IllustrationCAR LOST POWER AND STOPPED WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN WENT OFF. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mariner years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
Power Train complaints
44 reportsTHE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AS I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE "WRENCH" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING A POWERTRAIN FAULT AND THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE IT DIED COMPLETELY. *TR
THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE IN MOTION 6 TIMES NOW, WHILE STOPPED 3 TIMES. STALLED ONCE WHILE DRIVING UPWARDS OF 40 MPH. I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, PUT EMERGENCY BLINKERS ON, AND RESTART THE CAR. VEHICLE SEEMS TO SPONTANEOUSLY FALTER IN ACCELERATION AND LOSES POWER. TURNING OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTING ENGINE FIX…
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THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE IN MOTION 6 TIMES NOW, WHILE STOPPED 3 TIMES. STALLED ONCE WHILE DRIVING UPWARDS OF 40 MPH. I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, PUT EMERGENCY BLINKERS ON, AND RESTART THE CAR. VEHICLE SEEMS TO SPONTANEOUSLY FALTER IN ACCELERATION AND LOSES POWER. TURNING OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTING ENGINE FIXES THE PROBLEM BUT IT WILL THEN REOCCUR AT AN UNKNOWN TIME. SOME INCIDENCES HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME DAY, OTHERS HAVE BEEN UP TO A WEEK APART. *JB
2009 MERCURY MARINER. I HAD JUST PULLED INTO THE STORE PARKING LOT THE CAR WAS IN PARK BUT RUNNING. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CUT OFF LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD CAME ON...I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR ON THE WAY HOME EVERY STOP LIGHT I STOPPED AT THE CAR WOULD CUT OFF...TOOK TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP THEY DIAGNOSED IT BUT NOTHING CAME UP ON …
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2009 MERCURY MARINER. I HAD JUST PULLED INTO THE STORE PARKING LOT THE CAR WAS IN PARK BUT RUNNING. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CUT OFF LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD CAME ON...I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR ON THE WAY HOME EVERY STOP LIGHT I STOPPED AT THE CAR WOULD CUT OFF...TOOK TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP THEY DIAGNOSED IT BUT NOTHING CAME UP ON MACHINE. CAR RAN FINE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. ON THE WAY TO WORK THAT MONDAY THE CAR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER THE WRENCH ICON LITE CAME ON. CUT THE CAR OFF STARTED IT BACK UP AND DROVE TO WORK....NOW THE CAR IS DOING IT EVERY 5-10 MILES STOPPING WONT LET ME ACCELERATE AND THE WRENCH ICON IS COMING ON....THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS......THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. IF EVERYONE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...... *TR
THIS ACTUALLY FIRST OCCURRED ON FRIDAY. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE THRUWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH WHEN THE CAR FELT ALMOST LIKE IT DOWNSHIFTED AND THEN I TOTALLY LOST ACCELERATION AND THE WRENCH LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH. I LIMPED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR JERKED AND SPUTTERED BEFORE I SHUT IT OFF. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I RESTARTED…
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THIS ACTUALLY FIRST OCCURRED ON FRIDAY. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE THRUWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH WHEN THE CAR FELT ALMOST LIKE IT DOWNSHIFTED AND THEN I TOTALLY LOST ACCELERATION AND THE WRENCH LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH. I LIMPED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR JERKED AND SPUTTERED BEFORE I SHUT IT OFF. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS FLOODED AT FIRST THEN IT TURNED OVER NORMALLY. I WAS AN HOUR FROM HOME AND MADE IT BACK WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING AND IT DID NOT SHOW ANY CODES. THEY SUGGESTED I REPLACE THE PURGE VALVE, AND AS I HAD A BUSY WEEK OF WORK RELATED TRAVEL SCHEDULED I WENT AHEAD AND HAD THEM DO IT FOR $120. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. RIGHT? TODAY I GET AN HOUR FROM HOME AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I CALL MY DEALER AND THEY SUGGEST I FIND THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER AND TAKE IT THERE IMMEDIATELY. CLOSEST FORD DEALER COULDN'T TAKE ME FOR 2 WEEKS!! I WAS AN HOUR FROM MY DESTINATION, SO I DECIDED TO CHANCE IT. I DROVE ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SAME EXACT SCENARIO. I STARTED IT AGAIN, GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AND DROVE 10 MINUTES AND AGAIN, EXCEPT THIS TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. I AM 2 1/2 HOURS FROM HOME AND DRIVING A RENTAL. GARAGE WILL DIAGNOSE AND HOPEFULLY FIX TOMORROW. SERVICE TECH SAID IF HE HAD TO DIAGNOSE WITHOUT A CODE HE WOULD SAY THROTTLE BODY! IT ALSO SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS NOT COVERED BY MY 5 YEAR/60K WARRANTY EITHER. WITH ALL OF THE SIMILAR STORIES I HAVE READ ONLINE FORD NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL AND REIMBURSE US ALL FOR OUR EXPENSES. *TR
THE FIRST SIGN OF A PROBLEM WITH MY 2009 MERCURY MARINER (39,000 MILES) WAS THREE DAYS AGO WHEN IT STALLED AT A STOP LIGHT. TODAY WAS A BIT MORE DRAMATIC. AT 70 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE RPM SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN TO 900 AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS NONE RESPONSIVE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST ACROSS SEVERAL LANES ONTO TH…
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THE FIRST SIGN OF A PROBLEM WITH MY 2009 MERCURY MARINER (39,000 MILES) WAS THREE DAYS AGO WHEN IT STALLED AT A STOP LIGHT. TODAY WAS A BIT MORE DRAMATIC. AT 70 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE RPM SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN TO 900 AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS NONE RESPONSIVE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST ACROSS SEVERAL LANES ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AS I SLOWED TO A STOP THE VEHICLE BEGAN SURGING AND BUCKING. I NOTICED THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON. THEN I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. IT RESTARTED FINE A FEW MINUTES LATER AND RAN NORMALLY (NO WARNING LIGHTS) OVER TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. AFTER LISTENING TO MY STORY, THE FORD SERVICE MAN TOLD ME THAT HE WAS NEARLY CERTAIN THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE WAS QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE SINCE FOR YEARS HE'S BEEN DEALING WITH - ON AVERAGE - THREE OF THESE CASES PER WEEK. THAT'S ONE SERVICE MAN AT ONE DEALERSHIP. DO THE MATH! I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR IF FORD WOULD GIVE ME A BREAK ON THE REPAIR. HE SAID "NO", BUT AGREED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER ONLY 39,000 MILES. HE ALSO SAID IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME FILING A COMPLAINT TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. SO, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY FOUND NO ERROR CODES REGISTERED AND FOR THEIR TEST DRIVE IT RAN FINE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. BY THE WAY, THERE WAS AN EARLIER RECALL FOR OUR VEHICLE. IN SEPTEMBER 2010, THEY REPROGRAMMED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND REPLACED THE PLM, WHATEVER THAT MEANS. *TR
2009 MERCURY MARINER WITH ABOUT 90,000 MILES. WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING ABOUT 65-70 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE POWER TO CAR CUT OFF - WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE; DROVE TO RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR WAS STILL ON, BUT GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT WORK, WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON, CAR IDLING VERY ROUGHLY. TURNED CAR OFF. TURNED CAR BACK ON, W…
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2009 MERCURY MARINER WITH ABOUT 90,000 MILES. WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING ABOUT 65-70 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE POWER TO CAR CUT OFF - WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE; DROVE TO RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR WAS STILL ON, BUT GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT WORK, WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON, CAR IDLING VERY ROUGHLY. TURNED CAR OFF. TURNED CAR BACK ON, WRENCH LIGHT WAS OFF, DROVE ANOTHER 30 MINUTES TO DESTINATION WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN THE TWO HOUR DRIVE HOME, THE CAR CUT OFF FIVE MORE TIMES. I HEARD A BELL ALERT AUDIO SOUND A FEW TIMES, BUT THE ONLY LIGHT THAT CAME ON WAS THE WRENCH JUST AS THE POWER CUT OFF. THE VERY LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND STAYED ON EVEN AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR. I FEEL VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE GOT HOME ALIVE AND WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. DEALER RECOMMENDS A 90M SERVICE PACKAGE ($547), A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ($104), AND POSSIBLY A THROTTLE BODY AND/OR SENSOR ($300-ISH). *TR
DRIVING ALONG AND UNEXPECTEDLY ENGINE GOES IN LIMP MODE WITH NO WARNING AND NO ACCELERATION- EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS WAS DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *TR
ON EXPRESSWAY, MY VEHICLE WENT INTO LIM HOME MODE. IT CONTINUALLY DID THIS, SO I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE AUTO SHOP. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY YEAR VEHICLE AND YOU FOLKS ARE LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL RECALL IT. *TR
CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND REDUCE SPEED TO ABOUT 20 MPH. THEN IDLED VERY, VERY ROUGH - CLOSE TO SHUTTING DOWN. SAT FOR A WHILE RESTARTED IT UP AND COULD NOT GET IT PAST 20 MPH. ENDED UP TAKING IT TO DEALER NEXT DAY AND THEY LOOKED INTO IT. TOOK APART THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR AND CLEANED IT. WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT A…
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CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND REDUCE SPEED TO ABOUT 20 MPH. THEN IDLED VERY, VERY ROUGH - CLOSE TO SHUTTING DOWN. SAT FOR A WHILE RESTARTED IT UP AND COULD NOT GET IT PAST 20 MPH. ENDED UP TAKING IT TO DEALER NEXT DAY AND THEY LOOKED INTO IT. TOOK APART THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR AND CLEANED IT. WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, BUT TODAY EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. *TR
Official recalls
114V284000 · 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
2DP15001 · 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