Steering. Review the 297 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

5 reports

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Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

ABS LIGHT ,REGEN BRAKES DISABLED AND CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM MESSAGE COMES ON AT ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING. LOSE BRAKING POWER, CAUSING DRIVER TO PUSH BRAKE VERY HARD TO STOP AND BRAKE PEDAL SOMETIMES GOES TO THE FLOOR. WHEN CAR STOPS SOMETIMES IT WON'T RESTART FOR DAYS. IT HAS A NEW BATTERY. COOLANT CODE COMES ON ALSO AND THE CAR ISN'T…

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NHTSA ODI #11361396

65 miles · Jun 25, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering

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MERCURY MARINER RECALL, I PURCHASED A 2008 MERCURY MARINER ON 9/27/14. ON 12/19/14 AT NIGHT WHILE ON HIGHWAY THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR DECREASED SPEED AND I ALMOST GOT HIT BY THE CAR FROM THE REAR, PULLED IN EMERGENCY LINE AND HAD SUV TOWED. REQUIRED A TRANSMISSION ON 12/26/16 FOR $1475. ON 1/14/16 WHILE ON HIGHWAY DURING EXITING ON EXIT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN , HIT THE GUARD RAIL THERE WHERE NOT WARNING LIGHT TO INDICATE THAT THE STEERING HAD A PROBLEM, HAD THE SUV TOWED TO SHOP AND REPAIRED STEERING SHIFT TORQUE SENOR FOR $428.00. ON 1/10/17 AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING THE SUV WOULD NOT START, CALLED CAB TO TAKE ME HOME WITH GROCERIES, RETURNED TO HAVE SUV TOWED TO SHOP REPAIR THE IGNITION STARTER SWITCH FOR $176.00. ON 9/21/17 WHEN LEAVING FOR WORK, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURNED, TOWED TO SHOP AND REQUIRED LOCK CYLINDER HOUSING $434.00. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL THE REPAIRS AND TOWING COST. VIN [XXX], NOT ON RECALL LIST YET AND THESE REPAIRS ARE RELATED TO RECALLS FOR MY 2008 MERCURY MARINER. I AM UPSIDE DOWN STILL OWE $7100. FOR BALANCE. WAS UNABLE TO MAKE SCHEDULED PAYMENTS WHEN REPAIR WHERE REQUIRED, EFFECTED MY CREDIT SCORE. AT THE PRESENT TIME THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN NOT WORKING ON THE TRANSMISSION AND MY CAR IS DISABLE. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO ME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11103925

143,750 miles · Apr 9, 2018

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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IN MARCH 2018, I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT AND MAKE A GRINDING SOUND. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS EVERY TIME FOR A COUPLE WEEKS. THEN TOWARD MID MARCH, I WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND THE POWER STEERING TOTALLY WENT OUT.IT STATED ON PANEL "POWER STEERING DEFAULT ASSIST." IT TOOK EXTREME EFFORT TO STEER THE WHEEL TO THE SIDE AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY RIGID. BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVE, IT HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN TO MOVE CAR IN APARTMENT PARKING LOT. I GOT THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE 2017 FROM A CAR DEALER WITH NO WARRANTY. FORD SAYS THIS VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL FOR TORQUE PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE. AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND A SAFETY HAZARD, I WANT THIS VEHICLE VIN ADDED TO RECALL LIST. IF I DRIVE IT ON OPEN ROAD, IT WILL SURELY CAUSE INJURY TO MY FAMILY. I CAN'T EVEN MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI #11084067

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringWheels

SENSOR IN STERING WHEEL IS BAD,ALSO JERKS WHEN IT SHIFTS

NHTSA ODI #11082691

125,326 miles · Feb 5, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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3 MONTHS AGO I TOOK MY 2008 MERCURY MARINER INTO FORD FOR THE POWER STEERING RECALL. THEY WERE TO DO ONE OF THREE THINGS: UPDATE THE SOFTWARE FOR THE POWER STEERING, REPLACE THE TORQUE SENSOR OR REPLACE THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. THEY ONLY UPDATES THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM SOFTWARE. DAY 1 AFTER IT BEING FIXED, I WAS EXPERIENCE AN EXTREMELY SHAKY STEERING WHEEL AND A "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" INDICATOR THAT WOULD RANDOMLY SHOW UP NOW AND THEN. FORD SAID THEY COULD LOOK AT IT BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. FEBRUARY 4, 9:00AM, MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT PULLING INTO WORK. I TOOK MY CAR INTO FORD TODAY AND THEY EXCLAIMED THAT MY POWER STEERING MOTOR AND COLUMN NEED REPLACED BUT AGAIN THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. I EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS WITH MY POWER STEERING PRIOR TO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. AFTER READING SEVERAL (A COUPLE HUNDRED) REVIEWS BY OTHER CUSTOMERS, THEY EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT INCIDENTS A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE UPDATE, BUT FORD SAID THEY HAD TO PAY THE FULL $1,200 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. IT IS SICKENING TO KNOW THAT THIS "UPDATE" IS ACTUALLY CAUSING POWER STEERING TO MALFUNCTION AND PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES IN DANGER. ON TOP OF IT, FORD SAYS ONCE THE UPDATE IS RAN, THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO UNDER THE RECALL, WHEN THEY KNOW FULL WELL KNOW WHAT THE UPDATE IS DOING AND PUTTING MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS. SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. LIVES CAN BE LOST DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION THAT SHOULD NOT BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10681503

Official recalls

15V606000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 29, 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

14V526000 · Hybrid Propulsion System

Sep 3, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.

14V284000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

May 29, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP15001 · Loss Of Power Steering While Driving

Opened Apr 1, 2015 · Closed Jun 14, 2018

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System

On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY) 2008 through 2011 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (NHTSA 14V-284, Ford 14S05). Ford's DIR described the defect condition as a poor signal to noise ratio [SNR] in the torque sensor within the Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system [which] does not allow the PSCM to determine the driver's steering input. When the system detects this fault condition, it transitions the EPAS system to the fail-safe/manual steering mode.Ford's DIR indicates that loss of power steering assist while driving would require higher steering effort at lower vehicle speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.Ford's remedy instructs dealers to check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) to determine the proper repair procedure. If no DTCs are present, dealers are to update the PSCM and instrument cluster module software. The updated PSCM software changes the torque sensor fault strategy so that the SNR condition does not result in a loss of power steering assist while driving.In addition, audible and visual warnings are provided for torque sensor faults.If DTCs indicating faults in the torque sensor, PSCM or Power Steering Motor (motor) are present in the initial recall inspection, the dealer performs the following repairs: 1) replaces the torque sensor for torque sensor faults (DTC B2278); or 2) replaces the steering column for faults related to the PSCM (DTC B1342) or motor (DTC B2277).Continued in attachment pages

PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking

Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve

ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO