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 1 of 9)

problem #173

Dec 272022

Grand Marquis

  • miles

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

I received a recall on my car in 2019 to change the lighting control module as my headlights could go out without warning. Although I had not experienced this, I brought my vehicle to the local Ford dealer who changed the part. Over the pandemic and now since my wife and I are in declining health we have driven very little after dark. However, I recently had to go to the pharmacy at Walmart and returned home after dark but my headlights went out completely. Now I am having this problem and the local Ford dealer said there was no second recall so he wants to charge me between $500 and $600 to correct the problem. I think this is Ford's responsibility to correct. Please assist in making the manufacturer aware of this.

- Lockport, LA, USA

problem #172

Dec 212022

Grand Marquis

  • miles
Hard to steer car, power assist not working, doors do not lock

- Carteret, Nj, NJ, USA

problem #171

Nov 232022

Grand Marquis

  • miles
Almost had accidents because lights failed, headlights and taillights failed at night, including dash lights today, creating safety hazard. Seat tilt failed, and body mount frame bushing failed. Mirror tilt switch failed. Fuel filler neck leaks when filled. Very scary especially at night. Please recall and fix before we get hurt.

- Carteret, Nj, NJ, USA

problem #170

Oct 102022

Grand Marquis

  • miles

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

The LCM has failed during nightly driving causing a complete loss of headlights.

- Marysville , WA, USA

problem #169

Sep 012022

Grand Marquis

  • miles
The lighting control module failed. Even after recall 2 years later and only 9 thousand miles Oem part replacement under recall and recall part has failed no tail lamps work no turn signal lights. Only brake lights It-€™s a common problem even after recall replacement It-€™s worked fine for 8 thousand miles now lights don-€™t work all the time

- Louisville , KY, USA

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problem #168

Jan 232022

Grand Marquis

  • 190,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that upon purchase of the vehicle, he received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting). Over time, the contact stated that the headlights and taillights would intermittently fail to operate without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the recall repair was performed. Despite the recall repair, the contact stated that the taillights failed to operate. The dealer was informed of the failure and the contact was informed that he had to pay out of pocket for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

- Dandridge, TN, USA

problem #167

Jun 152020

Grand Marquis

  • miles

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

The headlights are still not working properly, as before the recall. It is hit or miss if they decide to come on, or stay on. Also, the rear running lights may or may not come on when I turn the headlights on.

- Memphis, MI, USA

problem #166

Jun 012020

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 124,900 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the headlights became inoperable without warning. The vehicle was taken to grieco Ford of fort lauderdale (1333 N federal hwy, fort lauderdale, fl 33304, (844) 648-2686) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the lighting control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 15V861000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 124,900. Consumer stated vehicle was repaired but happened again after 3 years.

- Ft Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #165

Aug 112020

Grand Marquis

  • 101,000 miles
The vehicle suddenly had no brake lights or tail lights, then, it had brake lights and tail lights, then, the vehicle would not start, despite having a new battery. After much investigation and work, our certified mechanic feels that the lighting module is shorting out, thus, draining the battery. The vehicle was stationary, in motion on a city street and on a highway, turning, essentially all aspects of usage, when these issues occurred.

- Massillon, OH, USA

problem #164

Jan 012019

Grand Marquis

  • 173,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the front head light assembly had malfunctioned and the front passenger side and driver side head lights were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the head light assembly needed to the be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer pundmann Ford (2727 w. clay St. St. charles, mo.) were notified but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 173,000.

- St. Charles, MO, USA

problem #163

Jul 232019

Grand Marquis

  • 130,212 miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. While operating the vehicle with the exterior lighting switch in auto mode, both the front and rear exterior lighting would not illuminate. While in manual mode, the tail lights would not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to tom holzer Ford (39300 w. 10 mile rd, farmington hills, mi) where it was diagnosed that the lighting control module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and did not assist. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V861000 (exterior lighting); however, the failure recurred. The failure mileage was 130,212.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #162

Dec 152016

Grand Marquis

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the manufacturer failed to provide the part within a reasonable time frame concerning NHTSA campaign number: 15V861000 (exterior lighting). Wilmes Chevrolet Buick GMC (2215 E broadway St, altus, ok 73521, 580-301-7169) and the manufacturer were contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Mangum, OK, USA

problem #161

Feb 192019

Grand Marquis

  • 120,000 miles
While driving the vehicle the headlights would go out and stop working. The only way I could drive at night was to pull the switch towards me and keep the brights on while driving. If I let go the lights wouldn't stay on and I couldn't see the road. I tried to use the switch on the dash to turn on the headlights but it would only work for the panel lights on the dash board. This happened while I was driving at night with my family in the car it was very scary and we were driving on toads with no street lights lights. This occurred on wed, Feb. 20 2019. Once this happened I pulled over put the car in park turned the car off and restarted it. I put the car in drive and tried to turn on the headlights but nothing would come on so I pulled the switch towards me and keep it like that so the bright lights would come on and I could see the road to drive this for 30 min until we got home.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #160

Sep 122018

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. While driving 80 mph, the headlights shut off without warning. The contact called the local dealer (performance Ford tooele, 1141 N main St, tooele, ut 84074, 435-882-7000) and was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V861000 (exterior lighting). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown. Consumer stated it was repaired once but the lights have failed two or three times. Updated 11/19/18

- Lehi, UT, USA

problem #159

Jun 302018

Grand Marquis

  • 136,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the headlamps and tail lamps would intermittently fail to operate without warning. Doug henry Ford of ayden (4057 lee St, ayden, nc) diagnosed that the light control module was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 136,000.

- Winterville, NC, USA

problem #158

Jun 222018

Grand Marquis

  • 87,000 miles
Coming from a concert which thankfully was very close to home, the headlights did not turn on and there were no dash lights. The vehicle was not in motion but as the car was starting to move, still no lights. There was a recall on this vehicle in 2014(lcm #15S39) that was repaired and reimbursed by our local Ford dealership. This was a known issue for 2003-2005 Mercury Grand Marquis and 2003-2005 Crown Victoria. I have since seen complaints come up as of Jan.2018 that this problem has again come to light. This is a horrendous safety issue and not an inexpensive fix. How many more times will this keep happening? we love this car, have had it for 13 years and it has less than 90000 miles on it. Tried contacting Ford customer service and they were no help!! we just wanted to make this known that obviously this is an ongoing problem with this particular year vehicle.

- Joliet, IL, USA

problem #157

Jan 262018

Grand Marquis

  • miles
When driving at night, headlights will sometime become dim, usually the headlights will cut off. Less than a minute, after they go off, headlights will return back on.

- Duckhill, MS, USA

problem #156

Jan 172018

Grand Marquis

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the front driver and passenger side headlights were dim and prevented the contact from seeing at night. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called bert wolfe Ford at (304) 344-1601 (located at 1900 patrick St plaza, charleston, wv 25387) where it was confirmed that no recalls were associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 15V861000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: Cas13954234. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

- St Albans, WV, USA

problem #155

Oct 222017

Grand Marquis

  • 100,000 miles
Head lights and tail lights will turn off while driving

- Jenison, MI, USA

problem #154

Oct 122017

Grand Marquis

  • 157,000 miles
I have a serious dangerous situation going on with the headlights that could end with fatal results. The headlights will go out by themselves at night which could result in a car crash. The lights will go out without warning while the vehicle is in motion wherever you are.

- Macon, MS, USA

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