10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 82,973 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Headlights went off while driving.
- Newfane, NY, USA
Driving down the road and the headlights went out. All other lights work fine, but the headlights work intermittently. I have to use the bright lights and hold the switch while driving in order to be able to drive at night and that is just crazy. I'm blinding everyone I pass and it's very hard to drive that way.
- Rossville, GA, USA
At 69000 miles the lighting control module, climate control module, restraint control module stopped functioning. All at the same time. Odd they all go out at the same time. Safety issue.
- Tucson, AZ, USA
While driving down the hwy my headlights went off then back on, then off. This is a known problem with what Ford Motor Company calls the lcm (lighting control module) which they have determined was due to in part to poor sodering at manufacturing. There are thousands of the complaints filed, with the same issue. I cannot drive me car at night in fear of loosing lighting as they come on and off sporadically. Why has no recall been issued. I was informed by dealer they are all aware of this issue as well. The part costs $499 plus labor. (who can afford this, better yet Ford needs to own up) this eventually is going to lead to vehicle loss of control with consumers, and fatalities I am afraid, just as the Ford Explorer did... please have the nhtsb investigate this further, and make Ford mo. Company due a mandatory recall. This is a very serious issue I'm afraid, and the consumer is having to pay the price for Ford negligence. Any insight into this investigation is greatly appreciated. Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
Driving down the highway at night and the headlights went out for no reason causing me to have to hold the high beams for the rest of the trip. Safety hazard.
- West Springfield, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the headlights became inoperable without warning. The contact used the emergency hazard lights until reaching her destination. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 123900.
- Little Rock, MS, USA
Lately when I crank the car at night the lights do not come on in the automatic setting. I switch it to manual and they still do not come on. When I switch it back to automatic they usually come on. Sometimes I have to do this twice to get them to come on. Several times I've had them go off when driving and got them to turn back on this way. Quite a few times I've left a brightly lit parking lot at night not realizing the lights hadn't come on and suddenly realized it when I pulled out into the road.
- Pelham, GA, USA
While driving my 2003 Grand Marquis the lights go out and come back on intermittently. This is a major concern that Ford Motor Company knows about this and has not offered a recall yet. Guess their waiting for deaths to occur before doing so....so sad. There are so many of these same complaints about this until it is scary. Ford Motor Company-----own up and recall this.
- Jacksonvile, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the headlights failed without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 41,000 and the current mileage was 41,500.
- Denver, PA, USA
2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle headlights malfunction. The consumer stated while driving at night on a dark road, the headlights went out. The lights would normally come on automatically by a sensor when it was dark. The consumer stated he was unable to turn them on manually. The cost to repair the problem was $781.74, in which only the dealer could repair. The consumer stated a sensor went bad.
- Allison Park, PA, USA
The headlights turned off while I was driving at night. I had been driving for approximately 15 minutes. I was on a freeway with some over head lighting so I continued driving. After about 45 seconds the lights came back on. This has happened several times since the original incident. Has there been a recall for this issue from Ford/Mercury? this is an issue that has happened to quite a few Mercury vehicles as the web is packed with incidents of this nature by owners and have only back yard, shade tree mechanics advice to try this or that. One other item to mention is that when they turn off, I have always been driving at a time of night when few other cars are on the road (no on-coming headlights). Could the on-coming traffic sensor on the interior rear-view mirror for auto high beam dimming be somehow involved? this is a very serious issue that could be life threatening. I would appreciate a quick response.
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
Driving down the road and the head lights just go off, do not have any control over the selector switch, they only way to have lights is to hold the flash bright light on the turning signal and hold there, you might get lucky and let go of the turning signal and the lights might come on and go right back off, very unsafe, could cause a bad accident, I have priced this to be replaced and they are telling on about $650 for the part along, plus the labor involved, if they know this is happening and had complaints, they should replace the defective item, before someone gets in a serious crash or killed.
- Montpelier, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, both headlights failed without warning. The contact mentioned the failure recurred frequently and the lights would illuminate a few minutes after they shut off. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 111,000. The VIN was not available.
- Greensburg , IN, USA
Headlights would not come on in the manual or automatic light switch mode. The only way to have headlights on is to hold high beam lever in the "flash more"( lever pulled toward driver). I found after a while if I kick my foot above the accelerator, the lights would come on and stay on for an undetermined time. Further diagnosis indicates a poor connection by moving one of the modules connectors.
- Garden City, MI, USA
Luckily I am driving home from work around 1230am on an interstate with moderate traffic. The headlights just go off without any warning. After some very close calls and not just a few upset drivers, I did manage to get off the road and onto the side. I discovered that I could hold the signal handle back I had high beam lights that let me get home. I have maintenance records on this car since it's first oil change at 3000 miles, the auto is well taken care of. I do not understand why Ford would not take the responsibility for this as from what I have already read, it is a very common problem, I guess not enough people have died from it yet.
- St. Albans, WV, USA
Turned on headlights they did not come on but if you pull back on turn signal high beam works when held in position.
- Dayton, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while traveling 50 mph, both headlights failed. The contact was able to merge to the side of the road to restart the vehicle but to no avail. The vehicle was able to be driven to the contact's residence and was later taken to a dealer where it was determined that the light control module had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the issue. The failure mileage was 93,000 and the current mileage was 96,000.
- Nelliston, NY, USA
The headlights on low beam would not come on - could only drive at night while holding the high beam light on. Being told it is the lcm and has to be replaced at a high repair cost. After much research about this problem, Ford should be paying for these repairs and not the consumer!
- Benton, AR, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph the headlights shut off without warning. The lights came on a few minutes after they shut off. The failure recurred frequently. After some time the headlights no longer illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnose that the automatic light control module failed and needed to be repaired. The VIN was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
- Bentonville, AR, USA
- Waddy, KY, USA