NHTSA — Exterior Lighting Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
75,184 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.

2004 Mercury Grand Marquis lights problems

lights problem

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2004 Mercury Grand Marquis Owner Comments (Page 6 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #79

Dec 092013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 66,000 miles

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

I was driving on the interstate when the headlights went off suddenly. The only way I could get lights was by holding the dimmer switch toward me on bright. Then it would suddenly click back on and then go off again. It was very scary. After looking this up on the internet this same safety issue has been reported numerous times with the exact same complaint. This is very dangerous.

- Curtice, OH, USA

problem #78

Nov 012013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 97,850 miles
While driving down the street under normal conditions at night, my headlights went out unexpectedly. They would not turn back on, either in the automatic or manual "on" setting. This problem continues to happen. Sometimes the lights work, but then will turn off without warning. I researched this problem on the internet and there are many, many, other complaints exactly the same as mine, with the same make and model car. To me, this is a manufacturing defect and a major safety concern. Can you imagine this happening at night on the highway in a snowstorm? the faulty part seems to be the lighting control module, which in my area costs $551.78, and labor is about $90.

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #77

Nov 042013

Grand Marquis

  • 105,000 miles
I was traveling down the highway at 55 when I noticed my headlights were not reflecting off the road signs. I pulled over and checked my lights and noticed I only had parking lights not headlights at all. I got back in the car and tried the light switch but nothing came on. I had to have the car towed and was told the lcm lighting control module has failed. At a cost of 400 dollars. Safety hazard Ford knows about but is doing nothing about it.

- Bristol, RI, USA

problem #76

Sep 022013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 124,500 miles

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

I was driving southbound on route 95 from baltimore to Washington at night. While driving, my headlights suddenly went out. I normally keep the headlights set on the automatic mode. When the headlights went out, I turned the headlight dial on the dash to each of the positions without being able to reilluminate the headlights. I noticed that when I pulled the turn signal lever towards me, the high-beams would go on, but they would not go on when the lever was pushed away from me to keep the high beams on while freeing my hands. I therefore had to drive for approximately 20 miles while keeping the highbeams activated with my left hand. This posed problems when I needed to turn the wheel. I brought the car to my local Ford dealership, jerry's Ford in annandale, Virginia. Even though I kept the car at the dealership for several days, they were unable to diagnose the problem because the headlights were properly functioning. The problem recurred while I was driving South on I-95, headed to New York, on October 6. at that time I lost the headlights and they remained out for well over one hour, requiring me to keep the high beams activated with my left hand while driving the car. I am now experiencing the problem on nearly a daily basis. I make short trips to the grocery store, less than a mile from my house, at night, and invariably lose the headlights while driving home. One time I was able to restore the headlights by turning the dial on the dash to the manual position (far right). At other times, this does not work.

- Annandale, VA, USA

problem #75

Oct 042013

Grand Marquis

  • 104,532 miles
Exterior headlights go on and off intermittently. Have to hold high beam in place in order to have lights.will automatically turn off and on by itself. Has been doing this for about a wk and is getting worse.

- Whitman, MA, USA

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problem #74

Aug 222013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 48,031 miles
While driving pa turnpike headlights cut off with no warning or any"flickering",replace, bulbs & fuses. Didn't help.. the headlights would not work on auto or manual. The only way we were able to safely get off highway was holding bright lite switch forward. This issue has made recalls of "certain models and certain, but not mine"?? why aren't marquis and crown vic, that are"outside" the recall car list, that have the same problem included???is it because not enough people injured or died?? so I'm stuck with a car I can only drive during the day !!! wth? I live on disability and was told it was a thousand dollar repair... why wouldn't Mercury consider cars "outside" the recall years be treated like they were part of the recall, since all the symptoms are the same?" the dealer made me feel like I was trying to rip him off or scam him. The headlights cut off and back on at their discretion.. I don't fell safe driving my, fairly low mileage car(well maintained).don't believe I'll be driving Ford products after this. If Ford would at least help those of us out here, by making the lcm sold to us at a free/at cost, pricing !I feel that would be fair. I'm sure many cars not having this problem don't need "recalled". I would have thought Ford would be honest enough to stand by their products, and address this safety issue?! mail me one and I'll put it in...thank you

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #73

Sep 182013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while completing a turn, the vehicle exhibited an abnormal grinding. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where it was stated that the pin bearing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000....updated 12/03/13 the consumer stated the vehicle's lights turn off at night, as well. Updated 12/6/2013

- Massillon, OH, USA

problem #72

Sep 112013

Grand Marquis

  • 48,500 miles
The contact owns 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the head lights would malfunction intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 48,500 and the current mileage was 49,000.

- Toledo , OH, USA

problem #71

Aug 152013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 126,454 miles
Since August 2013, every time I turned on my signal light, the intermittent sound for the signal would click faster than usual indicating that a light might be bad. I would check all the lights around the vehicle and they were all good. Then going about 55 on a highway at night, I noticed that it was really dark in front of my vehicle. Pulled over and found that I was driving without light. The head lamps had turned off even though they were on the on position. I had to drive home holding my high beam lights at all times. I heard a click, the lights came on. I let go of the high beam. The head lamps stayed on for 15 min and click, they went off again. This happened to me 4 times. Finally, I took the car to have it diagnosed and was told that the lighting control module had gone bad. I would think that there would have been a recall on this item since so many people have had the same problem as listed on NHTSA website. It could be really dangerous.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #70

Sep 112013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 108,728 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the headlights failed. The vehicle was stopped and the lights would illuminate at random intervals. The contact had to hold the high beam lever in the on position in order to see the roadway. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the lighting control processor would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 108,728 updated 11/15/13 the vehicle was repaired. Updated 12/3/13

- Waynesboro, VA, USA

problem #69

Sep 182013

Grand Marquis 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles

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

Was driving down busy highway lights just went out happened to be church drive ahead and pulled in off highway, the lights has went out about 5 more times since then. Checked on internet, and found a lot more with same problem, something has to be done about this before some one is killed.

- Bankston, AL, USA

problem #68

Aug 162013

Grand Marquis

  • 41,322 miles
While driving home with my wife and granddaughter my wipers started to go on in delay mood and my lights turned on.I was shocked at this because my wiper switch was in the off setting and my light switch was in auto setting and it was a bright sunny day.after about ten or 15 minutes the wipers stopped and lights went out.a few day later I was going to the store and it started all over wipers staying on in the delay mood and this time did not stop.I call my brother in Florida whom is a auto tech and he told me that it seemed like the multifuction switch and told me to change it out which I did.it did not resolve the issue and the car remains down due to this issue.there is only 42300 on this car which my father gave me as a gift and he bought it new from leominster Lincoln mecury and I feel this issue is a safety problem which could lead to complete wiper failing or worse a car fire from some defective system that controls this wiper system.car remains down as of the writing of this report.due to myself being disabled and on S/S disability I do not have the money to fix this problem because I feel a dealer service tech should take this issue from here.I have disconected the battey and the car now sits in my driveway.

- Leominster, MA, USA

problem #67

May 152013

Grand Marquis

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the headlights failed. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis but the contact decided not to have the diagnostic performed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where the contact was informed that the relay box was the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 30,000.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #66

Feb 012013

Grand Marquis

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while traveling at various speeds, the headlights intermittently failed. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was determined that the lighting module had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 86,000.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #65

Jun 242013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 220,169 miles
Vehicle headlights went out at highway speeds with no apparent warning. Pulled over and examined lights, only fog lights working. Turned off vehicle and restarted, lights worked. Sporadic lights working, then not working. Able to manually pull and hold dimmer switch to activate bright lights. After researching this problem on the internet I have discovered the problem is the same all across the country in the 2003-05 Mercury Grand Marquis. The lighting control module (lcm) is problematic and poses a safety concern for many owners. Ford charges $700-800 to replace this module when I and many of the internet () owners feel a recall is a valid request.

- Pillager, MN, USA

problem #64

Jul 012013

Grand Marquis

  • 167,000 miles
Headlights do not turn on, internet reports light control unit fails this is a major safety issue.

- Whitinsville, MA, USA

problem #63

May 132013

Grand Marquis

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Mercury gran marquis. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the headlights failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, who stated the headlight control module would require replacing. The headlight control module was replaced. The failure was reported to the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 92,000. The current mileage was 92,100.

- Mt Prospect , IL, USA

problem #62

May 302013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 81,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the headlights failed. The headlights stayed on if the high beams were activated. The contact changed the fuses and the light bulbs but the failure continued. The vehicle had not been to the dealer. The failure and current mileages were 81,000.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #61

Mar 152013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 26,000 miles
While driving home approx 10:30 pm my headlamps flicked on & of then went out totally and will not come back on, obviously a serious safety issue !

- Winter Springs, FL, USA

problem #60

Nov 092012

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
Driving home in the evening on a rural 2 lane highway in Ms. And my headlights goes off. No warning just went out. Tried to manually turn them on, but nothing happened. This incident could have turned out very different, if I wasn't familiar with the area...this problem seems to be bigger than just me...there was an investigation by your Agency NHTSA action #: PE08066, 11/26/08 to 3/24/09. This investigation was closed with basically no action taken at all. Just because nobody has died, or been reported injured, doesn't mean this issue is not a safety issue.

- Flora, MS, USA

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