NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,698 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.

2005 Mercury Grand Marquis electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Mercury Grand Marquis Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #49

Oct 222014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 110,125 miles

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

Headlights went out. I received a notice from Ford in April of 2014 there was an electrical/lights problem and they would repair if owner actually had this problem. I had no problem until Oct 2014. Went to my dealer quick lane/Ford in topeka, ks. They reported that part has been on back order since may of 2014. Contact another Ford dealer who reported same. Light have regularly gone off since that time. What is a reasonable time to expect that they would have correct parts to replace as neither dealer had any report as to when part might come. VIN: [xxx] field service action number: 14N01 fsa title: Extended warranty coverage on lighting control module. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #48

Aug 182014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 84,200 miles
Failed lamp control module, headlights fail to work, only high beams work when lever is held in flash position. Ford issued an extended warranty program 14no1 in the spring of 2104 for just this part for 15 years or 250,000 miles. No replacement parts are available in the usa. The dealer says they have a waiting list that goes back six months. Have talked to regional managers in dearborn, mich. All say they have no idea of a shipping date, much less a delivery date, from supplier. Won't indicate how many vehicles are effected, but has to be many due to extended warranty program. Their solution is if the lights don't come on or go out while driving is to hit under the dash to the right of the steering column and they should come on. This means there are cars on the road that people are driving during daylight hours knowing that their cars headlights are not working correctly, but no parts available from Ford to honor warranty. This means that cars are being used that may not be legal to drive in the rain (most states have headlight on if raining law) and also will not pass state inspection. I understand that parts are not always readily available, but should be available in several days. If this is a known problem, why are there no parts? no other help or loaner vehicle program is available.

- Mechanicville, VA, USA

problem #47

Aug 082014

Grand Marquis 6-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
Lighting control module intermittently not working. Not reliable for evening travel. Part on back order from Ford dealer with no estimated delivery date - I was told anytime from 1 week up to one month. Will need to rent a vehicle. What compensation for car rental do you offer due to the fact there is no estimated delivery date for this part?

- North Truro, MA, USA

problem #46

Jun 102014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 90,000 miles

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

June 10 while driving 65 miles per hour my lights failed. I was fortunate there was no accident. Took car to Ford dealership and was advised it was the light module. Dealership advised that Ford acknowledged this was a faulty part and the warranty on said part had been extended for 15 years. The local dealership ordered the part 45 days ago but has not been received. I personally called Ford's customer service several times but Ford still cannot give me an estimated date the part will be received. This same dealership has worked on my car several times but no one mentioned the defective module. This could easily lead toe death and destruction. Your help in resolving this matter would be appreciated. My case #with Ford is [xxx] I ran google search and this is a very serious problem and many people are not aware of it. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- San Angelo, TX, USA

problem #45

Oct 192013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
High and low beam headlights failed while driving at high speed on dark 2 lane highway in upstate NY. Fumbled with light controls until by random chance discovered that by holding "flash to pass" stalk back, high beams could be activated. Made it home steering with the right hand and holding flash to pass with left, blinding oncoming drivers with the high beams all the way. This is an intermittent problem in the lighting control module (lcm) that can sometimes be cured by kicking the lcm, which is located under the dashboard above the accelerator pedal. Hard to do at night, on a dark road, at high speed, in traffic, while holding the flash to pass stalk with the left hand and steering with the right hand. This intermittent light failure occurred again the week of May 25, 2014. This vehicle should not be driven at night and should be recalled immediately before someone gets killed.

- Fairport, NY, USA

problem #44

Apr 212014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact received a notice for a manufacturer's recall and was informed that the part could not be replaced if he was not experiencing a failure but felt that it should be replaced before a failure occurred. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Updated 7/22/14

- Morgan Town, KY, USA

problem #43

Apr 012014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 75,000 miles

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

My head lights started giving me this problems on April 1 2014 they won't stay on so I have to hold my high beam switch so I can drive using my high beams sometimes my headlights do cone on but very rarely I have read blogs and I'm not the only one having this problems.

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #42

Mar 112014

Grand Marquis

  • 80,000 miles
The headlights will suddenly go off and won't come back on. Eventually, the lights will come back only to go off again. I searched the internet and found numerous instances of this happening to this make and model yet, there is no recall.

- Edgerton, WI, USA

problem #41

Feb 032014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
I drive on the highway from to work. During the winter months, it is dark at 6 am. This morning, as I usually do, the light switch was on and it was on low beams. Suddenly, the headlights went out. I pulled over and stopped. The side markers and the parking lights were on. I sat for a few minutes to decide how to get home with no lights. Then the headlights came back on. I took a chance, they remained on, that day. It would occur periodically then daily, sometimes two (2) to three (3) times on the drive to work.

- Eagle, WI, USA

problem #40

Nov 282013

Grand Marquis

  • 155,000 miles
The headlights turn off randomly. The running lights stay on but the normal headlights will go off randomly and then come back on several to tens of minutes later. I can hear a clicking sound when the lights do go off and back on. When the lights do go off, I can hold the high beams on if I hold the stick toward me. Sometimes initiating a turn signal will cause the headlights to come back on.

- North Rose, NY, USA

problem #39

Dec 302013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 78,000 miles

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

While driving the vehicle, suddenly the headlights went out. I parked for a while, then I turned it on and the lights came on. Now the lights go off sometimes, while driving, and I have to hold the lever back towards me, to have the high beams on until I reach my destination. This is very unsafe. I don't really drive as much at nite, and I come home early, before it is dark. Thank you.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #38

Feb 042014

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 229,000 miles
Similar to events as published in NHTSA action number PE08066, I was driving on the interstate at night and the headlights suddenly went dark. No warning, just went out. Pulled off onto shoulder and could not avoid sliding off the road - very dangerous. Finally figured out if you pull the turn signal lever all the way towards you it will turn the bright headlights on, but you have to hold it on position.. if you let go the headlights go back out. The problem is intermittent and appears without warning. 1000's of complaints about this same issue all over the internet - so I can't believe the Agency closed the original investigation"? what could be more dangerous than losing your headlights at night?" there should be an immediate recall from Ford Motor Co. On this issue! my local Ford dealer and communications to Ford Motor Co. Have produced no help. This is approximately a $700 repair at the dealership for a proven defective "lighting control module". this is a "safety-related" issue if there ever was one!

- Jasper, GA, USA

problem #37

Oct 042011

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 39,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the climate control dial failed and as a result he was unable to adjust the temperature in the vehicle and the direction he wanted the air to be directed too. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the heater box needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 39,000 and the current mileage was 58,000...updated 02-28-14 updated 03/14/2014

- Glenham, NY, USA

problem #36

Nov 292013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 71,000 miles
The low beam headlights failed while driving at various speeds without warning. I was forced to drive with the high beams illuminated. This happens very frequently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. I called the dealer. They said it was not covered under warranty. He said the part would be about $600, and with labor all cost would run about $800!the vehicle was not repaired the current mileage was 71,100. Remanufactured lcm is about $300 or new about $500 from an independent auto parts store.

- Collierville, TN, USA

problem #35

Oct 282013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 35,000 miles
Lights went off while driving at night.

- Downers Grove, IL, USA

problem #34

Jul 232012

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
Head lamps go out or fail to come on.

- Harrisburg, NC, USA

problem #33

May 222013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 83,118 miles
I was returning home with my wife from a trip to charleston, SC, at about 10:00 pm, driving at 60 mph, when my headlights suddenly shut off. That happens in the vicinity of awendaw and there are no street lights in the area. Both my wife and I screamed in panic while I was trying to slow down the car and staying in my lane on the highway. I was thankful that the turn signals, marker lights and brake lights still worked, so any other cars would be able to see me. When I finally pulled up the side of the road without any mishaps, I inspected the car and found out that all the fuses were good. I then restarted the car and still did not get my headlights to come on. I played with the turn signal/ low beam/high beam lever and got the flashing high beam position to work, so I drove home to myrtle beach holding the flashing high beam lever up to light my way. Otherwise, I would have to hire a taxi, spend the night in the nearest hotel to wait for daylight to resume my trip home. Apparently, the problem with the headlights shutting off without warning while driving at night comes from the lighting control module installed the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis that malfunctions when the cars reached an average mileage of 69,000 miles (some as early as 30,000 miles, up to 114,000 miles documented).

- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

problem #32

Feb 282013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 43,165 miles
While driving at night, my headlights without warning, extinguished. I turned the 'high beams' on and they also failed to light. I stopped and after a few minutes, the lights came back on. I searched the internet and found that many Ford Crown Victoria / Mercury Grand Marquis (multiple model year) automobiles are suffering from the same problem. It is apparently a failure in the 'lighting control module' (lcm). There are many web sites that offer re-manufactured lcm's but I question why this is not a safety recall? I think that losing your headlights while driving at night would somehow qualify as a safety hazard and this should be the manufacturer's responsibility to fix this problem.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #31

Mar 082013

Grand Marquis 8-cyl

  • 55,400 miles
We had just left a funeral home and driving back home on a 4 lane road. We turned to avoid getting on the highway immediately and decided to take another route. As we were heading up this 2 lane road that was dark all of a sudden our headlights and instrument panel lights went out and cars coming at us were flashing their lights. I slowed down and was able to pull over to a side street. Sat there trying to determine why the lights were out. Turned the switch from the on position to the automatic position and the lights came back on. We drove all the way home on back roads to avoid getting on the interstate, not knowing if the lights would go out or not. Read the manual to see if we had missed anything and then got on the internet and saw the hundreds of people having the same thing happen to them. I will contact the dealer and see about fixing it but from what I have read, the light control module is bad and so are the replacements. I am hopeful that there is a newer improved model that is now being used. Thank god we were not on the highway or we could have been killed. This is a serious problem.

- Kirkwood , MO, USA

problem #30

Feb 092013

Grand Marquis

  • 71,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while traveling 70 mph the head lights failed without warning. The contact had to use the hazard lights for illumination of the roadway. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The contact stated that he was a certified mechanic and believed that the lighting control module was the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 71,000.

- Parma, MI, USA

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