MotorDeets

2006 Mercury Mariner: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2006 Mercury Mariner: 3 recalls, 63 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.

3vehicle recalls
63owner complaints
5mention a crash
21best combined mpg
2006 Mercury Mariner
Photo: Bull-Doser · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #05V520000 · 2005 · 199,942 vehicles

What's wrong: On certain trucks, passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, the windshield wiper motor May have been produced without grease being applied to the output shaft gear.

Why it matters: After a period of continuous use on the high speed setting, lack of grease on the output shaft gear May cause the gear to distort or fracture during operation resulting in a loss of wiper function. Inoperative wipers under inclement weather conditions could cause a crash due to impaired visibility.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the wiper motor for the presence of grease and grease the wiper motor gears if necessary. The recall began on November 22, 2005.

Hybrid system Vehicle recall #14V526000 · 2014 · 70,209 vehicles

What's wrong: The coolant pump for the hybrid system May fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.

Why it matters: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it May shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original motor electronics coolant (mec) pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014.

Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #15V606000 · 2015 · 57 vehicles

What's wrong: The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3l or 3.0l engine and have had their cd4e transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that May not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Why it matters: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver May be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position May not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the…

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015.

1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Suspension Equipment recall #15E045000 · 2015 · 576 vehicles

What's wrong: The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.

Why it matters: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015.

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 4 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Speed control / throttle13
Transmission & drivetrain11
Steering9
Suspension8
Engine8
Other / unknown5
Body & structure5
Brakes4

What owners describe

The 2006 Mercury Mariner has 63 owner complaints, ranking #6 of 11 Mariner model years for complaints (well below the 118 average). Complaints peaked in 2014 (9 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 82,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2005 (67 complaints, 2 recalls), 2007 (33 complaints, 2 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
2.3 L 4-cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive202321Regular
3.0 L 6-cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive182320Regular
2.3 L 4-cylAutomatic 4-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive182220Regular
3.0 L 6-cylAutomatic 4-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive172119Regular

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2006 Mercury Mariner.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
Check 2006 Mercury Mariner manual
Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
Check 2006 Mercury Mariner manual
ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
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Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 2006 Mercury Mariner manual

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FAQ

Does the 2006 Mercury Mariner have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2006 Mercury Mariner, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2006 Mercury Mariner problems?

Owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are speed control / throttle (13), transmission & drivetrain (11), steering (9).

What gas mileage does the 2006 Mercury Mariner get?

EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (2.3 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 2006 Mercury Mariner repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other Mariner years

20012002200320042005200620072008200920102011