When the weather is hot (close to 100 degrees or more) and I am driving with the a/c - my vehicle on 3 occasions will not start after parking the vehicle and trying to restart it. The red padlock sign blinks and it won't start. At first it is trying to turnover but then will continually sound worse and all other warning lights go haywire. I leave the car alone for half a day and it starts up again like nothing happened. On the fourth occasion, the car stopped while driving, just a quiet shutdown and the car glided. This time it did not work for over 24 hours and then started up again like nothing happened. Multiple mechanics and also the dealership cannot figure out the problem because by the time i have it towed to shop, it works again. They did a full check on the car and cannot find anything wrong and there were no diagnostic codes. This issue happens when the weather is hot and poses a safety concern as now it is shutting off while driving and I become stranded each time. (First incident happened 8/25/18, last incident 5/14/22) Total of 4.
Mercury Mariner won't start problems
14 of the 1,296 owner complaints about the Mercury Mariner describe won't start, most of them for the 2008 model year.
- owner complaints
- 14
- worst model year
- 2008
- typical mileage
- 78,000
By model year
- 20102
- 20093
- 20087
- 20071
- 20061
Often reported together
Stalling 4Transmission failure 1Power steering loss 1Jerking 1
What owners say
The steering gear lost electric power and won't start.
After receiving ford's recall notice 16s41/16v‑777 (fuel delivery module potential leak), my husband & I took our 2010 mercury mariner to lebanon ford to perform recall "repair". We were not having an issue with the mariner, but we were following ford's instructions (via their mailed recall notice to us) to have the recall done. Now, our mariner is messed up! It now won't start without a delayed crank (we have video recordings of how long it now takes for our mariner to start!) & sometimes while driving, the mariner jerks (both problems seem to be as though the car is not getting fuel). We made a 2nd trip to lebanon ford after informing them of the issue they created, but they did not fix the delayed crank issue or the car jerking issue! Lebanon ford service is stating they can only perform the recall repair "according to ford's guidelines". My husband asked lebanon ford if the old parts could be put back on, but lebanon ford said they had to send back the old parts to the manufacturer. So, now our once nice mariner has significant issues because we had a recall "repair" done! We regret having the recall addressed! Prior to the recall "repair", we had a nice mariner with under 60k miles. Now, we have a mariner with problems due to recall. It's not a repair! It's damage! Further, they're not offering us any fix to the damage ford did to our car.
Mercury mariner recall, I purchased a 2008 mercury mariner on 9/27/14. On 12/19/14 at night while on highway the wrench warning light came on and the car decreased speed and I almost got hit by the car from the rear, pulled in emergency line and had SUV towed. Required a transmission on 12/26/16 for $1475. On 1/14/16 while on highway during exiting on exit the steering wheel became difficult to turn , hit the guard rail there where not warning light to indicate that the steering had a problem, had the SUV towed to shop and repaired steering shift torque senor for $428.00. On 1/10/17 after grocery shopping the SUV would not start, called cab to take me home with groceries, returned to have SUV towed to shop repair the ignition starter switch for $176.00. On 9/21/17 when leaving for work, the key would not turned, towed to shop and required lock cylinder housing $434.00. I would like ford to reimbursement for all the repairs and towing cost. Vin [xxx], not on recall list yet and these repairs are related to recalls for my 2008 mercury mariner. I am upside down still owe $7100. For balance. Was unable to make scheduled payments when repair where required, effected my credit score. At the present time the torque converter in not working on the transmission and my car is disable. I would like ford to replace the transmission at no cost to me. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Manufacturer's faulty ignition lock module wears out prematurely and vehicle often doesn't start. Caused consistent but intermittent problem for last 3 years. Research shows this is a common problem on 2008-2012 mariners, ford escapes and 2008-2011 ford focus, which all use the same ignition lock.
My son was using our car he drove it to work... All was fine...he used the car to go get lunch in the shopping center... Drove back from the shopping center to a parking spot outside his job location... He then completed his shift at dick's sporting goods where my wife and I met up with him...we all proceeded to our car and truck which were parked across from one another...my wife and son got in the mercury I got in my truck... My son tried to start the mercury but it would not turn over...my wife tried still would not turn over ... Checked the battery all was good so I thought maybe the starter? Had it towed , and a starter replaced? Still nothing ... My mechanic said it was the motor ? And I would need a new motor !!! So I looked on line and found something about a class action lawsuit involving mercury mariner 2005 to 2008 mine is a 2007 ? Called them but the said I have to contact ford motor company my self ???? So that is what LED me to you!!! Can you help?
Key ignition doesn't work. Car won't start without jiggling key.
Problem started in december 2015, and got progressively worse. Engine would not start when ignition switch was turned to the start position. Had to make several attempts at it, and apply downward force on the key until the necessary contact was made. Once started it seemed to run normal. Ford dealer diagnosed the problem as a defective "ignition lock cylinder housing". They replaced it with a new one, part number 9l8z*3511*a. Engine starts normally now. Total cost to me $527.74.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mercury mariner. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the power steering assist fault warning light illuminated. The contact mentioned that the vehicle did not start experiencing issues until after it was repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to dealer. The technician diagnosed that the torque steering sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but refused to provide any assistance since the vehicle was previously repaired under a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 185,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 mercury mariner. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH the oil and battery warning indicators illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle restarted but the failure recurred on 2 other occasions. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Also, the contact stated that the vehicle would not start after the anti theft device warning indicator intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to have the vehicle towed to the dealer to have the computer reprogrammed. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000. Updated 4/21/15
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Mercury Mariner won't start
Which Mercury Mariner years have won't start problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2008 (7 complaints), 2009 (3 complaints) and 2010 (2 complaints).
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