First introduced in 2005, the Mercury Mariner was a compact crossover SUV. As an upmarket sibling for the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute, the vehicle saw consistent sales until it was discontinued in 2010. Today, we’re going to take a trip back in time to discover the history of the Mercury Mariner and look at how you can replace the cylinder heads on your current vehicle to extend its life.
History of the Mercury Mariner
The Mercury Mariner was introduced to the SUV market in 2005. This vehicle is considered to be a more upscale option when compared to its sibling vehicles of the Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape. Within the Mercury fleet of vehicles, it was the company’s first car-based SUV and is positioned below the Mountaineer in the options offered by the company. The production of the vehicle ended when Ford discontinued their Mercury brand.
North America Sales History for the Mercury Mariner
The Mercury Mariner showed very consistent sales year after year. As you can see below, the sales didn’t particularly grow or drop during the years it was on the market.
2004 – 7,171
2005 – 34,099
2006 – 33,941
2007 – 34,844
2008 – 32,306
2009 – 28,688
2010 – 29,912
Production of the Mercury Mariner stopped in October 2010, so from then on, the only option was to purchase the vehicle on the used vehicle market or work to extend the life of your current vehicle.
What are the Engine Specs for a Mercury Mariner? What Kind of Engine is in a Mercury Mariner?
The Mercury Mariner comes as standard with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine offering drivers 171 horsepower. If you were looking to upgrade the vehicle, there was the option of an upgrade to a 3.0-liter V6, which boosts the vehicle to offer 240 horsepower.
Why was the Mercury Mariner Discontinued?
The last Mercury Mariner was built on October 5, 2010. The reason for the end of production of this vehicle was that Ford stopped using their Mercury brand due to a lack of sales across the vehicles in the brand.
Is the Mercury Mariner Essentially the Same Vehicle as the Ford Escape?
The Mercury Mariner and Ford Escape both offer the same base engine power. Some people consider the Ford Escape to be superior due to the specifications and ratings of the vehicle, but the Mercury Mariner has an increased volume in the interior of the vehicle. The Mercury Mariner offers some upscale upgrades as well compared to the Ford Escape, which is why it was a popular option with SUV drivers during its production.
Driver Reviews Mercury Mariner
The Mercury Mariner had mixed reviews over its time in production but was still loved by many drivers who work to keep this vehicle on the road to this day. While there were reported issues with the power steering, transmission, and steering shaft, the spacious interior and reliability with other parts of the vehicle were often cited as reasons to recommend the Mercury Mariner. The handling of the vehicle was good, and the acceleration of the engine was strong. Fuel economy had room for improvement. The vehicle was expected to last for over 200,000 miles, which is why you’ll still see ones that were kept in good condition on the road today.
Common Problems with the Mercury Mariner
While there were many great reviews and fans of the Mercury Mariner, you’ll find there were quite a few issues that some vehicle drivers experienced as well. This video goes through some of the top problems that were experienced throughout the years of production of the Mercury Mariner. One of the most common issues was with the steering, leaving it feeling loose or bumpy for drivers. The U-joint on the steering shaft was often too loose, leaving drivers feeling like they had a lack of control of the vehicle. Replacing the steering shaft is a quick fix for this problem.
The ignition cylinder was also reported to have issues on a regular basis, leaving the vehicle unable to start. The blower motor resistor was also reported to have challenges, but it can be replaced alongside the blower motor. We encourage drivers to keep an eye on the steering, as this system was reported to have issues with the second-generation Mercury Mariner. By recalibrating the steering system or replacing faulty parts, you’ll be back on the road and enjoying the benefits of this vehicle in no time at all.
Replacing Mercury Mariner Cylinder Heads
Should you find you have an issue with your Mercury Mariner’s cylinder heads, one of the options that you have is to replace the cylinder heads. Keep in mind that if you are paying for this work, you may spend over $3,000 fixing your cylinder heads. As this vehicle is no longer produced, this is one of the best options to be able to continue driving it at the current time.
Don’t Buy a New Car – Extend the Life of Your Mercury Mariner with New Cylinder Heads
If you are having problems with your cylinder heads, then you might be wondering what your options are. For drivers who aren’t looking to replace their Mercury Mariner or buy a new vehicle, one of the best options to extend the life of your Mercury Mariner is to replace the cylinder heads. If you are confident with DIY car work, then you could try to do this alone; otherwise, you can work with a mechanic. Make sure you factor in the cost of both the parts and the labor, but this upgrade will still be significantly cheaper than buying a new car.
While the Mercury Mariner wasn’t available on the market for a huge number of years, it was a popular option for drivers looking for a crossover SUV. If you do still drive a Mercury Mariner, by taking good care of your vehicle and considering replacing the cylinder heads if needed, you can enjoy driving this car for years to come.
About Clearwater Cylinder Head
Clearwater Cylinder Head (CCH) is known as a high-quality and nationwide supplier of new and refurbished cylinder heads. With a large inventory of heads for both vehicles and boats, there is a high probability that we have the cylinder head for your specific vehicle. Contact us to to confirm we have your cylinder head in stock.