Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, and it carries no recalls. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 25 | 22% |
| Steering | 16 | 14% |
| Engine | 10 | 9% |
| Power train | 6 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 3% |
| Power train | 3 | 3% |
| Hybrid propulsion system | 2 | 2% |
| Steering | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The Power Steering Assist Fault message was displayed. Th
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 5-10 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to cont
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact's son owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The contact stated that while her son was starting the vehicle, the steering wheel lost power steering functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated. The co
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The contact stated while moving from a complete stop, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the power steering assist fault message was displ
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE WHILE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
ABS BRAKE LIGHT WARNING CAME ON. BRAKES PRETTY MUCH STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING TO THE LIGHTS. HAD TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO GET BRAKES. VERY UNSAFE. NOW THE BRAKE IS STUCK ON AND THE CAR DOESN'T
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN I WAS LEAVING A STORE YESTERDAY I NOTICED THAT MY ABS, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A DESCRIPTION INDICATING MY CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM. I NEVER NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH MY BREAKS PRIOR TO THESE SIGNALS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
| Reliability raw | 69 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 48 | below average |
| Efficiency | 55 | average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 25 of them (22%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 69/100 (good) 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 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2008 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.