Mercury Mariner Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,296 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file for the Mercury Mariner, across 11 model years (2001–2011). The 2008 model year has the most complaints (461). The most reported problem area overall is steering.
Mercury Mariner years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Mariner year: 2008, 2009, 2010. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2008 Mariner: 461 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2009 Mariner: 315 complaints, 1 recall
- 2010 Mariner: 270 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2007 Mariner: 33 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2006 Mariner: 63 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2005 Mariner: 67 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mercury Mariner problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 557 | 7 | 9 |
| Power Train problems | 231 | 7 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 179 | 7 | 5 |
| Engine problems | 162 | 7 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 109 | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical System problems | 105 | 7 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 51 | 5 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 36 | 6 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 31 | 7 | 15 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 30 | 7 | 0 |
| Suspension | 24 | 7 | 1 |
| Structure | 23 | 5 | 3 |
| Visibility | 18 | 5 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 16 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 14 | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 14 | 5 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Seats | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Equipment | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mercury Mariner problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2010: vehicle speed control (66) · engine (61) · steering (61) · power train (60) · fuel/propulsion system (57)
- 2009: steering (167) · engine (53)
- 2008: steering (297) · power train (66)
All Mercury Mariner model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Mariner | 87 | 2 | 3★ | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2010 Mariner | 270 | 2 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2009 Mariner | 315 | 1 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Mariner | 461 | 3 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Mariner | 33 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 Mariner | 63 | 3 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2005 Mariner | 67 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 Mariner | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2003 Mariner | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2002 Mariner | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2001 Mariner | 0 | 1 | — | — |
More from Mercury: all Mercury models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercury Mariner years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2008 (461), 2009 (315), 2010 (270) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Mariner year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mercury Mariner?
Steering, with 557 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Mercury Mariner have?
6 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.