2006 Mercury Mariner Premier 4WD review from North America

Car paint of poor quality in my opinion; since the day I took delivery, it seems I have water spots all over my car. The dealer and detail shops are telling me I need an acid bath due to hard water spots.

Had a parking brake issue, took back 3 times to Mercury dealer for recheck; they stated nothing wrong. Just took into local Ford dealer and they said my parking brake shoes were sticking on backing plates, and that I was lacking slide grease to the backing plates.

Steering strains at low speeds on right turns. Both dealers have said there is nothing wrong.

Engine ping/rattle noted and fixed by TSB.

13,000 miles transmission went out, I just got my car back last night. I had never towed. Had taken the car in for similar problems to Mercury twice before, and told it was fine. My car had a lack of power and it couldn't seem to find the right gears and sometimes the RPM's would almost redline before finding a gear. Ford found low rev clutch burnt and seized O/D rev planet coming apart and metal in transmission. Cost to overhaul was greater than the price of a re-manufactured transmission. Seems to drive great now.

I had been getting around 15 mpg, not sure if related to the transmission problems I had been having.

Seats are not as comfortable as I would like.

Took out 2 of the head rests in back due to severe blind spots.

It seems like I have been at the car dealer continuously since I bought this car, but looking through my car receipts it is mostly due to my local Mercury dealers incompetence.

Heaters for the seats could be more conveniently located (they are on the side of the seat and are hidden when the cushion is sat on; so you are unable to see whether they are on or off). It's also easy to bump them when getting in or out of the car.

The car handles great, and I love the ease of parking.