Model year guide

2003 Mercury Marauder

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2003 Mercury Marauder is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 4 on record.

2003 Mercury Marauder — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2003 Mercury Marauder at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints60
Combined17 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2003 Mercury Marauder recalls 1

Fuel System, Gasoline NHTSA Campaign #06E056000 · 13/06/2006

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.

Fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2003 Mercury Marauder common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2003 Mercury Marauder safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2003 Mercury Marauder 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2003 Mercury Marauder MPG & running costs

Combined17 mpg
City15 mpg
Highway21 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,850
EPA size classLarge Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Passenger volume109 cu ft
Cargo volume21 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$12,250 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2003 Mercury Marauder costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$24,250
Fuel only$24,250
Per mile$0.32

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 11

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 11.

Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Pro…

Bulletin TSB 19-2026 · Structure · Feb 2019

ENGINE MISFIRE WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) PEWEE, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306, P0307, P0308, AND P0316. *TT

Bulletin 06513 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2006

COSMETIC CRACKING OF LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING SLEEVE. *MJ

Bulletin 17545 · Suspension · Feb 2004

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) C1222 (SPEED WHEEL MISMATCH). *TT

Bulletin 17492 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jan 2004

MOISTURE IN THE HEADLAMPS. *TT

Bulletin 16906 · Exterior Lighting · Jun 2003

FUEL GAUGE THAT COMES OFF FULL TOO QUICKLY OR READS LOWER THAN THE ACTUAL FUEL TANK LEVEL (ELECTRONIC OR ANALOG CLUSTER). *TT *JB

Bulletin 16712 · Fuel System, Other · Mar 2003

ERRATIC HEADLAMP OPERATION IN AUTOLAMP MODE. *TT *JB

Bulletin 16698 · Exterior Lighting · Mar 2003

FUEL GAUGE READING THAT FLUCTUATES OR READS LOWER THAN THE ACTUAL FUEL TANK LEVEL. *TT

Bulletin 16639 · Fuel System, Other · Feb 2003

POWER STEERING LOWER ASSIST AT LOW SPEEDS / STEERING LIGHT FEEL AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TT

Bulletin 16663 · Steering · Feb 2003

POWER STEERING PUMP NOISE THAT MAY DIFFER DEPENDING UPON BODY STYLE. *TT

Bulletin 16419 · Steering · Nov 2002

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the MARAUDER. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Mercury Marauder

The Mercury Marauder is an automobile nameplate that was used for three distinct full-size cars produced by the Mercury division of Ford Motor Company. Deriving its name from the most powerful engines available to the Mercury line, the Marauder was marketed as the highest-performance version of the full-size product range.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2003 Mercury Marauder trims & engines on record

Trims
Base
Engines
4.6L 8-cyl 300 hp

2003 Mercury Marauder vehicles on record

2003 Mercury Marauder 2003 Mercury Marauder Base2MEHM75V83X665835 2003 Mercury Marauder 2003 Mercury Marauder Base2MEHM75V53X637734 2003 Mercury Marauder 2003 Mercury Marauder Base2MEHM75V23X628893 2003 Mercury Marauder 2003 Mercury Marauder Base2MEHM75V93X632245

2003 Mercury Marauder — frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Mercury Marauder have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2003 Mercury Marauder. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mercury Marauder?

Across all 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are exterior lighting, power train, suspension.

What is the 2003 Mercury Marauder safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2003 Mercury Marauder crash-test ratings of frontal 5★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2003 Mercury Marauder get?

The 2003 Mercury Marauder has a U.S. EPA estimate of 17 mpg combined (15 city / 21 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.