MercuryGrand Marquis2011Overview/mercury/grand-marquis/2011/base/

2011 Mercury Grand Marquis

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 Grand Marquis.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis sits as a passenger car paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission and EPA ratings of 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined, with routine service calling for 6.0 quarts of 5W-20 API engine oil. Within the model's 1990-2011 complaint history it lands at the most reliable end of the spectrum, logging just 9 owner complaints against a peak of 487 in 2005, and carrying only 2 recalls. Steering emerges as the most-cited concern in that slim tally, but the overall footprint is small enough to suggest the platform had largely worked through its earlier rough patches by the time this model year arrived. For a researcher weighing long-term durability, 2011 effectively functions as the quietest data point in the Grand Marquis's roughly two-decade production arc.

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 economy16/24/19 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 · 750 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 · 750 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-55R17OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume107 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. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

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

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts14.8 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug19.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.70 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity7.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance750 cca
Optional BCI Group Number65

Service checks

Pressure Test16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-195 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)20.0-60.0
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 ohms
Engine Oil Pressure20-45 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM2500 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket18 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle50 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Torque Caliper to Bracket27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle118 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 33 ft. lbs. Step 3: 9018 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
189 ft. lbs., step 2: 360 degrees, step 3: 37 ft. lbs., step 4: 9089 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
3loosen 1 turn
430 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
590 degrees90 degrees
690 degrees; Do not re-use old bolts.90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 45,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 45,000 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.

At 7,500 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · 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 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis sits at the very end of a clear downward trend in federal complaints, which peaked at 487 in 2005 and then fell sharply to just 9 in the target year. Recalls also declined from a high of 8 in 2000 to only 2 in 2011, while investigations dropped to zero after 2008, indicating a maturing platform with fewer safety probes. The 2011 model’s top complaint areas are limited to steering and electrical issues, each with only 2 reports, and while there were 2 fire complaints, no crash complaints were recorded. This represents a dramatic improvement over earlier years, such as 1992 with 346 complaints and 8 investigations, and suggests that by the final model year, many earlier problems had been resolved. Given the minimal complaint volume and the absence of active investigations, the 2011 Grand Marquis appears to be a highly reliable choice from this generation.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
17
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
9
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 2 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 9 complaints on record, top 7 components.

Steering2
Electrical System2
Tires1
Electrical System,Visibility/Wiper1
Air Bags,Seat Belts1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V704000Steering:Rack And Pinion:Pinion ShaftReported 05/11/2014

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… Remedy: 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…

13V385000SteeringReported 29/08/2013

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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 17 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 546012026-02-23Electrical SystemFord and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory…
SSM 524762024-04-24EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
DOR-L2Q6V-102019-09-18Electrical SystemThis SKU is a Radiator Fan. The customer communication requested return of unsold…
SSM 479762019-05-10Power TrainOn vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter…
SSM 472012018-03-30EquipmentReplacing the original equipment SYNC/Navigation system with either an aftermarket…

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 2011 Grand Marquis take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2011 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 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.