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2011 Mercury Mariner

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 Mariner.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2011 Mercury Mariner is an SUV paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 5.3 quarts of 5W-20 API oil. This model achieves an EPA-rated fuel economy of 20/26/22 mpg. Within the model's 2001-2011 history, the 2011 year recorded three recalls and 87 total owner complaints—primarily centered on steering—placing it between the 2007 low of 33 complaints and the 2008 peak of 461.

Model year2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.3 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy20/26/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 96R · 500 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 96R · 500 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 6-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	20 / 26 / 22 mpg
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.3 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	Ford Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	9
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.3 qt
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	7 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	59 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	13.3 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	35 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	25.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	222 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	221 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.57 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.00 oz
Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.00-2.56 lbs
Standard BCI Group Number	96R

Service checks

Pressure Test	21 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	17-21 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	194 °F
Pressure Test	21 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	17-21 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	183-190 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle	129 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	18 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.118; Rear: 0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.944 in
Drum Discard at-or-over	10.09

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

Tighten all bolts finger tight., Step 2

5 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

21 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

21 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 32

17 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

89 ft. lbs., step 2: 360 degrees, step 4: 37 ft. lbs., step 5: 90

89 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	Tighten in sequence shown 3.7 ft. lbs.	3.7 ft. lbs
2	Tighten in sequence shown 11 ft. lbs.	11 ft. lbs
3	Tighten in sequence shown 33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees	90 degrees
5	90 degrees; Do not re-use old bolts.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	Tighten in sequence shown 3.7 ft. lbs.	3.7 ft. lbs
2	Tighten in sequence shown 11 ft. lbs.	11 ft. lbs
3	Tighten in sequence shown 33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees	90 degrees
5	90 degrees; Do not re-use old bolts.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	loosen one full turn
4	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
5	90 degrees	90 degrees
6	90 degrees; Do not re-use old bolts.	90 degrees

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

37 ft. lbs., Step 2: 59 ft. lbs., Step 3: 83

37 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

7.4 ft. lbs.,upper intake only: step 2: turn 45

7.4 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

Install 6 new exhaust manifold stud

9 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90

4 ft. lbs

Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

7 ft. lbs., Step 2: 15

7 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 10,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 10,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 20,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Across the Mariner’s federal record, activity stayed low through 2004, rose in 2005–2007, then spiked in 2008 with 461 complaints, four recalls, and two investigations. The 2009–2010 period remained elevated, with 315 and 278 complaints respectively, before 2011 saw complaints fall sharply to 87—roughly one-fifth of the 2008 peak and well below the prior two years. However, 2011 still carried three recalls and four investigations, matching 2010’s investigation count and exceeding 2009’s recall/investigation exposure, so the lower complaint volume does not eliminate regulatory risk. Reported 2011 problem areas are led by steering (18 complaints), fuel/propulsion system and powertrain (9 each), and vehicle speed control (5), with two crash-related complaints and no fire complaints. Given the steep drop in owner complaints and the absence of fire reports, a well-documented 2011 Mariner looks more attractive than 2008–2010 examples, but the ongoing recalls and investigations make verifying recall completion essential before buying.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10’11

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 87 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering18

Fuel/Propulsion System9

Power Train9

Vehicle Speed Control5

Engine4

Fuel System, Gasoline3

Unknown Or Other3

Visibility/Wiper3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V777000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 26/10/2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim…

15E045000Suspension:Front:Wheel BearingReported 03/06/2015

The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda… Remedy: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 28 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
DOR-M9J4S-07	2020-06-03	Engine And Engine Cooling	These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication…
DOR-M3J3F-07	2020-06-03	Engine And Engine Cooling	These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication…
SSM 48130	2019-08-09	Visibility	Some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or…
SSM 47976	2019-05-10	Power Train	On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter…
SSM 46332	2017-01-24	Equipment	REPLACING THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SYNC/NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH EITHER AN AFTERMARKET…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Mariner. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 96R battery Vehicles taking 5.3 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2011 Mariner take?

5.3 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2011 Mariner have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Mariner get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.