Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
160–25K
2125–50K
4450–75K
5275–100K
82100–150K
36150K+
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
What owners actually said
315 reports
86,000 miles · Jun 30, 2022
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while attempting to apply the brake, an excessive amount of pressure was needed to depress the brake pedal before the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that the brake pedal went to the floor. The contact had taken the vehicle to a certified mechanic who was unabl…
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The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while attempting to apply the brake, an excessive amount of pressure was needed to depress the brake pedal before the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that the brake pedal went to the floor. The contact had taken the vehicle to a certified mechanic who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
NHTSA ODI #11471850
136,200 miles · Jun 28, 2022
Steering
The contact called on behalf of his wife who owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while his was driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering assist making it difficult to steer the vehicle. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The driver pulled over to the side of the roadway …
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The contact called on behalf of his wife who owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while his was driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering assist making it difficult to steer the vehicle. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The driver pulled over to the side of the roadway safely where her husband arrived with his trailer to tow the vehicle back to the residence. The following day the vehicle was driven to the dealer in manual steering mode. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed the failure with the power steering. The dealer related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 136,200.
NHTSA ODI #11471436
122,064 miles · Jun 9, 2022
Steering
The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was difficult to turn before the steering locked up. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle operated as designed. The check engine and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle w…
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The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was difficult to turn before the steering locked up. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle operated as designed. The check engine and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact dealer. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,064.
NHTSA ODI #11468386
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2022
Unknown Or Other
The passenger side front tire became disconnected while driving. The frame rusted and broke causing the tire to separate from the vehicle. The tow truck driver commented that he had never seen this before. I had the vehicle towed to Firestone only to have them tell me they could not fix the vehicle. The vehicle has not been thor…
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The passenger side front tire became disconnected while driving. The frame rusted and broke causing the tire to separate from the vehicle. The tow truck driver commented that he had never seen this before. I had the vehicle towed to Firestone only to have them tell me they could not fix the vehicle. The vehicle has not been thoroughly inspected, but is available to be inspected. I noticed a change in the steering wheel position for about a week prior to the tire separating. If the tire would have separated from the vehicle while driving on a highway or busy street, more damage and possible injury could have resulted.
NHTSA ODI #11462509
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2022
Steering
Power steering assist goes in and out. Making it very hard to turn
NHTSA ODI #11458480
130,000 miles · Mar 16, 2022
Steering
The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel would vibrate abnormally. The contact stated that at start-up the power steering assist fault message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle; she …
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The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel would vibrate abnormally. The contact stated that at start-up the power steering assist fault message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle; she called her boyfriend to the scene and he drove the vehicle home. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
NHTSA ODI #11457014
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2022
Service Brakes
Second time the power brake pedal assembly has failed. The assembly failed in 19th February 2013 and had to be replaced by Fremont Ford. The power brakes failed completely and it had to be towed in. The part is BM6Z-2455-A. The Power brake assembly electronics failed again in January 26 and I have to drive it into the dealer…
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Second time the power brake pedal assembly has failed. The assembly failed in 19th February 2013 and had to be replaced by Fremont Ford. The power brakes failed completely and it had to be towed in. The part is BM6Z-2455-A. The Power brake assembly electronics failed again in January 26 and I have to drive it into the dealership with failing brakes. I was informed that the part is no longer manufactured and is unavailable from Ford. Failure of brake electronics in this hybrid represents a hazard if the brakes fail from failing electronics and the car is unable to stop. We are currently searching for part from a scrapped vehicle. The car is currently at Livermore Ford 1-925-273-7814. I think that the car should be recalled and defects in power brake module investigated and redesigned part should be installed before other cars brakes fail.
NHTSA ODI #11452337
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2022
Steering
While driving car lost power steering causeing dangerous situation and loss of full control of car. Result was several near accidents while trying to get the car under control to shoulder. Car was diafnosed by dealer to need steering column. "Power Steering Assist Problem" displayed on dash when steering was lost.
NHTSA ODI #11450869
Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2022
Unknown Or OtherCrash
I was making a turn and the vehicle seemed as if the steering locked up. It randomly does this and is starting to be more and more often. It has already made me run off of the road and hit a culvert causing even further damage.
NHTSA ODI #11450026
Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2022
SteeringUnknown Or Other
My wife is driving the car and the power steering quits working several times. Off and on. Speed varies.. Very scary!
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
2009 Mercury Mariner Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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