NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Mercury Mariner Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2005 Mercury Mariner has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 67 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mercury dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Mercury Mariner, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2005 Mercury Mariner owner complaints

Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mercury Mariner, describing incidents dated March 28, 2005 to December 3, 2021.

Most-cited components

Engine 16 complaints
Power Train 15 complaints
Electrical System 10 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 9 complaints
Air Bags 8 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 7 complaints

Of the 67 complaints on file, 7 report a crash; across all 67 complaints, owners report 17 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11443460 · Filed December 11, 2021
The accelerator sticks and this is very dangerous
ODI #11270694 · Filed October 24, 2019
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…
ODI #11204530 · Filed April 29, 2019
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.

Read all 67 complaints

Rebuilt Transmission Shift Lever May Disengage

NHTSA #15V606000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Lever and Linkage — Floor Shift · NHTSA notice

Reported September 29, 2015 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 57 vehicles

Repair completion: 21.05% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 15S28 · Owners notified October 23, 2015 · Vehicles built March 31, 2001 – September 1, 2009 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Front Wheel Bearing has Wrong Dimensions

NHTSA #15E045000 · Suspension — Front — Wheel Bearing · NHTSA notice

Reported June 3, 2015 · Timken Company

Potentially affected: 576 vehicles

Repair completion: 58.24% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified May 20, 2015

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

FMVSS 201/UPPER INTERIOR HEAD IMPACT

NHTSA #06V111000 · Seats — Front Assembly — Head Restraint · NHTSA notice

Reported April 7, 2006 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 134,365 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 06C12 · Owners notified May 19, 2006 · Vehicles built January 1, 2005 – March 31, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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 AT THE LEFT HAND A-PILLAR TRIM AREA.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENERGY ABSORBING MATERIAL LOCATED ABOVE THE HEADLINER IN THE AFFECTED AREA FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 19, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 06C12.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2005 Mercury Mariner 4-DR

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

21% rollover risk

Safety Technology

67 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Mercury Mariner.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11443460

Incident: December 3, 2021 · Filed: December 11, 2021

The accelerator sticks and this is very dangerous

Air Bags

ODI #11270694

Crash 2 injuries

Incident: October 24, 2019 · Filed: October 24, 2019

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.

Engine

ODI #11204530

Incident: April 27, 2019 · Filed: April 29, 2019

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.

Electrical System; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #11089900

Incident: April 22, 2018 · Filed: April 24, 2018

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.

Structure

ODI #11057464

Incident: December 15, 2017 · Filed: December 29, 2017

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.

Engine

ODI #11054786

Incident: December 13, 2017 · Filed: December 14, 2017

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.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11042251

Incident: October 31, 2017 · Filed: November 1, 2017

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 NEUTRAL HE REACHED OVER TO SEE IF IT WOULD CRANK NOTHING I STARTED GETTING NERVOUS SO I JUST PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE AND AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS IT WAS RUNNING AGAIN BUT HAD NO LIGHTS AT ALL INSIDE OR OUT JUST COULD DRIVE. SO I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE END OF THE BRIDGE WITH NO LIGHTS SO I COULD PULL OFF BUT IT STARTED ACTING GOING CRAZY FLASHING ON OFF LIKE IT WAS POSSESSED OR SOMETHING. IT DID THAT FOR ABOUT A MINUTE THE THE HEAD LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON JUST THE HEAD LIGHTS ONLY STILL HAD NO OTHER LIGHTS NO TAIL, BRAKE, OR INSIDE LIGHTS, JUST HEAD LIGHTS. SO I TRIED TO MAKE IT ON HOME. IT CONTINUED TO DO THE SPITTING AN SPUTTERING THING AND THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED ON THEN OFF ABOUT 3 TIMES IN 5 MILES MY TURN WAS COMING UP TO THE LEFT SO I JUST TIRED THE BLINKER HOPING IT WILL WORK, NO LUCK. AFTER I MADE THE LEFT TURN GOT GOING THE HAZARD LIGHTS CAME ON. 7 MILES ALL LIGHTS ON.

Power Train; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10984959

Crash

Incident: May 9, 2017 · Filed: May 11, 2017

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.

Electrical System

ODI #10916250

Incident: September 27, 2016 · Filed: October 15, 2016

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?

Power Train

ODI #10905973

Incident: February 16, 2013 · Filed: September 13, 2016

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.

Other Mercury Mariner model years

Check your 2005 Mercury Mariner VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercury Mariner at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mercury VIN