2008 Mercury Mariner

POWER STEERING CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO WARNING. BROUGHT TO DEALER IN SEPTEMBER 2010 AND THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE THEN. IN EARLY 2013 IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND IN FEBRUARY 2013 IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED WITH A PROBLEM THAT COULD ONLY BE REMEDIED BY THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE FOR A COST OF $1087.41. NO FURTHER PROBLEMS TO DATE. IT HAS SINCE COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT FORD HAS RECENTLY ISSUED A RECALL ON VEHICLES LIKE MINE MANUFACTURED AT THE KANSAS CITY PLANT THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE AT THE KANSAS CITY PLANT. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE AND THINK THE RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. I ASSUME THAT BECAUSE THEIR DATA BASE SHOWS I HAVE ALREADY PAID TO HAVE THE COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED (WHICH WAS THE ONLY AVAILABLE REMEDY AT THE TIME) IT IS NO LONGER NECESSARY TO MODIFY THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT I BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR. WE AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 MERCURY MARINER (VIN # [XXX]) THAT HAD THE POWER STEERING RECALL IN AUGUST 2014, WHERE THE DEALER UPDATED THE SOFTWARE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000). THREE MONTHS LATER (11/3/2014) MY POWER STEERING IS OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM BEING TOLD SINCE THE RECALL IS CLOSED OUT THAT IT IS NOW MY PROBLEM TO HAVE FIXED, YET UNDER THE RECALL THEY COULD HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND POWER STEERING MODULE SOFTWARE. I COMPLETELY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS STILL PRESENT UNDER THE RECALL AND OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT FIXED, SURELY FORD WOULD WANT TO FIX IT. AT LEAST DO THE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HAD STOPPED BY MY APARTMENT COMPLEX OFFICE TO PICK UP A PACKAGE. I STARTED THE MOTOR AND BEGAN TO BACK OUT. I THEN PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN. I TRIED TO DRIVE IT SLOWLY TOWARDS MY APARTMENT TO PARK IT. I RESTARTED THE CAR. ONCE I DID THIS, THE STEERING WAS BEHAVING NORMALLY EXCEPT WHEN IDLING THERE WAS A THUNKING VIBRATION TO WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVING. I HAD REMEMBERED I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE WHICH WAS FOR POWER STEERING. THE TECHNICIAN LOOKED UP THE VIN # AND YES IT WAS A RECALL ITEM. I TOOK IT IN YESTERDAY AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY REPLACING THE PART. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT A LOT OF THE VIBRATION I HAVE FELT RECENTLY CAN BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING UNIT. THANKFULLY I WAS NEAR HOME. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL TRIPS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. IN ADDITION, I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM IN THE MORNINGS ESPECIALLY IN THE COLDER MONTHS WHERE I AM AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND STEP ON THE GAS, THE MOTOR WILL REV UP BUT I DON'T MOVE, THEN A SUDDEN KICK IN OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS SCARY WHEN TRYING TO TURN INTO TRAFFIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL EVERY TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE BUT INDICATED THAT THE REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, THE 2008 MERCURY MARINER MY WIFE DRIVES, THE POWER STEERING HAS CEASED TO WORK. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE CAR OF, RESTART IT AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESUME. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL STILL HAVING POWER STEERING BACK IN AUG, 2014, AND DEALER CHECKED FOR CODES AND ONLY REPROGRAMMED MODULE. APPROX IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS OF SEPT 2014, POWER STEERING ONCE AGAIN QUIT AND HAS NOT RETURNED. BROUGHT INTO FORD DUE TO AN ISSUE INVOLVING A MATTER WHICH CAUSE A RECALL AND WAS TOLD THE TORQUE SENSOR WAS BAD. SERVICE CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY HAD A RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED, SATISFYING THE OBLIGATION OF THE RECALL. DUE TO THE ISSUE BEING PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE, FORD SHOULD DUE THE HONORABLE THING AND COVER THE REPAIR AND PARTS NEEDED. MY WIFE CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE HAVING SOMEONE ELSE (I.E. MYSELF) DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR

UNABLE TO TURN KEY TO START VEHICLE, HAD TO MANUALLY MOVE STEERING WHEEL. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH IN MAY 2012, THEN REPLACED STEERING COLUMN IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY IN JULY 2013. RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD REGARDING POWER STEERING SYSTEM REVERTING TO MANUAL STEERING MODE. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I SUBMITTED THE PAPERWORK TO FORD FOR REIMBURSEMENT AND WAS DENIED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. AFTER THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED STEERING AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION FROM ON TO OFF SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

DECEMBER, 2013, I WAS EXITING PARKING LOT ONTO A MAIN STREET THAT HAD 2 LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HALFWAY INTO THE STREET, LOST POWER STEERING BUT WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO SIDE OF ROAD. JANUARY, 2014 CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 25 MILES PER HOUR, LOST POWER STEERING. FORTUNATELY I WAS NEAR THE GARAGE THAT DOES MY REPAIRS, OIL CHANGES, ETC.. MARCH, 2014, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, NO POWER STEERING, HAD TO WAIT ABOUT A HALF HOUR UNTIL POWER STEERING RETURNED...KEPT TURNING CAR OFF AND ON EVERY 10 MINUTES. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE 3 TIMES BY EMAIL (JAN-MAR). MY LAST 3 CARS HAVE BEEN FORD PRODUCTS BUT APPARENTLY BRAND LOYALTY IS NOT VALUED. REPLIES WERE--SORRY YOU ARE HAVING ISSUES-NO FOLLOW UP FROM FORD EVEN WHEN HEY KNEW THEY WERE ISSUING A POWER STEERING RECALL AS OF APRIL-MAY, 2014. I PAID $2,500 IN REPAIRS FROM DEC'13-MAR'14. *TR