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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2006 Mercury MarinerRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 63 owner complaints for the 2006 Mercury Mariner. Most complaints involve vehicle speed control (13) and power train (11). The EPA rates it 19–21 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
19–21mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Sep 2015
Owner complaints
63
Top: vehicle speed control
Fuel cost / yr
$2,950est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Power train: floor shift

Free remedy

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 that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Power trainReported Sep 29, 2015NHTSA 15V606000

Suspension: wheel bearing

Free remedy

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 incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.

SuspensionReported Jun 3, 2015NHTSA 15E045000

Hybrid propulsion system

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.

Hybrid propulsion systemReported Sep 3, 2014NHTSA 14V526000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

63 complaints filed with NHTSA · Feb 2006 – Nov 2022
  1. Vehicle speed control13
  2. Power train11
  3. Steering9
  4. Suspension8
  5. Engine8
  6. Structure5
  7. Fuel/propulsion system4
  8. Service brakes4
  9. Electrical system4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Mariner model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
200567
200663
200733
2008461
2009315
2010279
201187
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Vehicle speed control

13 reports1 crash
“TONE RING SNAPPED OFF OF AXLE AND CAUSED THE CAR TO GO INTO 2WD AND APPLY THE ABS BRAKES WHEN NOT ACTUALLY BEING NEEDED WHICH ALMOST ENDED UP IN REAR ENDING A CAR WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. TONE RING DESIGN NEEDS LOOKED IT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. CORROSION BUILDING UP BETWEEN THE TONE RING AND AXLE SEEMS TO BE WHAT CAUSED THE FORCE OF SNAPPING THIS RING. JUST A POOR DESIGN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2014Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 10622413

Power train

11 reports1 crash
“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 SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN DIRECTLY AFTER - BRAKES /STEERING ETC. FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT - TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP - UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE 2ND INCIDENT - TO A REPUTABLE LOCAL MECHANICS SHOP - CHANGED OUT NORMAL VEHICLE BATTERY 3RD INCIDENT - CAUSED DRIVER TO ROLL THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON A RED LIGHT - STRUCK BY OTHER VEHICLE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 28, 2020Steering, Power train, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11312062

Steering

9 reports1 crash
“MY VEHICLE: 2006 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID SUV. PURCHASED NEW IN 2006. IN HOT WEATHER...VEHICLE ENGINE QUITS WHILE IN MOTION ON FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH (3 TIMES), AND CITY STREETS (3 TIMES). EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN ENGINE QUITS WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC. ALL YOU CAN DO (WHILE PRAYING!) IS COAST TO A STOP AND DO YOUR BEST TO PULL OFF ON TO SHOULDER OF ROAD WITHOUT CRASHING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. WE HAVE TRIED 3 TIMES TO GET FORD MOTOR TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM...ALL TO NO AVAIL. THE LAST TIME WE HAD TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $1,500. HOWEVER, FORD MOTOR DID REIMBURSE US! BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. NOT TRUE! ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER THE PROBLEM STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. FOR10 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE THAT WAS--AT ALL TIMES--A DANGER TO OUR LIVES. FORD MOTOR SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THIS PROBLEM MUCH MORE SERIOUSLY AND EITHER REPLACED THE VEHICLE WITH A ANOTHER ONE, OR TRULY FIXED THE PROBLEM. I FEEL FORD MOTOR HAS LIABILITY IN THIS MATTER. THE LAST TIME THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WAS JULY 16, 2017.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 13, 2017Steering, EngineODI 11023371
All 2006 Mariner problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
2.3L 4-cyl · 3.0L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Mariner FWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202321$2,950423
Mariner 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182220$3,100444
Mariner FWD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182320$3,100444
Mariner 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172119$3,300468
  • Mariner FWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L
    20 city · 23 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Mariner 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L
    18 city · 22 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Mariner FWD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    18 city · 23 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Mariner 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    17 city · 21 hwy · $3,300/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Mercury Mariner as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 1763
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2006 Mariner questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Mercury Mariner have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2006 Mercury Mariner problems?

Owners filed 63 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are vehicle speed control (13), power train (11), steering (9). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2006 Mercury Mariner get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Mercury Mariner at 19–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026