Mercury problems
Mercury was a brand of mid-priced automobiles produced by American manufacturer Ford Motor Company between 1938 and 2011 with 1939 being the first model year. It stood as its own line within Ford until 1945, and thereafter formed half of Ford's Lincoln-Mercury Division. Created by Edsel Ford in 1938 to bridge the gap between the Ford and Lincoln model lines, its principal competition was General Motors' Buick and Oldsmobile divisions, and Chrysler Corporation's DeSoto and Chrysler brands.
In addition to serving as a combined sales network for Ford's two premium automotive brands, Lincoln-Mercury also represented the Continental (1956–1960), Edsel (1958–1960, formally designated Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division) and Merkur (1985–1989, forming Lincoln-Mercury-Merkur). Through the use of platform sharing and manufacturing commonality, Mercury vehicles shared components and engineering with Ford or Lincoln (or both concurrently), serving as counterparts for vehicles from both divisions.
Following an extended decline in sales and market share for Mercury, Ford announced the closure of the division at the end of 2010.
Social links
Mercury models
Common Mercury problems
Based on the complaints from owners of Mercury cars, several common problems have been identified:
- 2007 Mercury Monterey:
- The 2007 Mercury Monterey is considered a significant failure, particularly for a minivan, with issues that led to its poor reputation and contributed to Mercury's challenges.
- This model lacked family-friendliness and was poorly built, leading to major issues and dissatisfaction among owners.
- 1994 Mercury Topaz:
- The 1994 Mercury Topaz is often regarded as one of the worst vehicles produced by Mercury, ultimately leading to the discontinuation of the entire series.
- Owners reported numerous structural issues and poor build quality, resulting in a lack of success and widespread dissatisfaction.
- 1975 Mercury Bobcat:
- The 1975 Mercury Bobcat initially appeared promising but quickly revealed itself to be poorly constructed with constant and unresolved problems.
- Engine issues and durability concerns plagued this model, significantly damaging Mercury's reputation among consumers.
- Mercury Mariner:
- The Mercury Mariner faced common problems such as steering shaft issues, power steering failure, transmission failure, and blower motor problems.
- Hybrid models of the Mercury Mariner experienced cooling pump failures, adding to the list of reported issues with this compact crossover SUV.
These common problems with Mercury cars highlight a range of issues that have impacted the brand's reputation and reliability over the years. Owners have reported various mechanical and structural concerns, emphasizing the importance of thorough research and maintenance when considering a Mercury vehicle.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Mercury models
We have analysed all the complaints filed against Mercury cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Mercury models:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Mercury brand.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Mercury models
We have also compiled a table for you with the number of complaints about specific models of Mercury cars:
Distribution of Mercury car problems by type
Based on an anlyse of all Mercury related complaints and concluded that the most common problems with Mercury cars are the following:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Power train problems
- Electrical system problems
- Service brakes problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
Below is a graph with statistics on all Mercury vehicle components and the number of complaints about them.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Mercury models
A total of 1470 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Mercury models
There were a total of 929 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Mercury models
There were a total of 1489 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model.
Distribution of the number of complaints with deaths by Mercury models
There were a total of 45 complaints that resulted in a death. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model.
The NHTSA has received 25674 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Mercury Mercury. Below are 15 recent complaints about various Mercury models. In order to research complaints about a particular brand you need to select it from the list of available models above.
List of the last 15 complaints about Mercury models
Mercury Mariner 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-20
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-22
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 4M2CU97158K
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was significantly difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the electric power steering had failed. The mechanic determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 104,392.
Mercury Grand marquis 2005
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-18
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 2MEFM74W05X
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the headlights flickered after approximately a minute. The headlights continued to turn on and off independently. The headlights eventually became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Mercury Mariner 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-03
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-04
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 4M2CU87759K
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while her son was driving at various speeds, the vehicle intermittently experienced a loss of power steering assist. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Mercury Mariner 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-03
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-02
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 4M2CU97G99K
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The power steering on my vehicle has failed and the repair shop stated there is an expired recall for the steering on this vehicle from 2014. I bought my vehicle (2009 Mercury Mariner) 1 year ago. VIN: [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-30
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-30
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3MEHM0HAXAR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: started vehicle, "power steering assist fault" message appeared on dash message center, unable to turn steering wheel. Turn car off, waited, turn back on, message appeared again. tried an additional 3 times, same results. Had to leave the car where i was visiting.
Mercury Milan hybrid 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-30
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-30
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3MEHM0HAXAR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: started vehicle, "power steering assist fault" message appeared on dash message center, unable to turn steering wheel. Turn car off, waited, turn back on, message appeared again. tried an additional 3 times, same results. Had to leave the car where i was visiting.
Mercury Grand marquis 2003
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-16
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-24
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 2MEFM75W63X
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while attempting to pull out of the parking lot, the headlights and the taillights became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V861000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Mercury Milan hybrid 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-31
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-12
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3MEHM0HA7AR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: My power steering light came on and then immediately the wheel got tight. I was unable to turn the wheel and then eventually the car is un drivable. There is a lot of complaints about this happening to thousands of cars and it is still under investigation. Imagin someone jumps out in front of you and you are stopping and unable to maneuver your car out of the way. By the grace of God I was able to do so. Please advise me when this recall is open.
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-31
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-12
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3MEHM0HA7AR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: My power steering light came on and then immediately the wheel got tight. I was unable to turn the wheel and then eventually the car is un drivable. There is a lot of complaints about this happening to thousands of cars and it is still under investigation. Imagin someone jumps out in front of you and you are stopping and unable to maneuver your car out of the way. By the grace of God I was able to do so. Please advise me when this recall is open.
Mercury Milan 2011
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-04
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3MEHM0JG0BR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2011 Mercury Milan. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering functionality. A message indicating power steering failure was displayed. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics, where it was determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the repair of Ford Campaign Number: 15N01 could not be completed due to the vehicle's mileage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Mercury Grand marquis 2003
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-02
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-03
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 2MEFM75W33X
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: Head lights suddenly went out while driving at night causing near accident, happening frequently. Also, the gas tank leaks when I put gas in car, making it smell badly and making it dangerous if someone drops a cigarette near it.
Mercury Mariner 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-20
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-03
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 4M2CU97G59K
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated while driving 30-35 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle after 15-20 minutes, and the power steering became functional. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving. The dealer was contacted and charged a fee for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.
Mercury Grand marquis 2003
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-29
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-29
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 2MEFM75W53X
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the headlights were inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the lighting control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-26
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3MEHM0HA6AR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Mercury Milan. The contact stated that the power steering assist became inoperable. The driver was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that the steering wheel had seized. The vehicle was restarted, and the steering wheel operated as designed. The power steering assist fault and service power steering soon messages were displayed. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the Ford Warranty Department for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
Mercury Milan hybrid 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-26
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3MEHM0HA6AR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Mercury Milan. The contact stated that the power steering assist became inoperable. The driver was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that the steering wheel had seized. The vehicle was restarted, and the steering wheel operated as designed. The power steering assist fault and service power steering soon messages were displayed. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the Ford Warranty Department for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
Latest 5 Mercury recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 592 recalls involving various Mercury models.You can learn more about the model you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Mercury Milan 2006
- Report Received Date: 2021-03-10
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- Model: Mercury Milan 2011
- Report Received Date: 2021-03-10
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- Model: Mercury Milan 2007
- Report Received Date: 2021-03-10
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- Model: Mercury Milan 2009
- Report Received Date: 2021-03-10
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- Model: Mercury Milan 2010
- Report Received Date: 2021-03-10
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
Are you having problems with your Mercury?