MercuryGrand Marquis2004Overview/mercury/grand-marquis/2004/base/

2004 Mercury Grand Marquis

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Grand Marquis.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

Classified as a passenger car, the 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis utilizes a 4-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 6.0 quarts of 5W-20 API oil to achieve EPA fuel economy ratings of 15/23/18 mpg. Ownership data for this specific year documents 359 total complaints and 2 recalls, with exterior lighting emerging as the top complaint area. When viewed against the model's 1990-2011 history, the 2004 variant sits just before the highest complaint year of 2005 with 487 complaints and significantly above the lowest count of 9 complaints recorded in 2011. This positioning places the vehicle between the generation's peak complaint volume and its minimum, clarifying its reliability standing relative to the model's most and least problematic years.

Model year201120102009200820072006200520042003

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/23/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 · 650 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 · 650 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-60TR16OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 23 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume109 cu ft
Cargo volume21 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 19.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidFord Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity13
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantUSE FORD PREMIUM GOLD COOLANT
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug19.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)802.5 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)12.5 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.052-0.056 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.38 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity7.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Optional BCI Group Number65

Service checks

Pressure Test13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature192-199 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)40.0-70.0
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)35-45
RPM28-45 @ Idle rpm
Engine Oil Pressure40-70 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM2500 rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket118 ft-lbs / 18 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle100 ft-lbs / 50 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.063 in / 0.732 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.037 in / 0.708 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
137 ft. lbs., 9037 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis sits at a notable inflection point in its generation’s federal record. Complaints spiked in 2003 (395) and remained elevated in 2004 (359), nearly double the 2002 low (106), before peaking even higher in 2005 (487). Recalls and investigations followed a similar arc, with 2004 seeing two recalls and five investigations—down slightly from 2003 but still above the quieter 2002 and post-2006 years. The data doesn’t specify root causes, but the top complaint areas for 2004—exterior lighting (170) and steering (64)—align with broader trends during this mid-generation surge. Crash-related complaints (17) and fire reports (4) are present but not disproportionately high. Given this pattern, 2004 appears to be a transitional year with lingering mid-cycle issues, making it a less favorable choice than the more stable 2006 or later models.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
49
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
359
Owner complaints
17 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 359 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Exterior Lighting170
Steering64
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting28
Vehicle Speed Control17
Engine & Engine Cooling8
Power Train5
Structure5
Visibility5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V861000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 22/12/2015

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… Remedy: 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…

06E056000Fuel System, GasolineReported 13/06/2006

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK… Remedy: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 49 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB 19-20262019-02-07StructureSome 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
TSB 19-20262019-02-07StructureSome 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
SSM 460852016-09-21Engine And Engine CoolingThe Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing…
ASI-451822015-06-01Electrical SystemSUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
CSP-14N012014-04-11EquipmentFORD: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. INFORMATION REGARDING THE LIGHTING…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Grand Marquis. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2004 Grand Marquis take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2004 Grand Marquis have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Grand Marquis get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.