What years of the Mercury Mariner Hybrid should I avoid?

NHTSA complaint data points to 2008 and 2009 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 100 and 80. Both years show high shares of engine, brakes, and steering complaints compared to other model years.

What is the best year for the Mercury Mariner Hybrid?

The 2010 Mariner Hybrid has the lowest complaint index at 20 with only 9 complaints, making it the best year based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.

What problems did owners report on the 2008 Mariner Hybrid?

Owners reported the gas engine and electric motor shutting down together while driving, brakes that failed to stop the vehicle, and temporary loss of power steering assist. Engine complaints made up 38 percent of the year's total, with brakes at 30 percent and steering at 21 percent.

Does the Mercury Mariner Hybrid have any recalls?

NHTSA data shows zero recall campaigns across all model years of the Mariner Hybrid covered here, including 2008 and 2009.

Is the 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid reliable compared to other years?

The 2009 model has a complaint index of 80, the second highest of the Mariner Hybrid lineup, driven mainly by engine complaints at 43 percent and steering complaints at 38 percent.

Mercury Mariner Hybrid Best and Worst Years (2006–2012)

The 2008 and 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid are the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 100 and 80 versus a low of 20 for the 2010, which is the best year. Engine, brakes, and steering issues dominate complaints across these two years.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2008 Avoid 2009 Best 2010

Model years: 6; 2006–2012
NHTSA complaints: 212
Recall campaigns: 0
Crashes reported: 8
Fires reported: 0
Top problem area: Engine

Mariner Hybrid Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Mercury Mariner Hybrid problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2006	Good	40	34	2	Brakes	27	—
2007	Caution	60	31	1	Engine	27	—
2008	Avoid	100	116	2	Engine	30	—
2009	Avoid	80	21	2	Engine	30	—
2010	Best	20	9	1	Engine	30.5	—
2012	No verdict	0	1	0	Brakes	—	—

Mariner Hybrid years to avoid: what went wrong

2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid Index 100 · 116 complaints · 0 recalls

The 2008 Mariner Hybrid has the highest complaint index of any year at 100, with 116 total complaints. Engine problems make up 38 percent of its complaints, with a median failure mileage of 66,700 miles; owners describe the gas engine and electric motor shutting down together while driving. Brakes account for 30 percent of complaints, median mileage 104,000, including reports of brakes failing to stop the vehicle during hard braking or low-speed maneuvers. Steering complaints, 21 percent of the total, describe temporary loss of power steering assist while turning.

2008 engine problems →2008 brakes problems →2008 steering problems →

2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid Index 80 · 21 complaints · 0 recalls

The 2009 Mariner Hybrid carries a complaint index of 80 with 21 total complaints. Engine issues are the top problem area at 43 percent, median mileage 88,181, including a case where the vehicle failed to respond to braking and rpms kept rising after impact. Steering complaints follow at 38 percent, median mileage 107,500, with owners describing power steering cutting out briefly during turns, in one case tied to a referenced recall number. Brakes made up 19 percent of complaints, median mileage 72,950.

Most common Mercury Mariner Hybrid problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Engine79 (37%)
Brakes63 (30%)
Steering41 (19%)
Electrical System38 (18%)
Fuel System34 (16%)
Transmission & Powertrain27 (13%)
Other10 (5%)
Structure & Body4 (2%)
Airbags1 (0%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (0%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Mercury Mariner Hybrid should I avoid?: NHTSA complaint data points to 2008 and 2009 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 100 and 80. Both years show high shares of engine, brakes, and steering complaints compared to other model years.
What is the best year for the Mercury Mariner Hybrid?: The 2010 Mariner Hybrid has the lowest complaint index at 20 with only 9 complaints, making it the best year based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What problems did owners report on the 2008 Mariner Hybrid?: Owners reported the gas engine and electric motor shutting down together while driving, brakes that failed to stop the vehicle, and temporary loss of power steering assist. Engine complaints made up 38 percent of the year's total, with brakes at 30 percent and steering at 21 percent.
Does the Mercury Mariner Hybrid have any recalls?: NHTSA data shows zero recall campaigns across all model years of the Mariner Hybrid covered here, including 2008 and 2009.
Is the 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid reliable compared to other years?: The 2009 model has a complaint index of 80, the second highest of the Mariner Hybrid lineup, driven mainly by engine complaints at 43 percent and steering complaints at 38 percent.