MERCURY MARINER · model year

2005 MERCURY MARINER

100 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005MERCURYMARINER carries 100 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 0 fires, 23 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 MARINER is electrical system with 9 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (8) and engine (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 22 investigation files overlapping the 2005 MARINER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

100
Complaints
10
Crashes
0
Fires
23
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

100 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL8
ENGINE8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
POWER TRAIN4
TIRES4
AIR BAGS4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW2
SUSPENSION2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER2

Recalls (3)

15V60600029/09/2015

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one

06V11100007/04/2006

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITHOUT SIDE AIR CURTAINS OR MOONROOFS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING TESTING, THE FREE MOTION HEAD FORM REGISTERED A MEASUREMENT ABOVE THE PERMITTED LIMIT

15E04500003/06/2015

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have

Recent Complaints

20211211UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The accelerator sticks and this is very dangerous

20191024CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HIS PATH WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT MOVED OVER INTO THE RIGHT LANE. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A DITCH AND ROLL OVERED FOUR TIMES. 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 191,000.

Mileage: 191,000

20190429ENGINE

CD4E - ENGINE STALLING ON ENGAGEMENT/STOPPING. VEHICLE STALLED AT THE RED LIGHT OF AN EXIT RAMP OFF THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE STALLED WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE.

Mileage: 150,000

20180424ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER (NORTHTOWNE LINCOLN, 21 NE VIVION RD, KANSAS CITY, MO 64118) AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,250. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 165,250

20180424ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER (NORTHTOWNE LINCOLN, 21 NE VIVION RD, KANSAS CITY, MO 64118) AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,250. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 165,250

20171229STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED WITH HOLES. BROWNELL MOTORS INC IN FISHKILL, NEW YORK WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.

Mileage: 103,000

20171214ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR JUST QUIT WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THE ISSUE IS THE COILS AND A NOW FRIED COMPUTER SYSTEM.

Mileage: 202,467

20171101UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AS OF MONDAY OCT 23RD 2017. MY 2005 MERCURY MARINER STARTED STUTTERING, HESITATING, LOSING POWER, SPITTING, SUFFERING, HOW EVERY YOU WOULD PUT IT. WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE GAS. IT DID THIS OFF AN ON THIS DAY. LATER THIS DAY IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND THEN FLOORED THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT FLASHED AT THE SAME TIME IT DONE THIS. IT DOES IT WITH IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS THEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND GOES BACK TO SPITTING AN SPUTTERING AND THE RADIO VOLUME GOES DOWN AND BACK UP OFF AN ON AS THIS IS HAPPENING. IT CONTINUED DOING ALL OF THAT EVERY SO OFTEN EVERYDAY FROM OCT 23RD - OCT 31ST. ON OCT 31ST 2017 I WAS COMING HOME, IT WAS AROUND 9:30 P.M. SPEED LIMIT WAS 55 I WAS RUNNING RIGHT AT 60 COMING OVER HIWASSEE BRIDGE AND MY HOLE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN HAD NO LIGHT INSIDE OR OUT WASN'T RUNNING, COULDN'T STEER, TRIED TO TURN HAZARD LIGHTS ON TO LET CARS COMING BOTH WAYS I WAS THERE BUT NOTHING WOULD WORK. MY BOY FRIEND SAID I'M GOING TO PUT IT IN

Mileage: 176

20170511CrashPOWER TRAIN

ON THE FREEWAY AND CAR SUDDENLY HAS OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKING, AT THE SAME TIME I BEGAN LOSING POWER, I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF FREEWAY BUT NOT AFTER I OPEN HOOD AND NEARLY GOT RUN OVER. I WAS CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE WAS OVERHEATING OR SMOKE. BUT NOTHING. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED PCM, TRANSMISSION, AND TORQUE CONVERTER. CONSEQUENTLY MY SHIFTER IS BROKEN AND YOU CAN SEE DOWN INTO TRANSMISSION. OBVIOUSLY NO I CAN'T DRIVE, I WILL HAVE TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. WHY HASN'T TRANSMISSION BEEN RECALLED ON THIS VEHICLE. I COULD NOT THINK ABOUT IF MY CHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME AND STOOD IN FRONT OF CAR. HE NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THAT QUICKLY OR EVEN WORSE WITH FREEWAY DRIVING I EVEN COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND.

Mileage: 160,000

20170511CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON THE FREEWAY AND CAR SUDDENLY HAS OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKING, AT THE SAME TIME I BEGAN LOSING POWER, I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF FREEWAY BUT NOT AFTER I OPEN HOOD AND NEARLY GOT RUN OVER. I WAS CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE WAS OVERHEATING OR SMOKE. BUT NOTHING. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED PCM, TRANSMISSION, AND TORQUE CONVERTER. CONSEQUENTLY MY SHIFTER IS BROKEN AND YOU CAN SEE DOWN INTO TRANSMISSION. OBVIOUSLY NO I CAN'T DRIVE, I WILL HAVE TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. WHY HASN'T TRANSMISSION BEEN RECALLED ON THIS VEHICLE. I COULD NOT THINK ABOUT IF MY CHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME AND STOOD IN FRONT OF CAR. HE NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THAT QUICKLY OR EVEN WORSE WITH FREEWAY DRIVING I EVEN COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND.

Mileage: 160,000

20161015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2005 MERCURY MARINER PREMIER HAS A PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT DOOR SHOWS THEY ARE AJAR. AND IT CYCLES BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE DASH BOARD, YOU HEAR A BEEP THEN THE MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD . WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND LOCKED THE ALARM GOES OFF BETWEEN FIVE AND 10 TIMES A NIGHT DRAINING THE BATTERY. THIS HAS STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO. I TOOK MY CAR INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 27,20016 TO BE REPAIRED. I HAD THE CAR IN THEIR CAR CARE FOR TWO AND ONE HALF WEEKS ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE PART FOR THE RIGHT SIDE THE CABLE AND HANDLE ASSEMBLY IS RECALLED AND THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FRAME FOR IT TO BE AVAILABLE. I SPENT $544.00 ON A RENTAL AND $604.39. I STILL DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED AND FORD DEALER SAYS IT HAS NO TIME ESTIMATE WHEN IT CAN BE REPAIRED IF ANY?

Mileage: 70,000

20160913POWER TRAIN

I PURCHASED A 2005 MERCURY MARINER ON 2/14/13 FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN MY AREA. WITHIN TWO DAYS THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN ON ME. I DID NOT PURCHASE THE WARRANTY (STUPID MISTAKE) BUT I DID TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY ASSURED ME THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FAST FORWARD TO 03/2015 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE WHICH COST ME AROUND $3,000. THAT IS MORE THAN I OWE ON THE VEHICLE, WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE UNLESS YOU WANT TO PAY FOR IT TWICE.

Mileage: 90,000

20160511ENGINE

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 MERCURY MARINER. JUST AFTER MAKING MY FIRST PAYMENT, I WAS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE IN IT AND IT JERKED LIKE SOMETHING HAD BROKEN. IT NEVER LOST POWER. NEVER HAD ANY GAUGES COME ON OR ANYTHING. I DROVE IT TO THE CLOSEST STORE AND HAD IT TOWED HOME AND THEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY TOWN. THEY CALL ME 2 DAYS LATER AND SAY I NEED A NEW MOTOR $6500. THAT'S MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. I ASK HOW WAS THAT WHEN NO GAUGES CAME ON. HIS RESPONSE WAS "IT'S INTERNAL. GAUGES WON'T COME ON." NEITHER THE LOT I BOUGHT IT AT, FORD, NOR THE FINANCE COMPANY WILL HELP IN THE REPAIRS. JUDGING BY ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS LISTED HERE, THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A LEMON, NO WAY TO FIX IT OR GET OUT OF IT.

Mileage: 136,000

20160405ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MARINER. AFTER DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

Mileage: 127,000

20160405POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MARINER. AFTER DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

Mileage: 127,000

20151202ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

Mileage: 131,000

20150819EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT SWITCHED TO THE AUTOMATIC LIGHT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20150729ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CAR IS PARKED IN MY OFFICE PARKING LOT. THE CAR ALARM GOES OFF. I CAN SEE OUT THE WINDOW THERE IS NO ONE AROUND THE CAR. I USE THE REMOTE TO TURN IT OFF. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, A FEW TIMES A DAY. I EVEN TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF MY POCKET AND JUST HAVE THEM SITTING ON MY DESK...IT STILL HAPPENS....UPDATE 9/15/15*CW UPDATED 12/13/2017*CN

Mileage: 90,000

20150729UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE CAR IS PARKED IN MY OFFICE PARKING LOT. THE CAR ALARM GOES OFF. I CAN SEE OUT THE WINDOW THERE IS NO ONE AROUND THE CAR. I USE THE REMOTE TO TURN IT OFF. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, A FEW TIMES A DAY. I EVEN TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF MY POCKET AND JUST HAVE THEM SITTING ON MY DESK...IT STILL HAPPENS....UPDATE 9/15/15*CW UPDATED 12/13/2017*CN

Mileage: 90,000

20150729SERVICE BRAKES

RECEIVED AN ABS TROUBLE CODE. MECHANIC CHECKED AND SAID IT WAS THE ABS TONE WHEEL ON THE OUTTER LEFT FRONT CV JOINT. MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FRONT TONE WHEELS ON THE MERCURY MARINERS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY FORD.

Mileage: 160,000

Compare 2005MERCURYMARINER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 MERCURY MARINER have?
The 2005 MERCURY MARINER has 100 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 0 fires, 23 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 MERCURY MARINER?
Yes, the 2005 MERCURY MARINER has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 MERCURY MARINER?
The most-complained component for the 2005 MERCURY MARINER is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and ENGINE.
Is the 2005 MERCURY MARINER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.