Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Mercury Marauder, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 30% |
| Tires | 3 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 7% |
| Structure | 2 | 7% |
| Power train | 2 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 7% |
| Steering | 1 | 4% |
| Tires | 1 | 4% |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE STEERING HAD BECOME STIFF AND "NOTCHY" WHILE TURNING, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO STRAIGHT AHEAD ON ITS OWN. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT HAD 1 OF THE 3 BEARING FROZEN AND REQUIRED REPLA
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MARAUDER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT WORSENED AND RECURRED MORE FREQUENT
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MERCURY MARAUDER ON A TWO LANE ROAD IN DELAWARE COUNTY NY WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. DRIVING THE BACK ROADS TAKES TOTAL CONCENTRATION DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF NOCTURNAL ANIMALS WHICH CAN CROSS
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
OEM TIRES FOR REAR P245/55-18 NOT AVAILABLE FROM MANUFACTURER FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. PART # SHOWS TIRE IS NOT DISCONTINUED YET NO TIRES ARE AVAILABLE BY B.F. GOODRICH. NO SOLUTION IS OFFERED AND BF GOODRICH DOES
NHTSA complaint: Tires
THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, THEN THE CAR STALLED. I INSTINCTIVELY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO TRY AND RESTART WHICH I DID BUT IT STALLED AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WAS COMPLE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
2004 MERCURY MARAUDER HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING. RUNNING LIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS CONTINUE WORKING, NO LOW/HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AT ALL. SWITCH SEEMS TO BE THE ISSUE, FUSES ARE FINE AND NO BULB
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
WIPERS CONTINUING FOR TWO YEARS TO OCCASIONALLY TURN ON AND OFF WITHOUT SWITCH ACTIVATION. ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN MANY OF THE FORUMS FOR MARAUDERS, THE FACT THAT FORD HAS MADE NO RECALL IS SHAMEFUL. ONL
NHTSA complaint: Visibility/wiper
THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE AND TURNED OFF WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULE WAS FOUND FAULTY AND REPLACED. SEARCHING THE INTERNET REVEALED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS BASE MODEL CAR (
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2004 Mercury Marauder. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE
Risk: FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 61 | average |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 69 | good |
| Efficiency | 30 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and exterior lighting is the most reported area with 8 of them (30%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.