YearToAvoid

2009 Mercury Mariner Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 7 Mariner years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Mercury Mariner has 315 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 7 Mariner model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is steering (167 complaints, 53% of the total). Complaints report 9 crashes and 3 injuries.

Complaints
315
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
9 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18.5 city / 25.5 hwy

Top 2009 Mercury Mariner problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering167 (53%)
  2. Engine84 (27%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain44 (14%)
  4. Fuel System30 (10%)
  5. Electrical System23 (7%)
  6. Brakes18 (6%)
  7. Other16 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (3%)
  9. Airbags4 (1%)
  10. Structure & Body4 (1%)
2009 Mercury Mariner complaints: complaints filed per quarter442009 Q32012 Q22014 Q32016 Q42019 Q12021 Q22023 Q32026 Q1
403 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2013 Q3 (44).

2009 Mercury Mariner recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V284000May 29, 2014Steering740,878 vehicles

    Steering:electric power assist system

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.

    Risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.

2009 Mercury Mariner fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
25.5 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Mariner years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002005200620072008200920102011
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Best033220
2008Avoid83461320.5
2009Avoid100315121
2010Caution67270221.5
2011Good3387221.5

All Mercury Mariner years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Mercury Mariner a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Mercury Mariner ranks worst among Mariner model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 315 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mercury Mariner?
The most reported problem areas are steering (167 complaints), engine (84 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (44 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 97,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Mercury Mariner have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Mercury Mariner, most recently reported 2014, covering steering.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Mercury Mariner?
EPA rates the 2009 Mercury Mariner at 21 MPG combined (18.5 city / 25.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.