I was driving at early dawn when I realized in some shadier areas the headlights weren't working. I pulled over and confirmed this. I thought that instances of intermittent headlight failure the week before was a misperception on my part. I had received a letter from ford weeks earlier; ford has indeed confirmed this problem is due to their lighting control module, so much so that ford's letter claims that the company will cover replacement for an additional 5 years. My car's module has now failed completely. I am unsure in how many earlier instances, especially in semi-lighter environments where it was less perceptible to me, this intermittent headlight failure put both myself and other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists around me in real danger. The failure of my car's module has since been confirmed by my local dealer. In addition, I contacted ford directly. However, affected drivers, as well as potential future owners, both of whom have and will pose a danger to others, have not and will not have a remedy any time soon, according to ford, despite their letter. Ford dealer and regional managers suggest that the part is out of stock indefinitely. Future drivers will have no remedy to their cars' unsafe conditions. An allusion has been made to some unsanctioned, uncovered, and pricey, unreimbursable fix with no guarantee of success, hence to guarantee of safety either. Worse still, ford has categorized this issue as one not entitled to rental assistance despite their "covered" failed part being responsible. States' inspection processes will fail any vehicle exhibiting this clearly unsafe issue. The commonwealth will deem my unsafe and unroadworthy this month, leaving me with no recourse. And with no relief expected from the manufacturer, any other car suffering this failure will meet with the same fate. What is the worth of being "covered" without a safe fix?
2003 Mercury Grand Marquis lights complaints
Page 5 of 8: complaints 101 to 130 of 207, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Cannot get lights to work, pulled over by police (twice)going down the road,and didnt know lights were out. They come and go. Police said to do something like take it to dealer. They told me I was to fail auto inspection for this on the spot. Dealer says they want to test for a week and then they say they cant get parts. If I got to court one mre time or car is impounded I am seking my attorney. This is a safety defect with dangerous and negligent consequences.
Letter from congressman jones on behalf of constituent regarding a problem she has encountered with her 2003 mercury grand marquis and ford motor company; attn: william moore. *smd the consumer received a customer satisfaction program notice, regarding a potential problem may exist with the electronic module, that supplied power to the headlights, may fail.
Lights would not turn on at night. Had to hold the bright light handle on steering column up to drive home. Checked fuses for left headlamp and right headlamp. They were good. Have been told the problem is a lighting module that cost up to $600.00 dollars to replace.
Customer satisfaction program by ford, #14n01: they (ford) tell me in a letter that my headlights may fail without any notice of a problem. They (ford) know this is not only possible, but that it has happened numerous times already. There are blogs that speak to this issue. If it is the function of your department to protect consumers then please do so. This is potentially a deadly safety issue..... If there is even the slightest chance this could happen I don't understand why this department has not rectified it and made ford recall these vehicles.
Headlamps turned off while driving down dark highway at night!!! Only able to make high beam lamps work by pulling turn signal lever back and holding in that position. Low beam and high beam do not work, only high beam when manually held on. Should be recalled!!! Very dangerous!!!
The headlights on my 2003 mercury grand marquis have stopped working. This has been an intermittent problem. The most recent issue left my wife and mother in law stranded along the roadside. The first time I thought it was the switch in the steering column because after working the blinkers the lights started working. The next time my wife was driving on the interstate highway and the lights just went off at interstate speeds. It seems this is a common issue and has stranded others.
While driving to work at 3:15am my headlights went out without working causing me to pull onto the should er of the highway. Lights would not come back on regardless of what I did at that moment. The only way to get lights was to pull the level back on the steering column in order to drive with the high beams on. The lights would only stay on with the lever held back until I reached my work. This has know happened with daily frequency which now has deemed my car undrivable after dusk until I get this fixed. From the research I have conducted, this appears to be a very common issue on the ford crown victoria as well as the mercury grand marquis. I was very fortunate that I was in an area that allowed me to get my car off the highway without incident but this may not be the case for the next driver who experiences the failure of the light control module for these vehicles.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mercury grand marquis. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering malfunctioned causing the steering wheel to become hard to maneuver. Also, the contact stated that the headlights would fail sporadically. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician diagnosed that the lower steering shaft was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 122,000.
While driving, lights turn off by themselves. It can be 3 minutes from departure they turn off or longer. They just don't stay on. Try to turn on manually and will not turn on. If I drive long enough they come on by themselves. Dangerous when on street with no lighting and oncoming traffic at night or driving next to trailer rigs who do not know my vehicle is on their right or left. Have read on internet many others have this issue with ford products and other years.
Tl* the contact owns 2003 mercury grand marquis. The contact was driving 55 MPH when the headlights failed and could not be reactivated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Driving on florida highway #70 headlights went out and only high beams worked while holding them on (pulling handle toward me). I am 75 and a female, I was very upset having to drive 24 miles home in this way!
Driving down interstate, headlamps went off unexpectedly without any adjusting of auto lamp feature. Only able to get high beams to come on when holding the stalk to the on position. Very dangerous. Next startup lights working fine....until they don't when you are on the highway and at highway speed...certainly a hazard especially for night-shift worker. Cant believe ford doesn't think this is a safety issue.
Headlights went off while driving.
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.
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.
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 $499.00 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 fords 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).
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.
Tl* 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.
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.
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.
Tl* 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.
2003 mercury grand marquis. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle headlights malfunction. *smd 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.
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.
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 650.00 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.
Tl* 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.
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.
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.
Turned on headlights they did not come on but if you pull back on turn signal high beam works when held in position.
Tl* 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.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history