I've had plenty of Mercury in the bay over the years, and the transmission and driveline complaints on these don't surprise me. 760 on the NHTSA record across 27 model-year entries (2005–2011) is not a fluke. The 2010 Mercury Milan leads the list but the pattern shows up across multiple years and models. Not a one-off. 13 crash reports on file. Not a high count, but the failure mode has put owners in the position to file. Repair exposure averages $2,500, which is meaningful money outside warranty. Across the 660 complaints reporting odometer mileage, the median failure lands at about 64,019 miles. Pull a transmission fluid sample if you can. Color and smell tell you more than mileage alone. If the fluid is dark or smells burnt, walk.
ProblemsByVin MERCURY / POWERTRAIN
27 model-year entries · 2005–2011
Mercury powertrain problems
760 owner complaints filed with NHTSA against Mercury vehicles for powertrain issues. See powertrain across all makes →
Complaints
760
Recalls
0
Year-models
27
Avg fix
$2,500
13crashes
3fires
4injuries
Worst-affected Mercury model-years for powertrain Top 25 by complaint volume
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
2010 Mercury Milan
137 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2005 Mercury Monterey
96 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2010 Mercury Mariner
60 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2008 Mercury Mariner
53 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2005 Mercury Montego
43 complaints · ~$2,500 severe
2009 Mercury Mariner
39 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2006 Mercury Mountaineer
35 complaints · ~$2,500 severe
2006 Mercury Monterey
34 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2011 Mercury Milan
27 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2006 Mercury Montego
26 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2005 Mercury Sable
25 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2007 Mercury Mountaineer
23 complaints · ~$2,500 severe
2011 Mercury Mariner
20 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2007 Mercury Milan
20 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2006 Mercury Milan
19 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2005 Mercury Mountaineer
18 complaints · ~$2,500 severe
2008 Mercury Milan
12 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2005 Mercury Mariner
12 complaints · ~$2,500 severe
2008 Mercury Sable
10 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2007 Mercury Mariner
10 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2006 Mercury Mariner
10 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2007 Mercury Montego
9 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2008 Mercury Mountaineer
7 complaints · ~$2,500 severe
2007 Mercury Monterey
4 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
2006 Mercury Grand Marquis
4 complaints · ~$2,500 moderate
Common questions
How many Mercury powertrain complaints are on file with NHTSA?
760 complaints across 27 model-year entries from 2005 to 2011. No active recall campaigns currently cover this category for Mercury.
Which Mercury model has the most powertrain complaints?
The 2010 Mercury Milan leads with 137 complaints in this category. Next: 2005 Monterey (96) and 2010 Mariner (60).
What does it cost to fix Mercury powertrain problems?
Independent shops average $2,500 for powertrain repairs across the Mercury lineup. Dealer pricing tends to run twenty to forty percent higher. Specific cost depends on the failure mode and parts availability.
Are there Mercury powertrain recalls?
No active NHTSA recalls currently cover powertrain issues on Mercury vehicles. The complaints are owner-reported and have not risen to a manufacturer recall.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database.
Editorial commentary written by Mark Driver, an independent contributor to ProblemsByVin
and not affiliated with Mercury.
Severity ratings derive from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities on the NHTSA complaint and recall record.
Repair cost averages reflect independent-shop pricing and may differ in your area.