Used 2009 Mercury Mariner Consumer Reviews
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Transmission problems
We bought this car in august 2009. We have taken it to the dealer in 3 different occasions for transmission problems. The first time they said they had to reprogram the computer. The second time they said they had a recall and they had to reprogram the computer again. This week we took it in again and they said they can fix the problem since they cannot reproduce the problem while testing it. This is the worst car we ever owned. The rpm jump to 6000 in the highway, the car basically stops working and you have to get out of the highway to avoid an accident. This happens randomly. Once you stop and restart the car it runs without problems. This dealer has not help us in solving the problem.
Transmission. Seems to be the common denominator
Our car has been garage kept, low mileage, driven smoothly. Transmission has been a nightmare. Has been to the dealership 8 times for exact same transmission issue without long term repair. They simply reset the computer. So it's obviously a software problem. They deny there is a recall or even a service bulletin regarding same, even though I have found proof otherwise. Now that it's out of warranty, they want to charge $175.00 each time they "reprogram " the computer. As it turns out, a FORMER service tech explained that this involves disconnecting the battery for 30 mins. That's it! Our dealer will not stand by any one these so called 'repairs', and that's the real issue. No real repair, no long term fix, no support or warranty on service. Next vehicle model will be more thoroughly researched with long history of good service ratings, likely a Subaru. UPDATE: 8-16 car remains in our possession, but sadly we can't trust it for longer trips, so it stays in the garage.
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- Premier 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,5009 mi away
- Premier 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,99937 mi away
- Premier 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,995199 mi away
Mariner Premier V6 FWD VOGA Edition
New engine and transmission deliver smooth performance with more than adequate power. White suede paint looks good. The black and cashmere interior is very sharp, and the stylish look has garnered many positive comments particularly from women. Controls and displays are well laid out and easy to use / monitor without diverting attention from the road. Getting almost 20 MPG in 65% city / 35% freeway driving in the Austin heat with the AC on. Steering gives the car a very light feel but is accurate. AC very powerful for front passengers on hot days even set at 78 degrees with fan on a low setting. Very little sun glare on dashboard or center displays.
I love my car! She has a name..Bessie or Dragonfly
I've had this car since 2009 when it made me buy it from across the parking lot while at a restaurant! This car has held up to hauling artwork, art supplies, camping gear, hauling college student things, dogs, building materials, oh and many people too! It is durable and has outlasted many other friends' vehicles by far. Low maintenance car and has dealt w/ many unusual weather issues w/ ease. The back seats fold down to give you space for whatever you need to haul and is split/flexible too for those times when you need three seats and hauling things. Whenever she goes in for a trade, it would be a great first car for anyone. Just went on a major road adventure for family wedding out of state. Had to haul medical items for my father this time and it included a walker, wheelchair, their luggage, mine/daughters, bags up the wazoo let alone the coat bags/robe for the wedding (dad's a minister). It was packed but the storage again in the back was amazing yet was able to see fine to drive and everyone in comfort. As we arrived, we went through a torrential downpour and heavy traffic in a metro area, the car handled like a pro and kept us safe when others were hydroplaning. Thankful for this car.
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Great SUV
Despite Edmunds concern about rear brakes, never had problems with them. Car got regular maintenance at dealer. Dealer service great, whether Mercury or when Mercury went away, Ford. Folding rear seats may have been a pain, but no worse than any van I ever owned. Sync electronics in 2009 far superior to electronics in later models(such as an Escape). Hands-free phone better than equivalent in 2011 Toyota Avalon. Won't allow distracting operation such as texting, directory look up when vehicle moving in excess of 3mph.
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Many problems...
I was excited when I bought this car. Unfortunately, it has proven to be dangerously unreliable. 1. Tire pressure warning kept going off for no reason. 2. GPS lost signal and also couldn't find its way to Oakland airport. 3. Transmission started jerking and failing. We reported the transmission problem and brought the car in to the dealer. They told us there was apparently no problem even though AAA was called at one point because the car wouldn't start. When put into Neutral, it started. This morning I had to run out to the highway and pick up my wife because the transmission was making weird noises and the car was lurching forward. Total transmission failure.
From Lexus to Merc
I wanted all wheel drive in a comfortable smaller SUV. I had a lexus sedan and wanted to go American. My wife leased a Mariner recently and is in love with it. I rather liked it more than I thought I would, and found few vehicles that were as functional, comfortable, and well priced as the Merc. Also the 0% financing was a strong motivator. Its surprisingly good, and I don't miss the Japanese competitors. I am hoping to say that in years to come. Go Ford.
Where does the Gas Go??
I just purchased my '09 coming out of a '07 Mariner. Both trucks are night and day. I have a fully loaded Mariner ,some days I do not want to stop driving. Only issue is fuel economy. I am getting close to 270 miles per tank and that is with 75% hwy driving. I am hoping this is the break in period and will improve. This is the best bang for your buck in SUV class. Kudos to Ford for making such drastic improvements and driver friendly features. Oh did I mention the Sync package with Nav, oh it is one of the best I have seen. It does things my friends Lexus wishes it could!
Bad Transmission
Bought brand new this March. Noticed a little slip or gear miss when the car would shift into 2nd gear. Took to dealer and had a solenoid replaced in October. This took 7 days to repair. Two weeks later all noticed it was slipping now in all six gears. Took car back yesterday and found out that they now need need to replace the transmission because the piece they need to replace is not sold individually.Now they have it and will take another week to get the transmission in and who knows how long that will take. GOD love Ford transmissions. They should stop making those new 6 speed transmission.
Warranty
Be aware that the Ford warranty states that if your vehicle must be kept overnight, they owe you NOTHING. No loaner, no rental, no reimbursement. NOTHING. My eight month old Mariner began losing transmission fluid at 8800 miles. I took in in to the dealer and a WEEK later they tell me that they are waiting for a replacement axle. This is a recurring problem for the Ford and Merc Escape/Mariner which is leading to a shortage of parts. Service Manager told me he has two vehicles waiting for that axle. This is the last Ford product for me.
Love it, and so does my wife!
I did a lot of research including Edmunds before buying. Was looking for the hybrid, but decided on the 4 cyl. premier version. The price difference will never be made up in gas cost. Ride is excellent, quality great, and I like the new low roll resistant Michelin tires this year. And I got a good deal in addition to the $1500 rebate. Great comfortable replacement for our Town and Country with plenty of storage space, and the back seats fold absolutely flat. Great for the dog! Buy this car and you will not be sorry.
Fun Driver, Sync is great, reliability?
Fun vehicle to drive, great gas mileage gets 27.9 mpg highway on trips. 4 cylinder runs rough at idle due apparently to trying to maximize fuel mileage, the hood even shakes. Also had computer controlling the transmission break causing the car to downshift 2 gears on the highway, scary. Brought it to the dealer and was fixed the same day, had to reset the computer.(Dealer says it's a common problem with '09's) The car now has 6,000 miles on it and I truly enjoy it but be careful. At high speeds the vehicle feels like it is going to tip over.
Great SUV
Overall this is a great SUV. We test drove almost every small SUV on the market including RAV, CRV, Vue, Rogue, Outlook, etc. We liked how this one looked and handled the best. Smooth, quiet and one of the best set of features available in its class. Excellent safety ratings and very good gas mileage for its class as well. Have had for 1 month and am very pleased.
Transmission Issues
I bought this car and within 2 days it was back at the dealership. Brand new transmission. Still having issues. Lady in my yoga class having same exact issues with same exact car! This is not just one-off problem, seems to be a major concern with all the same make & model. Service techs at dealership act like this is my problem -- told me hesitation/delay on new cars is "normal". I have a 5-7 second delay with this car after pressing the gas -- car is lurching, zooming, hesitating, stalling. Almost had a few accidents. Not worth the $$$/aggravation. If it was NOT for this issue, this car would be a "winner".
Great American Vehicle
My wife and I purchased a 2009 mercury mariner v6 voga this august. It rides great, has great performance, and is an all around good vehicle. It may not be as refined as some of the newer platforms on the market, but it gets the job done. We looked at toyota, honda, and other manufactures, but decided to buy american and haven't regretted it. The distance to empty display is great, as well as the sound system. The ride is SUV like, and it is great in the snow.(16" of unplowed snow and didn't get stuck)
Nice Looking Car; lacks comfortable driving
This car is really built nicely and it looks pretty but the drive is very forgettable. Cannot get Sync to work... will be trading in for something else.
Continuous transmission issues...company refuses to fix.
My mom has a 2009 Chrysler Mariner and from the beginning it has had transmission issues. Shifting rough, jerking into gear and lagging between gears then rough shift. They have have had it in the Chrysler shop at least 8 times and it has never been fixed. Even with it obviously not shifting right they would tell us that they could find nothing wrong. When we are able to get a diagnosis, it will be fixed for a week and then it's back to mal-functioning. Now they are completely refusing to pay for any further repairs. This car is not worth the money simply because the company does not believe in fixing issues and it has been in the shop so much that it is difficult on day to day life.
Drive a lot before buying
This is my fourth Ford/Mercury I have owned and also the worst. The gas mileage is fine and was the reason I downsized from an Explorer. But the noise level inside this car is awful. My 10 year old Explorer was a quieter ride than this vehicle. The roads I tested it on near the dealership must have been very smooth. I will never buy another car without going over all types of roads, including bad ones. Please turn every knob to maximum level before buying. Turning heat/AC to anything above the lowest level is very noisy. The dealership says it is normal tire noise when I complain about the noise inside the vehicle. The radio has to be turned up loud to hear over the outside noise.
Bad transmission(s)
Overall, the worst car we've ever owned. With 26,000 miles, it's already on the second transmission, and this one is not right. It's been in the shop more than 60 days so far this year. My wife is scared to drive it, as it's sometimes in the wrong gear at the worst possible time (other transmission issues too). There are others online (and in person) with transmission issues also. As nice as the other features are, none of them make up for this aweful experience. My suggestion is to wait a year for Ford to figure out the transmission before taking the plunge on this car.
Great Ride
I just traded in my 2004 Rendezvous for a new 2009 Mariner Premier. It took the dealer a couple of days to find the color and options I wanted but it was worth the wait. I got the Premier version to get the color and options I wanted at a lower price. This is a Great Ride, Tunes and Style, it is not boaty like the Buick but has a very smooth ride. I love the USB port where I have ALL my 12Gb of music availabe via SYNC. Went for a ride through the mountains this pas weekend and got 22.8 MPG with under 500 miles on it, this is absolutly the best and exceeded my expectations. SYNC - you will need to speak clearly and break up your phrase into single words and it works great!
One Month and Going Strong
One month of driving...for what's its worth. I drive a Lincoln...the Mercury is for my wife. The Mercury cabin is quiet on the highway. For an SUV, the ride is incredibly soft, yet possessing none of the roll for a soft, high-sight vehicle. The interior finish is quality, with lines, not gaps. The GPS and all readouts easily show up in reflective sun (something important to me). The vehicle accelerates quickly, possessing power to pass on a hill. The exterior exudes an affluent demeanor. Regarding the platform, I found the expert reviews humorous, as some considered the proven platform old and in need of an upgrade. Give me a proven mature platform over a young, flashy platform any day!
I got more than I had expected.
Took her on a 3000 mile vacation. MPG exceeded the sticker--plenty of room-- and best of all, My wife (who has arthritis) was comfortable the whole time. Nice interior, a little noisy on start up, but a great overall experience. I wanted to buy a non- bankrupt American car (I own two BMW's). Ford is going to score on this type of performance.
Wife Happy...I'm Happy
I searched and drove vehicles for 14 months. No rush here. Ford stepped up on this one. Fit and finish is great. Same platform as the Ford Escape, just a step up on style. This Mercury Premier, AWD, possesses the options I wanted. Fully loaded. Ride is smooth, pickup surprises my wife continually, AC keeps you cool no matter the outside temp, SNYC works great, GPS/SIRIUS display situated on the console perfect, and our remaining two children have plenty of room on the back seats. My wife calls it the perfect Chic' SUV. I ordered the wheel/tire upgrade...recommend you do the same because that option caps off the look. The vehicle rides quiet < 75 m/hr and takes road bumps unusually smooth.
It's a looker!!!
In May I purchased my first Mariner and I have to say I love driving it! I read the Editor's Review on this vehicle before buying and I'm happy that I was able to overlook the rather negative review. It's interesting to me that so many people continue to check out my vehicle especially when some of them are driving BMW and Lexus. Not bad for a vehicle with a "nine-year-old platform". The Mariner is very easy to handle and has all the features that I was looking for. My 12 yr old daughter and her friends love riding in it at night for the ambient lighting. My only negative would be the silver coating around the radio controls, gear shift and door handles. It may be hard to keep looking nice.
Great Little SUV
I just bought a used 09 Mariner I4. I had a V8 07 Ford Explorer. I actually like the Mariner better. The Explorer was smooth and quiet, but still felt a little sluggish, even with the v8. The Mariner handles better and is more fun to drive. The 4 cyl is buzzy on acceleration and at times at stoplights. Cruising at highway speeds it is quiet and smooth and plenty powerful, even with four of us and luggage.
Accident Review
I have had my Mariner for a year and a half and had my first accident in my life. I am waiting to find out if it was totaled, but hope it is not. I was able to walk away from an accident that totaled the other vehicle. All of the airbags went off, and I feel very lucky. I love my car and have truly enjoyed driving it! Gas mileage is good, the dealer was/is great and I wouldn't think of buying anything else! If there is one thing that is truly important, it is the safety of myself and family.
Love our new Mariner!
My wife and I just purchased an off lease 2009 Mariner Premier with V6 and everything except navigation. So far, we are thrilled with the car. It replaces a Honda Civic that was totaled. We have a baby coming in 4 months, and we were shopping Mariners anyway for more space. What you get for the price, in a manageable size, in such a nice looking vehicle really sealed the deal for us. Some of the "newer" designs were more expensive and did not offer as many features. We feel we got a very nice vehicle with lots of options in a nice package that we'll still have a very reasonable car payment and actually be able to put some cash away in the baby's college fund!
Premier V6 AWD
I was going to purchase a 2008 and learned that SYNC was available for 2009 along with a 6-speed transmission. I have previously test driven a 2008 and my 2009 is so much smoother and quieter. The steering is also much better. I have all the bells and whistles(moon roof, heated seats, dual air, navigation system, SYNC) and love my Mariner.
Leaking Fuel System
Ford Motor Co. doesn't tell you in the owner's manual nor are dealerships aware that the "new" cap less fuel system that Ford has been installing on nearly all its vehicles for the past two years leaks when you top off the gas tank, as confirmed by my dealership in both 2009 and 2010 models. Ford will not make any repairs for this and tells the customer not to top off the gas tank.
Major Transmission Problems
I bought my 2009 Mariner Premier V6 AWD last April. It was running perfectly--gorgeous looking car. 4 weeks ago the transmission was having "issues" brang it back to the dealership and they told me that the transmission has to basically be rebuilt. An issue that they are becoming aware of in the 2009 Mariner. They fixed the trans. Today I had to take it back in because the warning light for the powertrain fault came on. It took them 3 hours to tell me that the issue is a computer issue related to the transmission. They have to take the trans out to figure out why the "fix" didn't work, if they can't figure it out, they need to replace the trans! A 1 year old car shouldnt have trans problems!
LOVE IT!!!
I bought my car used a month ago and I love it!!! My only complaint is a few cosmetics scratches that were on it when I purchased the vehicle.
Mercury Mariner
Good clean car. Navigation system and fully loaded.
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Very Safe Ride.
I just got my 2009 Mariner early Oct. 2008. On Oct.17 2008 I was taking my boys over to their friends going 40 MPH on a main street when a car ran a stop sign. Never seeing the other car I plowed right into it. Both front airbags deployed. Myself my oldest age 11 and my youngest age 5 all walked away from the wreck with a couple of bruises. My youngest was also in his booster seat which is a must for anyone of his age. I am very great full on how safe they made this vehicle. I can not wait until I get my new one and I will be getting another Mariner.
Awesome SUV! Sync is great!
I love the 2009 Mariner. The Sync system is great, along with the leather heated seats, and the black on black colors. The handling is great, has lots of power on the new 240HP V6 engine, along with great fuel economy. I recommend everyone to go for the V6 engine instead of the I4. Has more horsepower and isn't much less of a fuel difference.
Happy so Far
I never expected to buy a Ford product, haven't owned one in over 25 years. I fully expected to by a CRV, RAV4, or Saturn Vue, only reluctantly looked at Ford/Mercury. Ended up with the Mariner because it was the best combination of styling, comfort, power, and features. The Saturn was my favorite styling but the seating was not comfortable - just too much smaller than the competition. The CRV had bland styling and no bluetooth or any cool features. The RAV4 had roomiest seating but cheap looking interior and the spare on the door was a minus, plus bluetooth only on fully loaded vehicles. Like the Mariner styling; like front grille & rear tailights better than on Ford Escape.
Lovin' my ride
I was a confirmed hater of driving until I bought my new Mariner. I would have gone with an Escape, but the ice blue interior lighting hooked me. (Went with the 4 rather than the 6 to stay within budget). There's a tad less pickup with the 4, but I've merged onto I-95 and reached 60mph with ease. Once in a clutch situation, I had to brake suddenly and hard - there was no fishtailing nor did the brakes lock. Nice. My SO pointed out the three color interior styling on the dash - they're all neutral tones, very classy. Got my exterior color - Ice Blue - and I am one happy motoring sistah. Icing on the cake - chosen as a recommended vehicle by Consumer Reports.
A "WoW" ed
Once a Mercury owner, always will stay one I guess. I loved my Mariner since I first got into one. My GF have a CRV and I was never impressed with it, looks too boring. On the other hand, the Mariner just shouted out the word "FUN"! Great size! It is so roomy inside for a compact SUV! Head-room, knee-room is awesome and so is the storage. Hugs the corner nice, easy to steer with a very easy "U-turns". Rides very easy from the country roads to the highway. Carry the bumps lightly without any "clunks" than compared to a "heavier" truck-like SUV. Love the center of gravity feel, a way more stable feel than a Discovery. It does not feel "tipsy" at all on a curve. Great car again!
Loving It
I've really enjoyed driving my new Mariner. 100 miles every day on farm to market roads in southern Texas. Averaging 24 MPH and no problems so far except for a small squeak in the center dash when driving over a different type of payment. Enjoy the Bluetooth and Sync. Comfortable seating - that surprised me for a compact SUV. I'd recommend it to another single person or a family with small kids.
From Suburban to Mariner
We have always had suburbans and decided to go small for insurance and economy. Wanted to go with hybrid, but replacement battery is $8000 and initial car price too high. Really good car. 4 cylinder is OK but look at the gas mileage. Seats are too short for thigh, but heated leather is good. Wish Ford would make 6 way power for all. Averaging 24 mpg in city 28 on highway. No maintenance issues so far and we have 8000 miles on car. We have been to beach and mountains no issue. Have not noticed that car is particularly noisy or that fans are noisy. Have had two or three "clunks" when shifting. Decided I need to come to complete stop before shifting. We would buy again.
Mileage/Sync
I have driven this vehicle for 2 months and I am very happy with the MPG. I am getting 25 mpg in the city and got 29.5 on my one highway trip. These figures exceed the numbers on the window sticker. Those who worry about performance, you need not. For a four cylinder it is snappy. I think the 6 speed transmission helps .
Mom's Car
We have about 1200 miles on this car. About 23 mpg. The 6 speed auto took a little getting used to. 240 hp definitely makes this Merc fly.
Much better than the Honda CRV
I purchased a 2009 Honda CRV earlier this year. It had to be the most uncomfortable car I purchased and it was very disappointing. Honda missed the mark on that car. After 8 months and 12,500 miles, I had enough of it and I started looking for a car to replace it. The Mariner was the 3rd car I drove and I was sold. The dealer let me take the car for the morning and I racked up 90+ miles on the test drive. Excellent car, very comfortable, etc. The comfort is what sold me. The bluetooth and ipod ports are nice, I now need a new phone and speech recognizable player to match the features of the car. If you are looking at a CRV, you need to look at this car.
2009 Mercury Mariner
Within the first 6000 miles the transmission began to "clunk". I took it to the Dealership and was told it was a "characteristic" of the transmission. It is loud and it sometimes takes a second to "engage" and then the "clunk". I am not happy about this. The material on the drivers seat is loose and "puckered up" where I sit. I weigh 120 lbs and I am the only driver. Looks terrible! Sync is a great feature for phones but it is not compatible with my cell phone! Forget trying to figure out the Media! Even the dealersip didn't have a clue. I buy a new car every 2 years and this is the first American Car I have purchased new, wont do that again.
Disappointed
I test drove a 6 cylinder and bought a 4, took it on a trip and every stop the suv has a vibration , returned it to the dealer to get repaired, they named the issue and could not repair thid brand new vehicle …. Alot of sensor issues , tires, dash, throttle, currently the frame in sunroof rusted and it clogged the drain, took it to a Ford dealer explaining the leak when it was first noticed years ago , service guy said it very hard to find leaks, , he never looked at the sunroof? never buying a Fort product again
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