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 averaged 172.6 complaints per year with 3 deaths, while the Camry averaged 205.6 complaints per year with 1 death. The Grand Marquis has more steering and lighting issues, while the Camry has more power train and brake complaints. 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 that many owners rely on for comfortable, long-distance driving. Over 10 years, it averaged 172.6 complaints per year, with the most frequent issues in exterior lighting, electrical system, steering, and vehicle speed control. Owners report recurring turn signal and headlight problems, electrical glitches like wipers activating on their own, and steering shaft corrosion that can lead to separation. While some issues are minor annoyances, others like unintended acceleration and steering failure are serious safety concerns.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan known for its reliability, but it still generates a significant number of complaints. Over 10 years, it averaged 205.6 complaints per year, with power train, engine, and brake issues being the most common. Owners describe problems such as delayed throttle response, shuddering, and electronic parking brake failures. Some complaints involve multiple system malfunctions, which can be frustrating and costly to diagnose.
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 | 1,726 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 120 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 172.6 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 80 Better | 158 |
| 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 LIGHTING747
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM213
- 03STEERING186
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL184
- 05AIR BAGS140
Owners frequently report turn signals blinking faster than normal even when bulbs are working, and headlights flickering intermittently. These issues can make it hard to see or be seen, increasing crash risk.
Complaints include windshield wipers activating on their own and tire pressure monitors giving false low-pressure warnings. In one case, a Grand Marquis caught fire due to a wiper malfunction, showing how electrical faults can become dangerous.
Many owners received recall notices for steering column shaft corrosion, which can cause the steering column to separate, leading to loss of steering control. This is especially common in states that use heavy road salt.
Several owners report sudden, unintended acceleration when shifting into drive or while parking, resulting in crashes into walls or other objects. This pattern suggests a serious risk of loss of control at low speeds.
“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 TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of newer Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck and not releasing even when the car is in Park, as well as hesitation and shuddering while driving. These issues can leave drivers stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, sometimes taking several seconds for the car to move. This lag can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
Some owners experience the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Others hear clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, which may indicate ABS system problems.
Multiple system malfunctions are reported, including failures in stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assistance. These widespread electronic issues can be difficult to diagnose and repair.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
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 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…
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…
Buyer analysis
Mercury Grand Marquis or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mercury Grand Marquis has fewer complaints per year (172.6) than the Toyota Camry (205.6), but the Grand Marquis has more severe safety-related issues like unintended acceleration and steering separation. The Camry's problems are more often related to drivability and electronic glitches, which may be less immediately dangerous but still costly. In practice, the Grand Marquis may have fewer overall complaints, but the Camry's issues are less likely to cause a catastrophic failure.
Key differences
- The Grand Marquis has a high number of exterior lighting complaints (747) while the Camry's top issue is power train (385), indicating different areas of concern.
- The Grand Marquis has 3 deaths reported in its complaints, compared to 1 for the Camry, suggesting potentially more severe outcomes in crashes.
- The Camry has more crash-related complaints (171) than the Grand Marquis (120), but fewer deaths, which may reflect differences in crash severity or reporting.
- The Grand Marquis has recalls for steering column separation, while the Camry has recalls for air bag sensors and seats, highlighting different safety priorities.
- Check for any signs of steering column corrosion or separation, especially if the car has been driven in states that use road salt. Look for recall completion stickers or paperwork.
- Test the turn signals and headlights thoroughly for fast blinking or flickering, and check if the windshield wipers activate on their own. These are common electrical gremlins.
- Test the ignition key to ensure it can be removed easily when the car is in Park. Also, check for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive, which could indicate power train issues.
- Verify that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly, and listen for any clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area that might indicate ABS problems.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website for both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the steering system on the Grand Marquis for corrosion or separation, and check the electrical system for wiper and lighting faults.
- On the Camry, test the ignition key removal, throttle response, and electronic parking brake operation during a test drive.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for any electrical or brake repairs, as these are common trouble spots.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic who specializes in the specific model to identify potential issues before buying.
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
- 1,726
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Mercury Grand Marquis total recalls
- 26
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mercury Grand Marquis avg complaints/year
- 172.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Mercury Grand Marquis
- Mercury Grand Marquis top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN