YearToAvoid

2010 Mercury Mariner Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 104 engine complaints for the 2010 Mercury Mariner, 39% of all complaints filed for that model year, the highest share among the years shown. Owners commonly report sudden power loss and stalling tied to the throttle body, at a median 51,500 miles. No related recall is listed for this issue.

Engine complaints
104
39% of 270 complaints
All complaints this year
270
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
51,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine suddenly loses power and becomes unresponsive to the accelerator while driving, often at highway speed.
  • Vehicle stalls without warning, sometimes restarting on its own and sometimes requiring a tow.
  • Check engine or powertrain warning light illuminates at the same time as the power loss or stall.
  • Dealers frequently trace the problem to a throttle body defect, in some cases without a completed repair.
  • Rough running, surging, or an inability to accelerate past a low speed occurs after the stall event.
  • One case reports hesitation and cruise control surging after a transmission software update.

When 2010 Mercury Mariner engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 5, 2012, latest Sep 8, 2025.

2010 Mercury Mariner engine complaints: complaints filed per month18Aug 2012May 2013Oct 2013May 2014Nov 2014Jan 2016Jan 2017Jun 2022
104 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2012 to Sep 2025; peak Jul 2013 (18).

Engine recalls for the 2010 Mercury Mariner

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Mariner model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200524 (36%)
  2. 200621 (33%)
  3. 200712 (36%)
  4. 200846 (10%)
  5. 200984 (27%)
  6. 2010104 (39%)
  7. 201128 (32%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2010 Mercury Mariner?
NHTSA lists 104 engine complaints for the 2010 model year, which is 39% of all 270 complaints filed for that year, the highest share among the years listed.
Is there a recall for the 2010 Mercury Mariner engine issue?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area.
At what mileage do these engine problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2010 Mariner is 51,500 miles.
What do owners describe happening with the engine?
Owners describe sudden loss of power, stalling, and rough running, often linked by dealers to a throttle body defect, sometimes accompanied by a check engine or powertrain warning light.
Were there any injuries or crashes linked to these engine complaints?
NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2010 Mariner lists 1 crash, 1 fire, and 4 injuries.

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.