AI DamageMercury Mariner: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercury Mariner across 7 model years: 1,296 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 43% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 18% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 13% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 3% of all complaints
- Steering: 557 complaints (43% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 231 complaints (18% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 179 complaints (14% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 162 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 109 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.3 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2005–2008
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2009–2011named in 1 complaints
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2005–2011named in 1 complaints
- 2.3 L · hybrid · 4 cyl 2006–2008
- 2.5 L · hybrid · 4 cyl 2009–2011named in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed 2005–2008
- automatic, 6-speed 2009–2011
- CVT 2006–2011named in 4 complaints
Drive: FWD, AWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,296 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 557 | 9 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 231 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 179 | 5 | 0 |
| Engine | 162 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 109 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 105 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 65 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 37 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 31 | 15 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 24 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 23 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 16 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Drivers rear shock rusted off the wheel well causing wheel to snap and metal frame to hit the ground while I was traveling 40 mph. At this time the other wheels locked up and started squealing causing loss of control of vehicle shooting me across lanes and hitting curbs on both sides.
Power steering works or I have to manhandle the wheel to drive. If I turn car off and jiggle the steering wheel while turning it on sometimes it will come back other times it wonât.
Rear-ended a snow plow going 30-35 mph when I was going 60 mph and the driver-side airbag failed to deploy resulting in serious injury.
And still no brakes. Have contacted ford corporate and they refuse to help or give me documentation to that effect. Ford cases are cas-28178357 and cas-27857368. I have two other mariners and this one just isn't right. Please advise my options.
Recall for coolant pump on hybrid system could result in hybrid electronic overheating causing a stall like condition recall was addressed by dealership back on 7/20/2015 2nd owner has had vehicle for 9 mnths - have had 3 incidents of vehicle shutting down with dash light advising to pull over for safety and the…
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained arm, neck, and body injuries. He and the passenger were transported to the hospital for medical atteintion. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.