2005 Mercury Mariner Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2005 Mariner most often describe stalling or loss of power when coming to a stop or off an exit ramp, frequently accompanied by an illuminated overdrive or anti-theft light, and many reports center on the automatic transmission and its torque converter. Electrical gremlins are the other recurring theme, notably the alarm sounding on its own, door-ajar warnings, and intermittent warning lights. Complaints span a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well past 150,000, with several drivability concerns appearing in cool or cold weather.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Stalling or loss of power when stopping or slowing

   • 18 complaints (27%)
   • median 80,291 mi at 8.6 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2019

   Complaints describe the vehicle shutting off or losing power as it comes to a stop, often after highway driving or at an exit ramp, with the engine sometimes refusing to re-engage in drive or reverse. Several owners mention the overdrive light blinking or all dash lights illuminating at the moment of the stall. According to the complaints, dealers replaced the torque converter or transmission in some cases, while in others they were unable to reproduce the failure. Spread across the sample from about 18,000 to 160,000 miles, often after sustained highway driving.

   Recall 15V6060002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission or torque converter has been replaced or serviced, and whether the CD4E-related recall work was completed. During a test drive, note any hesitation or stalling when slowing to a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down the interstate for about 50 miles and exited at an off ramp. At the end of the ramp, my 2005 Mercury Mariner stalled causing loss of control.. My Mariner would crank, but would stall once engaged into forward gear. I was able to keep the vehicle from stalling by idling at high rate in neutral only. My vehicle stalls once placed into gear and coming to a stop at periodic times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10361317, filed 2010-10, 95,455 miles

   “I recently purchased a 2005 Mercury Mariner. Just after making my first payment, I was going down the interstate in it and it jerked like something had broken. It never lost power. Never had any gauges come on or anything. I drove it to the closest store and had it towed home and then to the ford dealership in my town. They call me 2 days later and say I need a new motor $6500. That's more than the vehicle is worth. I ask how was that when no gauges came on. His response was it's internal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10864352, filed 2016-05, 136,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Alarm sounding on its own and door-ajar warnings

   • 6 complaints (9%)
   • median 80,500 mi at 8.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2016

   Owners describe the theft alarm triggering repeatedly with no one near the car, sometimes cycling through the night and draining the battery. Related reports mention door-ajar messages flashing on the dashboard while driving, interior and exterior lights flashing, and radio volume changing unexpectedly. Some owners report the dealer replaced parts or updated software without resolving the problem. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 90,000 miles, though also reported at higher mileage.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the alarm arms and disarms normally and that no door-ajar message appears with all doors closed. Ask whether any door latch, wiring, or alarm module work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car is parked in my office parking lot. The car alarm goes off. I can see out the window there is no one around the car. I use the remote to turn it off. Happens intermittently, a few times a day. I even took the keys out of my pocket and just have them sitting on my desk...it still happens....update 9/15/15 updated 12/13/2017”

   NHTSA complaint #10744547, filed 2015-07, 90,000 miles

   “My 2005 Mercury Mariner premier has a problem when driving that the left and right door shows they are ajar. And it cycles back and forth across the dash board, you hear a beep then the message is displayed on the dashboard . When the car is parked and locked the alarm goes off between five and 10 times a night draining the battery. This has started about a year and half ago. I took my car into a ford dealership on september 27,20016 to be repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10916250, filed 2016-10, 70,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Accelerator pedal sticking or slow to respond

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • median 58,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2021

   Complaints describe the gas pedal feeling hard to press or sticking, sometimes in the released position so the vehicle will only idle, and sometimes sticking while driving so the car keeps accelerating. Several owners note the problem first appears in cold weather and eases once the vehicle warms up. Owners report dealers were often unable to reproduce or resolve the concern. Most often noted in cold weather, reported from roughly 55,000 to 140,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Press the accelerator through its full travel with the engine off and check that it returns freely. Ask whether the throttle body or pedal assembly has been cleaned or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2005 Mercury Mariner, purchased new. When it gets cold the gas pedal sticks, I push down and there is no response for a few times. This almost caused me to be rear ended this morning had I not put on the hazard lights. Once it warms up it is fine. This has been going on since I bought the car brand new in 2005. This has happened over 50 times and is starting to scare the heck out of me.”

   NHTSA complaint #10246726, filed 2008-10, 55,000 miles

   “The problem is with the gas pedal, its hard to press/accelerate and sometimes when I press/accelerate from a stop and at speeds of 30 MPH, it gets stuck and I have to put it in neutral. Very dangerous situation.”

   NHTSA complaint #10475934, filed 2012-09, 58,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and airbags not deploying

   • 8 complaints (12%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2019

   Several owners report the airbag warning light coming on intermittently or staying lit, and one report describes the airbag covers lifting with the light illuminated. Other complaints describe collisions and a rollover in which the airbags did not deploy. Complaints note the passenger airbag light coming on intermittently while driving. Reported from roughly 25,000 to about 40,000 miles in the sample, and also in vehicles with higher mileage.

   Recall 06V1110001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light comes on with the ignition and goes out after the self-test. Ask whether the passenger seat occupant sensor or airbag system has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 2005 Mercury Mariner 7/24/2006at anaheim lincoln Mercury and they were shut down. I have gone to many fords & they will not help me cause the they don't have start date of warranty. I only have 17,0000 miles on this car and my air bag light goes on & off. Also my tires have serious problem I had to buy 2 myself the first 2000 miles the tire r wearing so bad now once again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10184024, filed 2007-03, 2,000 miles

   “My 2005 Mercury Mariner was in a serious collision with a deer on the driver's side. Over $5000 of damage was done to the vehicle. The side curtain air bags did not deploy in the collision. I was traveling at 55 MPH and the deer's running speed caused a violent impact. The deer made direct contact with my head, neck, and shoulder, and the absence of the protection of the airbag allowed the glass to be driven directly into my body by the force of the contact. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10146551, filed 2005-12, 20,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Rear liftgate window shattering

   • 6 complaints (9%)
   • median 44,800 mi at 3.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2006–2015

   Owners describe the rear window on the liftgate suddenly cracking or exploding outward with a loud bang, sometimes while the vehicle is parked and sometimes while driving at low speed. In several reports the glass broke with no impact, and weather or temperature change was suggested as a possible factor. Complaints indicate some owners were left to arrange replacement themselves. Mostly reported between about 7,000 and 85,000 miles, in a range of weather conditions.

   What to check: Inspect the rear glass and its mounting for cracks, chips, or prior replacement, and ask whether the liftgate glass has ever broken.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was stopped in a highway turn lane, waiting for traffic to pass in order to make a left turn, when heard a loud noise and the rear window on the lift gate suddenly shattered and exploded outward from the back of the vehicle, with most of the glass ending up on the roadway. This occurred in the early afternoon on a warm but not hot day (temps where probably in the low 80s).”

   NHTSA complaint #10730205, filed 2015-06, 85,411 miles

   “The rear window and door were closed, I pulled into the garage, stopped, heard a cracking noise, started to back up a few inches, then the rear window blew outward covering the driveway in glass.”

   NHTSA complaint #10174123, filed 2006-11, 7,300 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on transmission behavior, the alarm and door-latch electrics, and the airbag warning light is worthwhile on this model year, since those are the symptoms owners report most. Confirm whether recall and service-bulletin work has actually been performed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.