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2009 Mercury Mariner

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Mariner years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Mercury Mariner are substantially higher than the model-year median of 63.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

251 reports with mileage · 64 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 167 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 44 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 reports3 injury reports

Steering complaints

167 reports
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172,000 miles · Mar 21, 2021
Steering

I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND LIST ALL POWER STEERING. EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE BUT I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AT ALL NOW. THE DASHBOARD SHOWS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING INDICATOR I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THIS FOR THE SAME YEAR VEHICLE BUT …

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I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND LIST ALL POWER STEERING. EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE BUT I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AT ALL NOW. THE DASHBOARD SHOWS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING INDICATOR I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THIS FOR THE SAME YEAR VEHICLE BUT WHEN I RUN MY VIN NUMBER IT DOESN'T PROVIDE ME WITH ANY RECALLS FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE SO THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. NOW I'M LEFT WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND MY VEHICLE IS HOW I MAKE MY MONEY TO PAY MY BILLS. THE COST TO REPAIR IS OUTRAGEOUS. I'M GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING ANY FASTER BECAUSE IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I DID CALL THE 800 NUMBER FOR RECALLS AND I WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11404152

113,000 miles · Mar 3, 2021
Electrical SystemSteering

THE WRENCH LIGHT ON THE DASH APPEARED AND THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE CAR STILL OPERATES AFTERWARDS, BUT THE WRENCH LIGHT IS STILL ON AND STEERING IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI #11398974

113,000 miles · Feb 9, 2021
Steering

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE RUNNING FINE EXCEPT THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS. THE CAR WAS TURNING TOO THE LEFT GOING ABOUT 5MPH WHEN THE ISSUE BEGAN. THE TOOL LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON WHEN THE ISSUE BEGAN.

NHTSA ODI #11395436

140,000 miles · Jan 31, 2021
Steering

THE 2009 MERCURY MARINER IS SPORADICALLY LOSING POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES NOW, TYPICALLY AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN MAKING 90 DEGREE TURNS. ENTERING THE VIN ON FORD'S SITE SHOWS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, NEWS ARTICLES FROM 2014 SHOW SOME MERCURY MARINERS BETWEEN 2008 AND 2011 IN NORTH AMERIC…

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THE 2009 MERCURY MARINER IS SPORADICALLY LOSING POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES NOW, TYPICALLY AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN MAKING 90 DEGREE TURNS. ENTERING THE VIN ON FORD'S SITE SHOWS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, NEWS ARTICLES FROM 2014 SHOW SOME MERCURY MARINERS BETWEEN 2008 AND 2011 IN NORTH AMERICA WERE RECALLED: HTTPS://WWW.NBCNEWS.COM/BUSINESS/AUTOS/FORD-RECALLING-ABOUT-1-1-MILLION-ESCAPES-MERCURY-MARINERS-N117786 - I'M AFRAID OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF I LOSE POWER STEERING LIKE THIS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI #11390867

150,000 miles · Jan 25, 2021
Steering

THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT OF MY 09 MERCURY MARINER.

NHTSA ODI #11389724

132,000 miles · Jan 14, 2021
Steering

SUDDENLY THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I WAS IN A STATIONARY POSITION AND THEN TRIED TO TURN. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI #11388194

106,000 miles · Dec 18, 2020
Steering

PAST 30 DAYS WHILE DRIVING HEARD WARNING CHIME LASTING ABOUT 2 SECONDS. NO MESSAGE VISIBLE ON DASHBOARD. ON 12/18 WHILE PARKING CAR WARNING CHIME AND MESSAGE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE." STEERING ASSIST COMPLETELY FAILED. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE CAR HOME (ABOUT 2 MILES) - WITH DIFFICULTY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. SEAR…

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PAST 30 DAYS WHILE DRIVING HEARD WARNING CHIME LASTING ABOUT 2 SECONDS. NO MESSAGE VISIBLE ON DASHBOARD. ON 12/18 WHILE PARKING CAR WARNING CHIME AND MESSAGE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE." STEERING ASSIST COMPLETELY FAILED. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE CAR HOME (ABOUT 2 MILES) - WITH DIFFICULTY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT OTHERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR SOME CARS OF MY YEAR AND MODEL DEALING WITH EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND AM AWAITING A CALL FROM THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT (I HAD THE A/C SYSTEM SERVICED ON NOV 11 THAT APPEARS UNRELATED). IF THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL - IT SHOULD BE. THE STEERING IS SO DIFFICULT WITHOUT THE ASSIST THAT HIGHER SPEED WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE LED TO A CRASH. RIGHT NOW, THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11384054

106,700 miles · Nov 27, 2020
Steering

WHILE DRIVING A BUZZER GOES OFF ON THE CAR (USUALLY INDICATES THAT I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD FOR AN EXPLANATION, E.G. LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING). THE POWER ASSIST FOR THE STEERING IMMEDIATELY CUTS OUT AND I HAVE TO STEER WITH SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. THIS IS NOT A BIG DEAL IF I AM GOING STRAIGHT, A VERY BIG DEAL WHEN I AM TU…

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WHILE DRIVING A BUZZER GOES OFF ON THE CAR (USUALLY INDICATES THAT I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD FOR AN EXPLANATION, E.G. LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING). THE POWER ASSIST FOR THE STEERING IMMEDIATELY CUTS OUT AND I HAVE TO STEER WITH SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. THIS IS NOT A BIG DEAL IF I AM GOING STRAIGHT, A VERY BIG DEAL WHEN I AM TURNING WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR ALMOST EVERY EVENT. THIS EVENT LAST 2-3 SECONDS AND THE ASSIST RECOVERS. THERE IS NO WARNING MESSAGES ON THE DASHBOARD. IT REQUIRES BOTH HANDS TO CONTROL THE CAR FOR THIS SHORT TIME - HOWEVER AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE TRAVELS 50+ FEET DURING THIS EVENT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. . THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I.E. TODAY WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 10 MPH AND LAST 3 SECONDS - ENOUGH TIME FOR ME TO SAFELY COMPLETE THE TURN USING BOTH HANDS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11376751

173,000 miles · Nov 25, 2020
Steering

POWER STEERING ASSIST IS UNRELIABLE. IT WOULD STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY A FEW DAYS AGO AND NOW IT DOESNT WORK EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST START OF THE DAY AND I'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT SHOP HERE IN TOWN IT THREW A CODE THAT A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME WAS THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACING. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD…

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POWER STEERING ASSIST IS UNRELIABLE. IT WOULD STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY A FEW DAYS AGO AND NOW IT DOESNT WORK EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST START OF THE DAY AND I'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT SHOP HERE IN TOWN IT THREW A CODE THAT A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME WAS THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACING. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND THAT MY MARINER DIDN'T HAVE THE RECALLED PARTS REPLACED BUT THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE PREVIOUS RECALL ISSUED BY FORD MOTOR CO.

NHTSA ODI #11376371

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2020
SteeringUnknown Or OtherWheels

LAST YEAR IN APRIL I GOT THE CAR , DIDN'T HAVE IT FOR A WEEK THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT . I GOT IT FIXED . HERE IT IS 2020 OF AUGUST , THE POWER STEERING ASSIST CAME ON . THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME . I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP REPLACING THIS SAME PART . I LOOKED INTO THE RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE . I SEEN A COUPLE , C…

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LAST YEAR IN APRIL I GOT THE CAR , DIDN'T HAVE IT FOR A WEEK THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT . I GOT IT FIXED . HERE IT IS 2020 OF AUGUST , THE POWER STEERING ASSIST CAME ON . THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME . I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP REPLACING THIS SAME PART . I LOOKED INTO THE RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE . I SEEN A COUPLE , CALLED A NUMBER I SEEN THEY SAID THE RECALL EXPIRED. SO I'M BACK TO SQUARE ONE . I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PART I NEED .

NHTSA ODI #11365714

Official recalls

1

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

2

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

PE13003 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

Opened Feb 21, 2013 · Closed Feb 28, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

On February 21, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 to investigate allegations of electronic throttle body (ETB) failures resulting in sudden reduction of engine power in model year (MY) 2009-2013 Ford Escape, Fusion, Mariner and Milan vehicles. During this investigation, Ford identified a condition in subject vehicles equipped with 2.5L and 3.0L engines that may result in a sudden reduction of engine power.According to Ford, the ETB internal motor contacts may develop a high resistance material buildup condition on the commutator, resulting in intermittent electrical connectivity and reduced engine power. When this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) or Wrench light will illuminate and the vehicle may enter a limited limp home mode.Ford?s trade name for the feature is Failure Mode Effects Management (FMEM) mode.In this mode, engine power and vehicle speed are reduced, while full function of the power steering, power braking, lighting, and climate control systems are maintained.ODI?s complaint analysis indicate that the predominant failure mode involved reduced motive power associated with the limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Analysis of warranty claims provided by Ford identified 59,807 claims related to ETB replacements and approximately 50 percent of claims are associated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed.Ford described several factors where the ETB motor may fail resulting in DTCs P2111 or P2112 but the failure is not an existing stuck open or closed ETB valve position.According to Ford, the ETB control strategy provides the driver with three FMEM modes that allow varying degrees of vehicle mobility depending on the severity of the fault detected.DTCs associated with stuck open or closed throttle valves are designated the highest failure severity resulting in engine speeds limited to high idle corresponding to the limited limp home mode.Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability.Other FMEM limp modes may result in reduced engine performance but will maintain vehicle speed above 20mph. During this investigation, Ford and its suppliers, Delphi and Igarashi, updated the powertrain control module (PCM) software to include a throttle body motor cleaning cycle during key-on and modified the ETB internal motor components design, surface finish and material composition to improve durability. Additionally, Ford developed a remedy procedure and issued a special Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) 13N03 extending the ETB warranty coverage and instructing dealers to update the powertrain calibration to improve vehicle performance in the event that intermittent electrical connectivity of the throttle body motor contacts occurs. The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, all vehicles are eligible for the program through January 31, 2015 regardless of mileage.Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by mail to take their vehicle to a Ford dealer who will reprogram the PCM to the latest calibration. The bulletin was sent to dealers on January 17, 2014 and the owner letter mailing began on January 27, 2014. See the investigative file for copies of Ford's bulletin and owner letter. This preliminary evaluation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding that