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2003 Mercury Grand Marquis recalls and problems

The 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis has 1 safety recall and 362 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Mercury dealer.

Recalls
1
Complaints
362
Crashes / fires
22 / 2
Injuries / deaths
14 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2003 Mercury Grand Marquis recalls

Recall 15V-861: Exterior Lighting

Reported Dec 22, 2015 · 296,004 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured October 3, 2001, to August 2, 2005. The affected vehicles have a lighting control module (LCM) that may fail, resulting in a loss of headlights.

Risk: A loss of headlights can reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the LCM, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S39.

2003 Mercury Grand Marquis problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Exterior Lighting209
Electrical System52
Suspension28
Steering28
Vehicle Speed Control27
Engine and Engine Cooling13
Power Train13
Air Bags11
Wheels10
Structure9
Visibility7
Unknown or Other6

Most reported parts

  • Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 19
  • Suspension › Rear — 8
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 7
  • Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal — 6
  • Structure › Body — 5
  • Wheels › Rim — 4
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 3
  • Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control — 3

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 85,194 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Exterior Lighting · at 160,000 miles · reported May 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact that the headlights were intermittently inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated that the instrument panel lights, the brake lights, and the turn signal lights were inoperable. The contact who is a mechanic, had inspected the fuses, the fuse box, and other unknown parts, but found no failures. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of…
Exterior Lighting · reported May 6, 2025
The Lighting Control Module has failed and my brake lights and dash board lights turn off after couple minutes while driving with the lights on. I took my vehicle in to dealer already once for problem to be fixed a year ago. They did repair but now same problem is occurring again. I went back to dealer Sunrise Ford in Fontana and they said recall work is only warranty for 1 year or 12k miles. The work was done in December 2023. They want to charge me $230.00 for diagnostic. But issue is same problem as before. Recall number is 15S39. Driving without brake lights is dangerous and has limited my…
Exterior Lighting · at 127,000 miles · reported Jan 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis The contact stated that both the headlamps and the taillights intermittently failed to operate as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed. The dealer placed a processor on the vehicle and rewired the lights however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.
Exterior Lighting · at 285,000 miles · reported Dec 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front headlights shutoff independently while turned on. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact who is an independent mechanic determined that the lighting control module (LCM) needed to be replaced. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…
Exterior Lighting · at 100,000 miles · reported Sep 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while attempting to pull out of the parking lot, the headlights and the taillights became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Other Mercury Grand Marquis years

201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis: 15V-861 (exterior lighting). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis?

Owners report exterior lighting problems most often (209 reports), followed by electrical system (52). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 85,194 miles.

Are Mercury recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Mercury dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.