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

Steering complaints

297 reports

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124,000 miles · Feb 19, 2014

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING AND POWERING ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI #10564918

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2014

Latches/locks/linkagesPower TrainSteering

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A COUPLE DAYS AGO I STARTED MY CAR AS USUAL BEFORE GOING TO WORK TO LET IT WARM DUE TO THE WEATHER. AS I STARTED BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE I REALIZED MY STEERING WHEEL ISN'T MOVING LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. I STOPPED AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THEN IT WAS FINE. AS I'M DRIVING AND GETTING READY TO SWITCH LANES ON THE HIGHWAY IT DOES IT AGAIN SO I PULL ON THE SHOULDER AND GET OUT THE CAR TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD, A MAN PULLS OVER TO HELP ME SEEING AS I'M A WOMAN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IN MY MILITARY UNIFORM. HE SAYS IT COULD BE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER BUT IT SHOULD BE FINE. NOW AFTER 2 OR 3 DAYS THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND VIBRATES AND A RATTLING NOISE OCCURS AT LOW SPEED AND CERTAIN POSITIONS WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED, OR EVEN AT A STANDSTILL POSITION. IT HAS RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE FIRST TIME AND ALWAYS WHEN THE CAR STARTS. IT CAN BE STOPPED BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING THE CAR. ALSO A WRENCH SHOWS UP IN THE MESSAGE CENTER, AS I READ MY MANUAL COME TO FIND OUT THAT'S FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I'VE READ A LOT OF THE COMMENTS AND COMPLAINTS AND HAVE TO WONDER, WILL IT TAKE A DEATH BECAUSE OF THIS FOR FORD TO REALIZE WE'RE NOT MAKING THIS UP AND IT'S NOT DUE TO POOR OR LACK OF MAINTENANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562523

126,000 miles · Jan 20, 2014

Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED BY LOCKING UP WHEN STARTED. THEN IT STARTED SHAKING WHENEVER IT WAS IN PARK OR BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THEN JUST STARTED TO SHAKE WHENEVER THE CAR WAS ON. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THIS THE WHEEL WOULD START LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING OCCASIONALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560710

110,000 miles · Jan 8, 2014

Steering

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WHEN STARTING UP THE CAR, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. FELT LIKE THE WHEELS WERE FROZEN TO THE GROUND. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, IT LET GO AND STEERED AS USUAL. NOW THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND VIBRATES AND A RATTLING NOISE OCCURS AT LOW SPEED AND CERTAIN POSITIONS WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED. IT HAS RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE FIRST TIME AND ALWAYS WHEN THE CAR STARTS. IT CAN BE STOPPED BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559008

114,000 miles · Dec 26, 2013

Steering

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MY CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED. I DO EVERYTHING TO KEEP IT RUNNING WELL AND NOW THE POWER STEERING ONLY WORKS HALF THE TIME. IT IS NOW ALSO MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND THE WHEEL WILL SHAKE ON ITS OWN WHILE IN PARK. I HAVE READ LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON MANY I THESE VEHICLES AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! $1300 IS A TON OF MONEY TO PAY TO HAVE A "SENSOR" PROBABLY THE SIZE OF A FUSE REPLACED! AND IT'S VERY SCARY WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE YOUR DOING 70 DOWN THE HIGHWAY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557324

83,950 miles · Nov 28, 2013

Steering

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I DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. IT WAS LIKE HAVING 4 FLAT TIRES AT ONCE. NO WARNING SIGNALS FROM THE DASHBOARD. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING LATER I COULD STEER IT HOME. ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY THE 25TH OF NOVEMBER, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC I KNOW AND HE DECODED A POWER STEERING SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE DISMANTLED TO PUT IN THE NEW ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP. WHAT HAPPENS IF THESE UNITS GO OUT WHEN YOU ARE DOING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE? MY COST WAS $1262.43 I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10554055

80,500 miles · Nov 21, 2013

Steering

I WAS DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY WHEN STEERING FAILED APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOWDOWN AND STEERING WOULD HARDLY WORK. WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO FORD GARAGE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AS A SENSOR FAILED AND A CLOCK SPRING BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553207

40,000 miles · Nov 15, 2013

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR DUE TO THE FORMAT OF THE ELECTRICAL STEERING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10552398

65,000 miles · Nov 14, 2013

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMA…

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NHTSA ODI #10552188

93,000 miles · Nov 4, 2013

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE SAFELY MERGE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE WHERE IT WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONED WITH DIFFICULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #10550748

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