Most common 2005 Mercury Mariner problems
Share of the 67 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercury Mariner complaints by model year
Best Mariner years: 2007, 2005, 2006. Years to avoid: 2008, 2010, 2009. Compare all years →
2005 Mercury Mariner recalls (2)
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 that was rebuilt between June…
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.
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 at the left hand a-pillar…
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.
What 2005 Mercury Mariner owners say
Engine & cooling
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.
The car stalled on me twice today. The first time it happened, I was traveling on gibson at 45 MPH and made a left turn suddenly car stalled while in gear. I was able to coast to the shoulder, however I could not restart the car. I checked the manual and came across the fuel safety cut off switch located on the front passenger side panel. I pushed the reset button and was able start the car. Second time, I was approaching a traffic light the car stalled on me again. I pushed the reset button again, and started the car. At this point I am not sure what is happening to my car, and I don't want to be on the freeway at high speeds when it suddenly happens again. It appears to me that the fuel flow is being suddenly cut off to the engine.
Transmission & drivetrain
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.
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.
Electrical 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?
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.
2005 Mercury Mariner engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 21 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Mercury Mariner a good car?
Based on 67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Mariner rates better than average: 66% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Mariner at the same age. It is one of the best Mariner years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Mercury Mariner?
The engine & cooling — 16 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (15) and electrical system (10).
How many recalls does the 2005 Mercury Mariner have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2005 Mercury Mariner, the most recent from September 29, 2015 (floor shift). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercury Mariner?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007, 2005 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2010 and 2009. See the full Mercury Mariner years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Mercury Mariner problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 39% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.