Engine complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid with 93000 miles driving 50 MPH on a six-lane blvd. Hesitates briefly, then accelerator ceases to function completely. Despite the extremely dangerous situation, we managed to maneuver the car off the road to safety. Warning light (triangle with exclamation point) and warning message "stop safely now". The car computer knows there is a problem, why doesn't Ford? They conducted a "customer satisfaction program" for millions of escape and Mariner owners for this very issue - throttle body defect - but not hybrids. Why not? It cost us $300 and nearly a multi-car accident. Ford needs to be held accountable for manufacturers defects in all cars, not just some. Putting families in harm's way because Ford doesn't have the integrity to take responsibility for their vehicle issues is completely unacceptable. …
I was on my way to drop my 3 month old off at daycare and then to work. I was driving down the highway going 60 MPH with the cruise control set when I feel the car start to jerk back and forth a little. I look at my gauges all are normal except the RPM gauge is jumping up and down then all of a sudden it is kick out of cruise control, and I lose acceleration and a wrench light came on. I was almost hit by 2 vehicles because of the sudden lose on speed. As I was losing acceleration, I was trying not to brake because I thought it was going to die. It did not die but I was not able to go any faster than 25 -30 MPH. I drove it straight to my mechanic and got the code p2112. This is for the throttle body. There was a recall issued on this for the Mercury mariners but it did not include the hybrids. Please help
Experienced two in-traffic drive-train shut-downs as dangerous as the g.m. Ignition switch malfunctions... Traveling in 60mph-70mph night-time valentine's night freeway traffic on the I-405 in santa ana, ca. In the #3 lane of 5 lanes, the check engine warning light suddenly flashed on - accompanied by the `screech' of the `check gauges' tone - and the drive-train lost all power -- along with the absolutely worthless text "stop safely now". With no power steering, and limited brake booster reserves, I activated the hazard flashers - and thanks to alert and courteous traffic, was able to stop in a "reverse gore-point" between the freeway lanes and an outside transition road. Things could have come out far-worse if overtaking drivers had been inattentive - or we had to cross the path of a big-rig with limited braking- or steering capabilities. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. While driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the coolant pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V526000 (Hybrid propulsion system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the engine stalled and the instrument panel displayed a triangle with an exclamation point. The panel displayed that the driver needed to pull over immediately. The contact pulled over and the ignition had to be turned to the off position for a few minutes in order for the vehicle to restart. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the motor electronic coolant pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was no longer included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V526000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
I was driving my '07 Mariner Hybrid on the nj turnpike at freeway speeds when the red triangle & message "stop safely now" appeared on the dash. The propulsion system stopped and I was able to navigate off to the shoulder and bring the vehicle to a safe stop. Having an immediate loss of power while traveling on the turnpike was very scary and I felt unsafe knowing that I didn't have any options but to exit the freeway immediately. This could have resulted in an accident. After letting the system sit for about 20-minutes I started the vehicle and resumed my travel. Same error message and loss of propulsion happened again, and this time I navigated the Hybrid to a Ford dealer in nj. It's very scary to be traveling at highway speeds and then a second later not have any propulsion. …
My son was driving to his work as an emt. I allowed him to use my Mariner. Traveling approx 65mph on the 5 freeway south in sunland, he heard the rod go and saw the lights on the dash indicate the engine overheating. He pulled off the 5 freeway and parked wear it was safe and called for help. I had aaa pickup the vehicle and bring it to the mechanic in westlake village ca. They indicated to me that the engine had thrown a rod and would need to be replaced. They thought it might have run out of oil or something else, but bottom line was that the engine was destroyed. They quoted me a price of $15,000 minimum to fix, so I had it towed to my driveway where it has remained since. It wasn't' for 10 months later we would get any indication that something else might have caused this to happen. I last serviced my Mariner in March & May of 2013. …
I was driving down the street, and suddenly, the "stop safely" light came. The engine shut off and the temperature light came on in the dash. I was able to get my car started after about 30-45 seconds. I started driving again, but it shut down again a couple minutes later. It has been occurring intermittently since that day, with today being the most recent. I called Ford motors today and was informed that my car is on the recall list. They never sent a letter to me. The representative referred me to the closest dealership in my area, and advised me that any repairs will be free of charge. I don't understand why Ford motors would program this vehicle to completely shut down during travel. God forbid if this happens while driving on a highway. This is a very dangerous so called "safety feature", which needs to be discontinued in the future.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercury Mariner Hybrid years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (40), 2006 (12) and 2007 (10) model years. Engine complaints make up 34% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Mercury Mariner Hybrid engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for any Mercury Mariner Hybrid model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Mercury Mariner Hybrid engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles; 11% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (4 mentions), followed by the cooling system (1).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.