Mercury Mariner Transmission Problems & Cost | CD4E | 6F35

The Mercury Mariner was equipped with the CD4E or the 6F35 in later models. But they aren’t without their problems though, so let’s look at some of the most common Mercury Mariner transmission problems, look at cost estimates and figure out what you can do about them.

Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model.

What Transmission Do I Have?

Mercury Mariner Transmission Models

Mercury Mariner: CD4E Transmission
Mercury Mariner: 6F35 Transmission

Mercury Mariner Transmission Replacement Cost Estimate

Pricing varies by model. To be 100% sure on pricing, have your VIN# handy and use our Get An Estimate feature to look up your transmission by VIN#.

Replacement Mercury Mariner Transmission Prices:

What are the DTC codes related to Mercury Mariner transmission problems?

Mercury Mariner Transmission Recalls

Recall ID 15V606000 / 15S28 – Shift lever may disengage from transmission – CD4E transmission

– Summary
The Ford Motor Company recalled 2001 – 2008 Ford Escape and 2001 – 2008 Mercury Mariner models that have been fitted with a remanufactured CD4E transmission that was built between June 11, 2015 – July 15, 2015. These warranty replacement transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may have not been properly tightened.

– Consequence
If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, the driver may not be able to control the gear that the transmission is in. This could lead to the driver thinking that they are placing the vehicle in Park, when it isn’t. Should this happen, the vehicle could unexpectedly roll away, causing injury and property damage.

– Solution
This recall was issued in October 2015, and Ford dealers were instructed to either tighten the manual shift lever bolt, or replace the shift lever assembly. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332 or NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236

Mercury Mariner Transmission Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)

TSB 07-5-6 – Engine stalling on the gear engagement and stopping – CD4E Transmission
2005 – 2008 Ford Escape – 2005 – 2008 Mercury Mariner
Problem – Some vehicles may experience engine stalling when coming to a stop, or shifting into Drive or Reverse. This transmission problem can be caused by internal wear to the torque converter which prevents it from unlocking.
Solution – Install remanufactured CD4E torque converter.

TSB 12-4-8 – Loss of 2nd and 4th gears – CD4E transmission
2007 – 2008 Ford Escape – 2007 – 2008 Mercury Mariner
Problem – Some vehicles may experience a sudden loss of 2nd and 4th gears. This applies to both four-cylinder and V6 models, with or without AWD.
Solution – Install new intermediate and overdrive bands.

TSB 10-22-4 – AWD vehicles – Shudder/chatter/vibration on turns or thump/clunk noise on light acceleration – 6F Transmission
2010 Ford Fusion – 2010 Ford Taurus – 2010 Ford Edge – 2010 Ford Flex – 2010 Mercury Milan – 2010 Lincoln MKS – 2010 Lincoln MKZ – 2010 Lincoln MKT – 2010 Lincoln MKX
Problem – Certain vehicles built between 10/1/2009-12/31/2009 equipped with all-wheel-drive, may experience a shutter or vibration in the driveline during a tight turn. They may also experience a thump or clunk noise during light acceleration. These symptoms may also occur under 40 mph (64 KM/H), when driving uphill or towing under heavy acceleration.
Solution – Installing a properly remanufactured PTU (Power Transfer Unit— a simplified transfer case) may solve this problem.

Common Mercury Mariner Transmission Problems

Lack of Response
Leaking Fluid
Low Fluid
Burning Smell
Grinding or Shaking
Whining, Clunking or Humming
Refuses to Go Into Gear
Torque Converter Issues
Valve Body Issues
Transmission Noisy in Neutral
Gears Slipping
No 3rd or 4th Gear
No 1st or 2nd Gear
No Reverse
Dragging Clutch
Trouble Codes / Check Engine Light

Can I drive with a transmission problem?

If your Mercury Mariner can still make it up and down the road, you might say “It’s fine, I’ll just drive it until I can get it fixed”. But that is not always a good idea, depending on the symptoms. You see, there are a lot of (very expensive) moving parts inside of a transmission, and if something isn’t right, continuing to drive with a transmission problem could damage something else.

How often does a Mercury Mariner transmission need to be replaced?

The overall lifespan of a Mercury Mariner transmission largely depends on how well it was maintained. Factory design flaws also factor into this equation, along with how/how hard you drive. But on average, we’ve seen the Mercury Mariner transmission last for between 130,000-180,000 miles. A high quality replacement transmission however, can last considerably longer if all of the factory design flaws have been addressed and the vehicle has been maintained.

How are Mercury Mariner transmission issues diagnosed?

It is fairly easy to guesstimate what the root cause of your Mercury Mariner transmission problems might be, but you won’t truly know unless you have the right tools and experience. A good mechanic or transmission repair center will be able to connect your truck to a computer and find out which diagnostic trouble codes (DTC’s) have been stored. Once they know what to look for, they can perform a visual inspection to verify the problem.

How is a Mercury Mariner transmission replaced?

In order to replace your Mercury Mariner transmission, the truck has to be lifted from the ground in order to gain access to all of the parts that will need to be unbolted. Then the transmission can be lowered to the ground (typically with a transmission jack), so the new transmission can be installed. Once it is in place, for the 6L80, the vehicle PCM will have to be reprogrammed / reflashed to accept the new transmission using the latest GM subscription.

Recommendations for Mercury Mariner transmission issues?

To save time and get back on the road faster, have your 17-digit truck VIN# handy and you can get an online quote for a reman Mercury Mariner transmission here, then find a local shop using our Find a Shop guide to install it for you.

How to Solve Mercury Mariner Transmission Problems

Solution A: Buy a Used Mercury Mariner Transmission

The quickest way to fix your transmission problems is to simply buy a used transmission or used transmission. These can be found at most junk yards, and they often come with a 30-90 day warranty. However, there’s no way to determine the actual condition of the internal components, so you could be spending a bunch of money to have the exact same problems. Plus, that warranty only covers the transmission if it’s defective, not the labor costs that you’ll have to pay.

Solution B: Buy a Rebuilt Mercury Mariner Transmission

Another option would be a rebuilt transmission or rebuilt transmission. A local repair shop will remove your transmission, then install a bunch of new parts during the rebuild. The problem here is, the skills and experience of each transmission rebuilder will vary widely from shop to shop, so you could have problems from something that wasn’t adjusted properly. And the 1-2 year warranty might only cover you at certain transmission repair shops, in a specific geographical area.

Solution C: Buy a Remanufactured Mercury Mariner Transmission

Many owners depend on their vehicle to commute and get things done. Their gasoline engines are designed to go 100’s of thousands of miles, so it makes sense to invest in a remanufactured transmission.

Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model.

What Transmission Do I Have?

What Problem Does Your Mercury Mariner Have?

Let us know the year, mileage and problem you’re having as well as any trouble (OBD) codes you’ve found. If you’ve been given a quote or paid for a repair, we’d like to hear about that too!