DecodedCars2005 Mercury Grand Marquis
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2005 models.
- Class
- Large Cars
- Engines
- 4.6L 8-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 19 combined · 16 city / 23 hwy
- Length
- –
- Curb weight
- –
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 3 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
Nothing stands out against similar models in the data.
Watch out for
- Many owner complaints167 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 37 for similar models — most often about the exterior lighting.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 12 similar 2005 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis is a large car offered with a 4.6L 8-cyl engine and rear-wheel drive.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 19 MPG combined (16 city / 23 highway), 5% better than the 2005 large car average of 18.1 MPG, for an estimated $3,550 a year in fuel.
It has 3 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 167 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the exterior lighting.
Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Marquis | 4.6L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 23 / 19 | +5% | $3,550 | 468 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2005 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis under the current (2011+) test program.
Similar 2005 large cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis (this car) | 19 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Impala | 22 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2005 Chrysler 300 | 18 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2005 Ford Taurus | 20 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2005 Toyota Avalon | 22 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2005 Ford Five Hundred | 21 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2005 Ford Crown Victoria | 19 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
Recalls (3)
Exterior Lighting › Headlights · Dec 22, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V861000 · 296,004 vehicles
- 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.
Steering › Rack And Pinion › Pinion Shaft · Nov 5, 2014
NHTSA campaign 14V704000 · 36,888 vehicles
- Problem
- 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 intermediate shaft was serviced during the course of safety recall 13V-385. The prior repairs may not have been correctly performed.
- 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.
- 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 necessary free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S25.
Steering · Aug 29, 2013
NHTSA campaign 13V385000 · 355,000 vehicles
- Problem
- 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, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate shaft which may cause the upper intermediate shaft to collapse and the steering column lower bearing to separate.
- Risk
- If the lower bearing separates, the vehicle may experience a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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 lower intermediate shaft corrosion, and repaired or replaced as necessary. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed. The recall began on October 23, 2013. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13S08.
Not every 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 3 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Exterior Lighting — 79 owner reports. Check all exterior lights, wipers and the windshield for cracks.
- Air Bags — 41 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Seat Belts — 21 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 88,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Grand Marquis years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Grand Marquis | 19 | – | Not rated | 2 | 6 |
| 2010 Grand Marquis | 19 | – | Not rated | 2 | 11 |
| 2009 Grand Marquis | 19 | 211.8 in | Not rated | 2 | 10 |
| 2008 Grand Marquis | 18 | – | Not rated | 2 | 33 |
| 2007 Grand Marquis | 18 | – | Not rated | 2 | 26 |
| 2006 Grand Marquis | 18 | – | Not rated | 2 | 61 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Mercury. How we calculate this →