Owner Comments (Page 4 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #113

Mar 102015

Grand Marquis

  • 108,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. While driving 35 mph, the headlights failed to illuminate intermittently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.

- Leander, TX, USA

problem #112

Jun 012015

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. Consumer writes in regards to dissatisfaction with head lamp issue. The consumer stated the issue with the head lamps potentially failing should be fixed now, and not after the failure.

- Brimfield, MA, USA

problem #111

Jun 022015

Grand Marquis

  • 155 miles
I was on my way too work and my lights cut off.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #110

May 182015

Grand Marquis

  • 51,223 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Intermittent failure of headlights throughout life of vehicle. Headlights cease to work; high beams work if flash to pass lever is continuously pressed. On 5/18/15, complete headlight failure, speed on drive home estimated at 5 mph max as roads were dark and driving with flash to pass lever activated requires one handed driving. Very unsafe. Symptoms consistent with lcm failure reported by multiple marquis and Crown Victoria owners and Ford bulletin 14N01. Contacted Ford and stated we never received 14N01 - Ford customer service stated they were unable to provide copy of 14N01 !" and referred to dealer. Contacted dealer who stated I would need to physically come to dealership for a copy of 14N01, if the dealer diagnosed a 14N01 issue, the repair would take two days. I asked if a loaner would be provided. Dealer stated no and dealer stated they could not order the part ahead of diagnosing the vehicle per my request to expedite lcm replacement. The Grand Marquis and Crown Victoria 2003-2005 should be recalled. Has anyone at Ford ever driven without headlights? this is a safety issue which is a recall issue, not a stealth Ford customer satisfaction campaign attempt at pacifying consumers with non working headlights. This problem was originally identified in 2008; why are consumers driving cars with malfunctioning headlights in 2015? why does a Ford owner have to obtain a copy of 14N01 on the NHTSA website versus from Ford via email" so much for the "go further" promises of Ford; we car owners aren't "going further" with no headlights.

- Beverly Hills, MI, USA

problem #109

May 152015

Grand Marquis

  • 96,000 miles
While driving at night the head lights suddenly went out. The only way the lights would work after that is if you hold the high beam lever back.

- North Haven, CT, USA

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problem #108

Oct 012014

Grand Marquis

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. While driving various speeds at night, the headlights failed and the lever to activate the high beams had to be held for visibility. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.

- Rex, GA, USA

problem #107

Apr 172014

Grand Marquis

  • 125,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The headlights would turn on intermittently and then began to fail completely. With the dash switch in the proper place, the headlights would not come on. The high beams would continue to work, but the low beams would not. A Ford dealership declared that it was a bad lighting control module.

- Ames, IA, USA

problem #106

Dec 232014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
2004 and 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. Consumer received repairs due to recall notice and is requesting reimbursement. The lighting control module was replaced.

- Liberty, TX, USA

problem #105

Nov 012014

Grand Marquis

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. While driving at various speeds, the headlights failed without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the lighting control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- East Prairie, MO, USA

problem #104

Oct 152014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • miles
My husband and I have had to make other arrangements for us getting back and forth to work after the headlights stopped working on this car. We went to the dealership who stated the part was on back order. We were just able to get the part placed on 1/21/2015 and it worked for the first hour. We took it back on 1/22/2015 and was told that the lighting controls (the switch that turns the light on auto, off etc) is not their problem. It seems they allow these problems to occur long enough to allow it to effect other things on the car then state there was only one problem approved without the out of pocket. However we had no problems until the headlights stopped working. The next thing that went were the dash board lights and now the brake lights. How do we know that depending upon the timeframe problem exists, it may have an adverse affect on other things? this has been a huge inconvenience and it seems they want a fatality before something is done about it.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #103

Oct 192014

Grand Marquis

  • 97,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Update: After reading the headlight issues on this site, having had the same problem myself, I took my Mercury to mechanics and explained what I've been reading. They said the lighting control module was on a lengthy back-order. However, they were able to find a broken solder joint on the lcm, which they repaired for $170. This repair lasted 3 months and, as of 1/17/2015, headlights randomly shut off, again with only the 'flash to pass' stick pulled in to illuminate the high beams.

- Terre Haute, IN, USA

problem #102

Nov 032014

Grand Marquis

  • 53,000 miles
My headlights went out while driving a few times. I took it in to the dealer (after local shop said it would be expensive, but may be under warranty). The dealer said on November 18th that the lcm is covered under warranty, however it may take a few weeks. The problem is getting progressively worse. The dealer's suggestion for workaround is to use the "flash-to-pass" lever, which momentarily turns on high beam lights. This is not a practical solution, holding the passing lights during a 45 minute drive to work every day. The dealer refuses to provide a rental/loaner vehicle. I'm concerned with the long term effects on the "flash-to-pass", which may go out as well, as it is not designed for continual use like this. I have to drive to work in the dark every morning, dealing with intermittent headlights, and trying to manually hold the flash-to-pass lights. This is a dangerous situation which should be resolved immediately!

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #101

Dec 252014

Grand Marquis

  • 74,000 miles
The headlights would not come on. The only way to drive home was to hold down the high beam lever the entire time, there are many complaints about this situation online with this vehicle and this is a severe safety issue. This car is owned by my 84 year old mother, lets get this recall done so no one gets hurt.

- Wellington, FL, USA

problem #100

Sep 202014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 56,000 miles
The headlights turned off while on the freeway. Since then it's happening more frequently. Now it's multiple times each morning on the 35 minute trip to work. Temporary solution is to manually hold the momentary brights switch. Holding this switch while driving is annoying, and unsafe since that it on the same lever as the turn signals.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #99

Nov 172014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 153,000 miles
My headlights quit working occasionally cant see the road without lights.

- Okc, OK, USA

problem #98

Oct 302014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
My brother was visiting for my son's wedding and used our mother's car for transportation. He found that the headlights would not come on, and eventually found that holding the high beam switch "on", the lights worked. At the dealership he was told there was likely a recall to fix this. Since he has gone back home, I have been researching this for my mother. I found a closed "safety" issue, number PE08066, which is exactly what he experienced. Although you have a very low number of complaints listed, consider this: Most of these cars are purchased by older people, many mechanically incapable in addition to being unsavvy with computers and the internet, and tend to drive it less, especially at night, so the issue would not be noticeable for quite some time. If they did experience this, they probably paid some serious money to Ford dealers to get it fixed, not realizing that this is a huge safety issue and this should be fixed for free under warranty before failure of the module - the tsb talks about failure of the module. Well, my brother took it in for inspection with this faulty module, and it passed, so then do they not consider it "failed"? mother is 91 years old and would probably panic if the lights went out while she was driving it. This is a major safety issue, and should be rated higher to get the warranty work done!!! I plan to follow up with the same dealer and see what they have to say about this. My suspicion is that until it fails she will have to pay for this fix, which is not cheap. This is ridiculous. Listing my information instead of hers as she needs our help to deal with this kind of annoyance.

- Jaffrey, NH, USA

problem #97

Aug 272014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • miles
Lighting module failure. Parts have been ordered on 8/27/14, by pacific marple Ford, broomall, pa.610-353-5500. Dealer stated on 8/27/14 that they should receive the part in approximately in a month. I visited dealer on 10/3/20-14 and they told me Ford has notified them it may be 2015 no lighting module I called Ford Motor Comany relationship center on 9/3/14, 9/15,9/18, 9/23, 10/3,10/25 and 10/30 2014 ms jodi of the center called me on 9/18/14 her phone # 866-631-3788 ext. 77744. She stated she will call me on 9/30 with an update. Have not heard from her since. Left messages for her on 10/3, 10/25 and 10/30 2014. I cannot drive at night. My auto inspection is November 2014. No headlights, cannot pass inspection this is Ford's responsibilty, not the dealer. Please help. Thank you

- Havertown, PA, USA

problem #96

Feb 282013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 57,000 miles
Traveling southbound on I-95 in early morning all lights went out for a few seconds, leaving us in total darkness. Lights came back on and everything resumed as normal for remainder of our trip home. A couple of month later same thing happened during a short evening drive near home. No lights. Researched this frightening occurrence and found that our year make model has this problem due to bad lighting module solder job. Contacted for Ford, no help. Eventually got a letter from Ford stating they would extend warranty on this part, but would only replace module if it was failing at time dealer looked at it, after charging $49 dollars to test for codes. It has not failed at a dealer location. I avoid driving at night as much as possible.

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #95

Oct 182014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 101,000 miles
Headlights shut off unexpectedly while driving in complete darkness. Finally figured out I had to pull the "safe to pass" in order to get the headlights to stay on. Drove to work while pulling the "safe to pass" stick on my steering wheel. Absolutely unsafe.

- Terre Haute, IN, USA

problem #94

Sep 012014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • miles
2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. Consumer writes in regards to recall on lighting control module.

- Richmond, MO, USA

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