NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Mercury Mariner. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
THE VEHICLE STALLS RANDOMLY. I MAY BE DRIVING OR IDLING AND THE CAR STALLS. IT IS EASILY STARTED AGAIN BY PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNING THE KEY. I HAVE HAD FORD LOOK AT IT SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY FIRST CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THEN SECOND CHANGED THE GAS FILTER. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR
COMING TO RED LIGHT ONE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PUSHED DOWN ON BRAKE PETAL AND IT WAS HARD TO PUSH DOWN. ENGINE REVVED UP TO OVER 5 RPM'S AND CAR WOULDN'T STOP FINALLY I PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE WENT BACK TO IDLE POSITION. ALMOST REAR ENDED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. TOOK MARINER TO DEALER WHO WASN'T VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE HE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE & WANTED TO KNOW IF I WANTED TO LEAVE MARINER THERE. ALSO ASK IF I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS PETAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY CONCERN SO THEY REPLACED CANISTER PURGE VALVE. HAVE ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS MARINER THAT I BELIEVE STILL EXIST. FILLED OUT SURVEYS AND WAS TOLD MANAGER WOULD CALL BUT NO ONE EVER CONTACTED ME. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL DEALER.
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS STARTING IN JAN 2011, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO SELECT A GEAR AND ACCELERATE WHILE TRYING TO LEAVE A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, OR AFTER MAKING A TURN LEAVING A FEW SECOND LULL WHERE THE VEHICLE IS UNRESPONSIVE. THE PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE RE-FLASH WAS PERFORMED AGAIN EVEN THOUGH DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM. ISSUE STILL PERSISTS OCCASIONALLY, AS WELL AS A NEW SYMPTOM SINCE MARCH (23,000 MILES). NOW, SOMETIMES WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT DOWNSHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR. PLACING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTING ALLOWS CONTINUED OPERATION. THESE ISSUES COMBINED WITH INCONSISTENCY IN SHIFTING PERFORMANCE AS NOTED BY MANY OTHERS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THERE IS STILL A COMPONENT AND/OR SOFTWARE PROBLEM WITH THIS 6F35 TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, SINCE THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE CONSISTENTLY REPLICATED BY THE DEALER THEY ARE UNSURE OF A REMEDY.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY MARINER PREMIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ILLUMINATED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER REMOVED THE PASSENGER SEAT AND REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,804 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD RETAINED MOISTURE ON THE INSIDE AND BLOCKED HER VIEW. PREVIOUSLY, THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD WAS REPLACED DUE TO MOISTURE RETENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE WINDSHIELD FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD MOISTURE RETENTION WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,906 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,600. UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF UPDATED 07/06/12 *JS
VEHICLE IS A 2009 MERCURY MARINER PREMIUM (FWD, IVCT 2.5 L I4 DOHC, 16 VALVE, GASOLINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION [6F MIDRANGE], PFI). ON 01/10/2010 THE THROTTLE BODY/POWERTRAIN INDICATOR ICON AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON ICON DISPLAYED SOLID ILLUMINATION AFTER ENGINE WARMUP. ON 01/14/2010, THE DEALERSHIP READ THE OMBD-II MALFUNCTION CODES AND NOTIFIED OWNER THAT THE ENTIRE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY (FORD PART NO. 7000) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT FORD PARTS WEB SITE, IT STATES THAT THIS PART IS RECALLED, BUT NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS PROVIDED; HOWEVER, THIS PART WAS RECEIVED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND IS BEING INSTALLED. *TR
UPDATE TO 01/30/13 COMPLAINT. I PURCHASED CAR ON 10/22/12 WITH 58,398 MILES FROM A DEALER. I STARTED HAVING ISSUES LATE DECEMBER 2012. I WAS HAVING PROBLEM WITH CAR JERKING INTO GEAR OR BEING SLUGGISH WHEN ACCELERATING. I TOOK CAR TO DEALER ON 01/29/13. RESEARCHED CARFAX INFORMATION AND FOUND OUT THAT ON 01/05/10 - TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND STATED AS REPLACED. 18,588 MILES. 08/09/10 - TRANSMISSION WAS REMOVED TO REPLACE COOLER. 28,372 MILES. ON 01/29/13 MECHANIC ADVISED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING BADLY AND THAT "PRESS REGULATOR VALVE STICKING". 01/30/13 - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY REPLACED. 63,356 MILES. 6 WEEKS AFTER VALVE BODY REPLACED CAR STARTED JERKING AGAIN. TOOK CAR TO DEALER ON 03/18/13...DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION, BUT EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY SAID NO...WOULD ONLY PAY FOR TRANSMISSION REBUILD. 65,951 MILES. THIS ENTAILED DAY AND HALF OF DEALER/WARRANTY COMPANY HAGGLING OVER REPAIRS. MECHANIC BEGAN WORK ON 03/21/13 AND FOUND LOTS OF MELTED PLASTIC THAT HE HAD TO REMOVE. TRANSMISSION WORK COMPLETED ON 03/23/13 BUT REPAIR REVEALED STARTER PROBLEM. DEALER CURRENTLY WAITING ON APPROVAL FROM WARRANTY COMPANY TO REPAIR STARTER. MECHANIC ADVISED IF STARTER NOT REPAIRED WILL CAUSE FLY WHEEL PROBLEM. MECHANIC IS ANNOYED THAT TRANSMISSION IS HAVING PROBLEMS SO SOON AFTER 2010 "REPAIRS" AND THAT WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *TR
2009 MERCURY MARINER. THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE MAKES A SQUEALING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN HILLSDALE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP 12/9/2009 THROUGH 12/16/2009. UNABLE TO FIX THE NOISE, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD THEM TEAR DOWN THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE DRIVE CHAIN. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR I WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE AND THAT FORD ENGINEERING SAID IT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. THE NOISE WAS STILL CONSISTENT AND HAS GROWN INCREASINGLY LOUDER. SINCE THIS INITIAL COMPLAINT I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID REGULATOR VALVE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ACCELERATING WHEN IT SHOULDN'T AND NOT ACCELERATING WHEN IT SHOULD, LIKE WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT PERFORM PROPERLY. *TR
FORD MOTOR CO. PRODUCED 2009 & 2010 MERCURY MARINER VEHICLES' FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS GAS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TOP OFF THE GAS TANK. ALL FORD VEHICLES PRODUCED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS MAY BE AFFECTED. FORD WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND TELLS THE CUSTOMER TO NOT TOP OFF THE GAS TANK ALTHOUGH NOTHING IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL ABOUT THIS NOR ARE DEALERSHIPS ADMITTING ANY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PROBLEM NOR HAS FORD SENT ANY SERVICE BULLETINS TO AFFECTED DEALERSHIPS. ALL OF THE ABOVE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS BY MY SERVICING FORD DEALERSHIP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WITH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND THE RPM'S WERE HIGH. SUDDENLY, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HOWEVER, THE RESPONSE WAS MINIMAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION OVER DRIVE PISTON. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHENEVER 5TH AND 6TH GEAR WERE ENGAGED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AFTER THE SERVICE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED WHILE STATIONARY ON AN INCLINE. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 13,088.
ENGINE STALLS AND PICK-UP IS WOBBLY. *TR
AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TURNS OFF AND ON WHEN DAUGHTER AGE 34 WEIGHT 120 SETS IN THE SEAT. DEALERS AGREES THAT IT IS NOT WORKING. MERCURY DEALER AND FORD WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND STATE THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD BE AT MY COST. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE, CAR NOW HAS 8000 MILES AND HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR A TOTAL OF 16 DAYS. *TR
WITHIN THE FIRST MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, IT STALED RANDOMLY. I COULD BE DRIVING OR IDLING AND THE CAR STALLS. IFI PUT IN NEUTRAL OR PARK, IT WAS EASILY RE-STARTED. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT IT SEVERAL TIMES THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. NOTHING SHOWED ON THE COMPUTER.ON MANY OCCASIONS STARTING IN 2010, THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING. WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE AFTER COASTING; W AITING FOR A LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, TRYING TO LEAVE A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, OR AFTER MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS A LULL WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE. IT THEN KIND OF LURCHES INTO GEAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT'S THE WAY THE 6 SPEED AUTOMATICS WORKED AND I SHOULD ALWAYS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS PAST WEEKEND 2-3-13 WAS THE ICING ON THE CAKE. I TOOK THE CAR DOWN TO THE SHORE TO HAVE A LEISURELY WEEKEND B4 SURGERY. I STARTED THE CAR AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I FOLLOWED WHAT IT SAID IN THE MANUAL AND THE LIGHT DID NOT BLINK 8 TIMES. I PERFORMED THE MIXED CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING FOLLOWED BY 8 HOURS OR BEING PARKED, THE LIGHT CAME ON THE NEXT MORNING THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE RPMS WENT VERY HIGH AND IT LURCHED INTO GEAR. THE CAR STALLED TWICE WHILE I WAS DOING ABOUT 35 MPH. I THREW IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. DRIVING HOME , THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON BUT NO DASH LIGHTS, RADIO ETC AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND NOTICED THEY CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. I HAD THE HEAT ON FLOOR AND FRONT VENTS AT 74 & AT 1 POINT IT FELT LIKE A/C WAS ON. I FILED COMPLAINTS WITH (NHTSA) WITH NO RESPONSE. I SEE MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS I HAVE ON NHTSA THAT ARE UNRESOLVED. I HAVE STAGE 3 CANCER I HAVE BEEN BATTLING FOR 9 YRS THIS SITUATION IS MAKING ME FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE CANCER I AM FIGHTING. I'M PUTTING MYSELF AT RISK BY DRIVING IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE IN WHICH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WOULD FILL UP WITH WATER AND FOG, SEVERELY REDUCING VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ....UPDATED 08-24-12 *BF UPDATED 08/31/2012 *JS
Electronic Power Steering System, which was part of a previous recall, and was allegedly fixed, but continues to experience the same loss of power steering. This is a continual problem, meaning that it is not a one time incident. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection at any time. When the power steering goes out while driving, the steering wheel jerks to one side, and feels like a lock-up. The vehicle is still drivable, but can be dangerous in a situation where attempting to avoid an obstacle, could result in an inability to do so, because the maneuvers are being executed for a vehicle with power steering, so when it goes out, those same corrections will not successfully avoid a collision. The dealership is aware of the problem. They did a system check and insist that the steering column needs to be replaced, and that it has nothing to do with the previous recall, but it is exactly the same problem involved with the recall, therefore I do not believe they are differing issues. I believe the initial recall repair was unsuccessful, or the wrong fix. There were three or four options for fixing the issue. There are no warning lights that come on prior to the power steering going out, but a click can be heard however, at the exact moment when the mechanism for the power steering goes out. The same click can be heard when the vehicle is started and the power steering does come on. It usually comes on when it is cold outside. It will then go out once the car gets warm. I bought the car in January of 2000, and I did not experience the issue for a few months. When it did start happening, it was only once in a while - maybe every few months. The problem started happening more frequently with time, with the current status being that the power steering is predominantly not working.