2011 Mercury Mariner Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2011 Mercury Mariner ranks 5th out of 7 model years with a complaint index of 33 and a Good verdict, well below the 2008 and 2009 model years. It has 87 complaints and 2 recalls, with engine and fuel system issues most common.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 33/100
- #5 of 7 Mariner years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 87
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 3 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21.5
- 19.5 city / 25.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2011 Mercury Mariner problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine28 (32%)
- Fuel System28 (32%)
- Transmission & Powertrain24 (28%)
- Steering20 (23%)
- Electrical System6 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (7%)
- Other4 (5%)
- Airbags2 (2%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Vehicle stalls unexpectedly at various speeds, sometimes with the transmission or powertrain warning light illuminating.
- Engine RPMs surge on their own around 30 mph, traced by dealers to a faulty throttle body.
- Wrench-shaped powertrain light comes on along with shaking or stalling, sometimes recurring after a dealer reset.
- Rear hatch window has shattered without impact, both while parked and shortly after purchase at very low mileage.
- Airbag warning light stays on after a minor collision, later diagnosed as a damaged airbag module.
- Loss of engine power and steering control reported while driving at highway speed on the interstate.
2011 Mercury Mariner recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V777000Oct 26, 2016Fuel System329,265 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S41.
- 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.
2011 Mercury Mariner fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19.5 MPG
- Highway
- 25.5 MPG
- Combined
- 21.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,025
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Gasoline or E85
- 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.
2011 compared with other Mariner years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Mercury Mariner reliable?
- Compared to other Mariner model years, the 2011 ranks 5th of 7 with a complaint index of 33, earning a Good verdict. It has fewer complaints and recalls than the 2008 and 2009 model years, which are rated Avoid.
- What problems does the 2011 Mercury Mariner have?
- NHTSA complaints point mainly to the engine (28 complaints, 32%) and fuel system (28 complaints, 32%), followed by transmission and powertrain issues (24 complaints, 28%). Median mileage at failure for engine complaints was 43,000.
- Does the 2011 Mercury Mariner have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2011 Mariner: one for a fuel system flange (campaign 16V777000) and one for a steering torque sensor software update (campaign 14V284000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Mercury Mariner?
- EPA rates the 2011 Mariner at 21.5 mpg combined (19.5 city / 25.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,025.
- How does the 2011 Mariner compare to the 2008 and 2009 model years?
- The 2008 and 2009 Mariners are rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 83 and 100 and far more complaints (461 and 315). The 2011 model has only 87 complaints and a complaint index of 33.