Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Mercury Mariner problems

Owners filed 87 complaints about the 2011 Mercury Mariner with NHTSA between Dec 2010 and May 2026. The most-cited component is power train (24).

Complaints
87
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train24
  2. Fuel/propulsion system22
  3. Steering20
  4. Vehicle speed control15
  5. Engine11
  6. Fuel system, gasoline7
  7. Electrical system6
  8. Visibility/wiper3
  9. Visibility3
  10. Engine and engine cooling3
  11. Equipment2
  12. Air bags2
  13. Suspension1
  14. Other / unknown3

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20101
20112
20121
201330
20147
20154
20167
20176
201812
20192
20203
20213
20222
20233
20240
20251
20263

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

24 reports
“THE THROTTLE IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. I WAS ALMOST IN 2 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. I STEP ON THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS. I HEAR THAT 1000S ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IN A 75 MPH ZONE AND SUDDENLY NO POWER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 1, 2017Fuel system, gasoline, Power trainODI 10938982

Fuel/propulsion system

22 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LOUDON MOTORS FORD (3476 UNION AVE SE, MINERVA, OH 44657, (330) 868-2277) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2018Fuel system, gasoline, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11098511

Steering

20 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2011 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering became inoperable with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering shaft port sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2026SteeringODI 11738857

Vehicle speed control

15 reports1 crash
“DRIVING AT 40 MPH CAR STALLS, PULL OVER, CAR STARTS UP ENGINE LITE ON, (SAT) TAKE TO DEALER ON MON (12/15/2014), EXPLAIN TO DEALER, THEY CALL 3 HOURS LATER TO SAY "PURGE VALVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED"OK THIS SHOULD BE COVERED RIGHT? SHE SAYS NO! THE COST TO YOU WILL BE $320.33. I TOLD HER THIS IS PART OF THE EMISSIONS, IT HAS TO BE, SHE SAID NO ITS NOT! I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM THIS DEALER 3 1/2 YEARS AGO, (BOUGHT IS NEW) STILL UNDERWARRANTY.. BUT THIS IS NOT COVERED! THE 800 NUMBER TO FORDS BLEW ME OFF! AND SAID WHAT THE DEALER SAYS GOES!>. WHY DID SHE SUGGEST I CALL THEM THEN! (NOT GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE) I WAS HOPING FOR EXPLANATION! PLEASE HELP, THIS SHOULD BE COVERED. LOOK AT YOUR ON LINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS! SHAME SHAME SHAME. OF COURSE I PAID IT, I NEED MY CAR! PLEASE NOTE I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE AT 5 OR MORE CARS WITH THE SAME/SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2014Steering, Fuel system, gasoline, Vehicle speed controlODI 10664424

Engine

11 reports
“DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60PMH) IT WOULD LOSS POWER AND KINDA LIMP ALONG. I CAN PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND START IT BAKE ON AGAIN AN RUN JUST FIND AFTER THAT. THIS HAS HAPPEN THREE TIME SINCE. IT IS BECOME REALLY DANGEROUS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2014Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10632274

Fuel system, gasoline

7 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2011 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a strong fuel odor inside the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the fuel odor was noticeable all the way to the rear seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that the tools needed to perform the repair were not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact was informed by the Insurance Provider of an unrepaired recall, under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V777000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 11, 2026Fuel system, gasolineODI 11717360
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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