Mercury Extended Warranty
A historic American car brand best known for producing premium sedans and practical family wagons, Mercury sold millions of vehicles between 1938 and 1911, when it was discontinued as part of the Ford Motor Company’s ongoing restructuring program. One of the few major auto marques never to have been independently owned, Mercury was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford for its entire life. This helped save on production and design costs. Though the brand was marketed primarily in North America, some Mercury models were sold as far afield as Asia and the Middle East.
Mercury was conceived as a middle ground brand between basic Fords and luxurious Lincolns, taking after GM’s Buick line. The first model, the Mercury 8, was released in 1938 to robust sales. In 1945, Ford combined the Mercury and Lincoln dealership networks to reduce inefficiencies and increase Mercury’s cachet and market penetration. During the postwar boom of the 1950s, Mercury released two of its iconic models, the Marquis and Park Lane. Both enjoyed more or less continuous production runs for the remainder of the brand’s life.
In the 1960s and 70s, Ford used Mercury to gain access to the emerging muscle-car market. The Cougar was the company’s answer to its competitors’ lineup of fast, relatively inexpensive performance coupes, selling well until gas price spikes reduced consumer demand for such powerful engines. In response to changing tastes, Mercury changed its lineup again in the 1980s and 90s, producing practical premium sedans like the Sable and later embracing the SUV market in earnest with the release of the Mariner, which became one of its best-selling vehicles thanks to its relative fuel efficiency and ample cargo space. 2011 saw the last Mercury roll off the line as Ford combined the brand’s operations with its remaining Ford and Lincoln marques.
Over its long, storied history, Mercury has impressed drivers with the quality and reliability of its vehicles. Nevertheless, even the best-made cars suffer from mechanical and maintenance issues at times. Mercury drivers have noticed interior problems like damaged upholstery and premature vinyl peeling; transmission issues like fluid leaks, missed gears and clutch failure in manual models; steering and suspension problems including power steering leaks, loose tie rods, and worn-out struts and shocks; and problems with the exhaust system like corroded exhaust pipes, faulty mufflers and damaged catalytic converters, especially in older high-performance models in which this was a newer feature.
Because any one of these problems can cause serious breakdowns that can necessitate costly visits to the dealership or mechanic, drivers should purchase extended warranty protection for their aging Mercury vehicles. Mercury extended warranties come tailored to all budgets, from value plans that protect against major repair jobs like transmission replacement and engine rebuilds to comprehensive or “exclusionary” packages that pay for both major and minor maintenance work. In exchange for a manageable monthly premium that is determined by what it covers, each Mercury extended warranty pays for repair bills and maintenance work up front so drivers don’t have to!
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