YearToAvoid

2011 Mercury Mariner Engine Problems

Engine problems account for 28 of 87 complaints (32%) filed against the 2011 Mercury Mariner, with a median failure mileage of 43,000. NHTSA lists no related recalls for this issue, though many owners point to a defective throttle body.

Engine complaints
28
32% of 87 complaints
All complaints this year
87
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
43,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle loses power or throttle response suddenly at highway speeds, often accompanied by a wrench-shaped powertrain warning light.
  • Engine stalls without warning while driving at various speeds, sometimes requiring the driver to pull over and restart.
  • Owners report the vehicle enters limp mode with reduced throttle response, followed by rough idle or stalling at low speed or stop lights.
  • Dealers diagnose the throttle body as the failed part, with some owners noting it has been replaced under multiple part numbers.
  • RPMs surge unexpectedly at moderate speeds before the driver shuts off and restarts the engine to clear the issue.

When 2011 Mercury Mariner engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 25, 2013, latest Dec 15, 2014.

2011 Mercury Mariner engine complaints: complaints filed per month6Feb 2013Jun 2013Aug 2013Dec 2013May 2014Jul 2014Dec 2014
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2013 to Dec 2014; peak Jul 2013 (6).

Engine recalls for the 2011 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 in the 2011 Mercury Mariner?
NHTSA received 28 engine-related complaints for the 2011 Mariner, which is 32% of the 87 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Mercury Mariner engine issues?
No, NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to this engine complaint pattern.
At what mileage do engine problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine issue is 43,000 miles.
What do owners say happens when the engine fails?
Owners describe sudden stalling, loss of throttle response, and limp-mode symptoms, often linked to the throttle body according to dealer diagnoses in the complaints.
Did the engine issue cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records show 1 crash and 1 injury associated with the 2011 Mariner engine complaints, with no fires reported.

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.