Overview & Reviews

Mercury was a division of Ford Motor Company marketed as being somewhat more upscale than Ford. Throughout the latter part of its 71-year history, Mercury's vehicles were essentially Fords with unique styling details and special features meant to enhance their desirability relative to similar Ford products.

It all started in the 1930s, when Edsel Ford, Henry Ford's son, saw an opportunity to create an additional brand within the Ford hierarchy, one that would exist between the everyman Ford Deluxes and premium Lincoln Zephyrs. To achieve this, Edsel felt the vehicles of this new brand should offer distinctive styling along with innovative features and better capabilities. He named the new division "Mercury," after the Roman mythological god. The 1939 Mercury Eight was the division's first car. It distinguished itself from similar Ford products via a 95-horsepower engine that offered 10 more horses than the Ford V8.

The Eight proved to be a hit, with more than 155,000 sold by the early 1940s. Production stopped during World War II; after the war, the brand was realigned more closely with Lincoln. The company grew from strength to strength in the '50s, establishing itself as a maker of vehicles offering style, performance and cutting-edge technology. A dash of glamour was added to the automaker's image when James Dean appeared onscreen in a Mercury in the film Rebel Without a Cause.

The 1960s saw the introduction of Mercury's Comet and Meteor vehicles. The Comet featured diminutive dimensions and luxury accoutrements, while the Meteor was a midsize family car that followed the trend toward more reasonably sized cars. Racetrack wins boosted awareness of the Comet and helped the model make a big splash in terms of sales. By the end of the decade, the iconic Mercury Cougar, a variation of the Mustang, had been rolled out, its Eliminator version taking its place in the pantheon of legendary early muscle cars.

Hit hard by that decade's oil crisis, consumers during the 1970s were hungry for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Mercury responded with a new, smaller Comet and the Bobcat, the former a fancier version of the Ford Maverick, the latter a fancier version of the Ford Pinto. The brand's sales grew during a decade that was filled with turbulence and uncertainty for many competing marques. Mercury further expanded its lineup in the '80s, this time including the small, Ford Escort-based Lynx. Mercury enjoyed success with the 1986 launch of the Sable, a fraternal twin to the Ford Taurus whose sleek, aerodynamic lines and futuristic "light bar" front end styling set it apart from the Ford.

Mercury's sales hit an all-time high during the 1990s that would never again be matched. Minivans and SUVs were a big reason for that as Mercury introduced its Villager minivan and Mountaineer SUV. Late that decade it introduced a new Cougar, which differed from its predecessors by being a front-drive sport compact that also holds the distinction of being the last Mercury that wasn't a rebadged Ford.

The years following the new millennium were challenging for the brand, as changing consumer tastes and a lack of differentiation between Mercury and Ford vehicles hurt sales. Pundits often proclaimed the end of Mercury was near, but Ford kept stating it would keep Mercury around despite offering no hope for any unique future vehicles from the brand. Finally in 2010, Ford pulled the plug on Mercury, putting an end to more than 70 years of car-making heritage.

User Reviews:

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  Problems never addressed - 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By tools1 - December 9 - 2:00 am

  A consistant problem is the head gasket on the 4,6 liter engine. it commonly leaks and costs +/- $1,500 to fix. Ford also used a plastic manifold that crack with wear, which cost $500 +/- to fix. The last problem is a brake line bracket on the rear crossbeam that can cut & ignite the gas tank during a severe rear end crash. Ford has recalled and fixed public vehicles but has not done the same for everyday consumers. Overall I would never buy this vehicle Ford or Mercury ever again.

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  Continuous transmission issues...company refuses to fix. - 2009 Mercury Mariner
  By desert7rain - November 21 - 1:08 pm

  My mom has a 2009 Chrysler Mariner and from the beginning it has had transmission issues. Shifting rough, jerking into gear and lagging between gears then rough shift. They have have had it in the Chrysler shop at least 8 times and it has never been fixed. Even with it obviously not shifting right they would tell us that they could find nothing wrong. When we are able to get a diagnosis, it will be fixed for a week and then its back to mal-functioning. Now they are completely refusing to pay for any further repairs. This car is not worth the money simply because the company does not believe in fixing issues and it has been in the shop so much that it is difficult on day to day life.

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  Worst nightmare! - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Clint - October 18 - 12:20 pm

  This vehicle has been nothing but a heartache for me since day 1. I thought my wife and I were buying a reliable vehicle for our family of 4 and Ive been disappointed with it the whole time Ive owned it. Cd player broke at 29000 miles, transmission problems at 40000 miles, and now rear windows, rear AC pump, and ball joints are going bad. Car has 65000 miles on it! Whats next?! Oh yeah! I forgot about the time the battery ran completely dead and disarmed my keys so I couldnt start the car afterwards. Had to have the car towed to a Mercury dealership 28 miles away and get new keys programmed for the car. About a 400 dollar mistake altogether. Are you kidding me? Need I say more?

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  Stay Away - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By Chelly - October 10 - 9:20 am

  I bought the 2008 Mercury Mariner in March 2007. I have had nothing but problems with this vehicle. During the first 12 months, the car would stall without any warning and when I brought it into the dealer, they told me nothing was wrong with it. I had to bring it in an additional two times before they fixed it correctly. Recently, I was driving on Interstate 80 going about 65 when the car completely stalled again without warning and reduced in speed rapidly. This car is not reliable. I will never buy a Mercury, Lincoln or Ford ever again. Stay away from this one.

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  Sucker born every minute - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By sucker1001 - July 27 - 10:00 am

  Transmission went at 3000 miles, rotors are bad at 10,000 miles, front end shimmys and shakes, check engine light on at 7000 miles, cigarette lighter pops out on to passenger floor. Car hesitates to start and loses momentum while driving. Uncomfortable pleather seats, front passenger seat is not roomy. Poor fuel economy. Over all disappointed with my purchase!

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  Mother Earths Revenge - 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Jared Chesler - July 6 - 6:03 am

  This car is junk! The leather is cheap, the quality is no Toyota Avalon, It looks like junk, It is junk, it makes KIA look nice! The seats have no support and there is no rear leg room. The Mercury is great if live in the 1940. For the same price buy: Toyota Avalon For less buy: Honda Accord For more buy: Lexus or Linclon

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  Typical Merc Clunker - 1999 Mercury Villager
  By mrebate - June 25 - 2:37 am

  New from dealership the alarm was tempermental and had to be tweaked by a factory rep. You soon realize you are driving a "truck". Ours had annoying shimmy at highway speed. Although it had less than 60,000 miles when we decided to dump it. It needed an engine a knock sensor when sold. Starter motor, wheel bearings, electric window control panel (drivers door) and rusting exhaust were other repairs for mint condition vehicle. The clear lens cover for the turn signal popped off for no reason. AC needed recharged every year after 4 yrs. A stinko vehicle and inferior dealership do no make for a pleasant experience. Dealer damaged both rocker panels and blamed their new lift.

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  03 Muscle not there! - 2004 Mercury Marauder
  By novars71 - June 11 - 10:00 am

  The hype that this mercury is in the lines of any muscle car just isnt true. The 302hp engine does not do it, poor acceleration, good for high speed driving but 0-60 not impessive. Thats what the "muscle cars" were all about. I still have a 1971 chevy nova small block that will leabve this mercury in the dust. Its basically a souped up Grand Marquis with a high $35000 price tag and I regret buying it.

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  My 2nd Lemon - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By Raff - May 21 - 10:00 am

  I am the un-proud owner of a 2000 Cougar, after Ford replaced my 1999 Cougar that was plagued with issues. The 2000 is no better! New transmission in under 18K miles, sloppy front end, multiple front tire rebalancing, bad oil seal on the pan, coolant leaks, radio problems, bad left/front half axel, new brakes in under 20K miles, bad steering knuckle, and the list goes on!!! Holman service is a disaster to boot. They replaced the trans and while driving home from the shop, the front left tire fell off! Almost got killed on that one. Never again would I buy ANY Ford product!!

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  ONLY 87,000 MILES AND CANT DRIVE - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Sharon Figgins - April 25 - 6:33 pm

  01/18/07 When truck shifts gears it vibrates. Cost: $198.95. 05/29/07 Replaced drivers side pretensioner Cost: $273.19. 06/26/07 Replaced front differential, both rear axle seals Cost: $1580.23 11/07/07 Front end alignment and replace seals in rear. Cost: $482.97 12/13/07 Replace left front hub bearing. Cost $401.73. 02/18/08 Rear wheel bearing, rear rotors, surpitene belt Cost: $348.51. 03/11/08 Replaced rear end assembly. Cost: 864.68 03/20/09 Front differential needed bolts tightened and right rear bearing replaced. (I agreed to repair if it fixed problem) Cost: $428.00 Did not fix problem. Told I needed rear transfer case and V coupling. Will cost me another 2,300 plus. PARKED CAR.