Head-to-head reliability
Mercury Grand Marquis vs Toyota Camry
How the Mercury Grand Marquis and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mercury Grand Marquis vs Toyota Camry: The Grand Marquis averages 172.4 complaints per year, with lighting issues dominating, while the Camry averages 214.3, with power train and brake problems. The Camry has more crash-related complaints (181 vs 120). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercury Grand Marquis or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercury Grand Marquis
The Mercury Grand Marquis is a large, rear-wheel-drive sedan known for its comfortable ride and traditional American car feel. Owner complaints over the past decade show a heavy concentration on exterior lighting, with many reports of turn signals blinking fast and headlights flickering, often traced to the lighting control module. Electrical gremlins, including a reported fire from malfunctioning wipers, and steering issues related to corrosion in the steering shaft are also notable. While these problems are not necessarily constant, they suggest that aging Grand Marquis models may require attention to electrical and steering components.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan valued for its reliability and efficiency. However, NHTSA data reveals a significant number of complaints across several areas, with the highest counts in power train, engine, and service brakes. Owners report issues such as transmission grinding, sudden acceleration incidents, and brake failures, which are serious safety concerns. The Camry also has a notable number of complaints about HVAC odors and AC condenser damage. These reports indicate that while the Camry is generally dependable, certain model years may experience major mechanical and safety-related problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercury Grand Marquis | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,724 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 120 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 172.4 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 80 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 1 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mercury Grand Marquis
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING746
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM213
- 03STEERING185
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL184
- 05AIR BAGS140
Owners frequently report turn signals blinking faster than normal, indicating a burnt-out bulb even when bulbs are functional, and intermittent headlight flickering. These issues often point to a faulty lighting control module, which can be costly to replace and affects visibility.
There are reports of the windshield wipers turning on by themselves, leading to a vehicle fire in one case, and false tire pressure warnings. These electrical malfunctions can be unpredictable and may pose safety risks.
Complaints and recalls highlight corrosion in the lower intermediate steering shaft, which can lead to steering column separation. Owners have received recall notices, but the issue underscores a potential loss of steering control, especially in salt-belt states.
Several owners describe sudden unintended acceleration, where the car lurches forward despite braking, causing crashes into walls or other objects. This is a critical safety concern that may be related to throttle or cruise control systems.
“THE LEFT TURN SIGNALS (FRONT, REAR & DASH) BLINK FASTER THAN THE RIGHT ONES INDICATING A BURNT OUT BULB EVEN THOUGH THE LEFT BULBS WORK. WE REPLACED THE FRONT & REAR BULBS TWICE AND THEY WORKED NORMAL FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THEN THEY REVERT TO BLINKING F…”
“INTERMITTANTLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING. LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE (LCM) PROBLEM ?”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end upon acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission issues that may require replacement. Some mention recalls for similar problems on certain model years, but parts may be on backorder.
There are multiple reports of sudden unintended acceleration, leading to crashes and total loss of the vehicle. Additionally, some owners receive engine maintenance warnings related to a coolant valve bypass recall, but their VIN may not be included, causing confusion.
Complaints describe brake failure, such as no response when pressing the pedal on a hill, and instances where the car accelerates unexpectedly while braking. These issues are serious and could lead to accidents.
While not as frequent as other issues, electrical problems include HVAC malfunctions and AC condenser damage from rocks, which can be expensive to repair. Some owners also report recurring unpleasant odors from the air conditioning system.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mercury Grand Marquis — 26 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermedi…
The risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if neces…
The defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinoi…
The risk: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lo…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles manufactured March 23, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Car vehicles manufactured March 8, 2004, to August 30, 2011, and on which the upper intermedi…
The risk: Improper servicing of the upper intermediate shaft could cause the shaft to separate, which can then result in a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the owners of vehicles whose repair records reflect that the upper intermediate steering shaft was repaired during the course of the prior recall 13V-385. Dealers will inspect and replace the upper immediate shaft if neces…
The defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (including Crown Victoria Police Interceptors), Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinoi…
The risk: If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the lower intermediate shaft, free of charge. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected to identify any damage that may have occurred as a result of lo…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Mercury Grand Marquis or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mercury Grand Marquis has fewer complaints per year (172.4) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3), but its issues are heavily skewed toward lighting and electrical gremlins, which are less severe than the Camry's reports of transmission failure and brake loss. In practice, the Grand Marquis may be more predictable for a buyer willing to address electrical quirks, while the Camry's potential for major mechanical failures could be more concerning.
Key differences
- The Grand Marquis has a higher number of exterior lighting complaints (746) compared to the Camry's top issue of power train (395), indicating different reliability profiles.
- The Camry has more crash-related complaints (181) and injuries (163) than the Grand Marquis (120 crashes, 80 injuries), suggesting potentially more severe safety incidents.
- Steering issues in the Grand Marquis are linked to corrosion and recalls, while the Camry's power train problems often involve transmission replacement.
- The Grand Marquis is a rear-wheel-drive V8 with older technology, while the Camry is a front-wheel-drive four-cylinder, which may influence maintenance costs and driving experience.
- Check the exterior lights for flickering or fast blinking, and ask if the lighting control module has been replaced.
- Inspect the steering shaft for corrosion, especially if the car was driven in snowy regions, and verify that recall 13V385 was performed.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including on a hill, and listen for grinding noises during acceleration that could indicate transmission problems.
- Ask about any engine maintenance warnings and verify if the vehicle is included in the coolant valve bypass recall.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the steering and electrical systems for the Grand Marquis, and the transmission and brakes for the Camry.
- Test drive the car in various conditions, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to feel for any hesitation or unusual behavior.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for any repairs related to the common issues mentioned.
- Check the NHTSA website for the specific VIN to see if any complaints or recalls apply.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mercury Grand Marquis or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercury Grand Marquis vs Toyota Camry
- Mercury Grand Marquis total complaints
- 1,724
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Mercury Grand Marquis total recalls
- 26
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mercury Grand Marquis avg complaints/year
- 172.4
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Mercury Grand Marquis
- Mercury Grand Marquis top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN