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

65,000 miles · Apr 22, 2014

Latches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LIFTGATE FAILED TO OPEN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10584127

120,000 miles · Apr 21, 2014

Steering

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FOR MANY WEEKS THE STEERING OF THE MARINER HAS BEEN "TWITCHING." THEN A FEW MORE WEEKS LATER, AT THE TIME WE WOULD START THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WOULD NOT BE WORKING MAKING IT VERY HARD TO TURN. WE WOULD JUST RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT THE STEERING WOULD BE BACK. NOW THE STEERING WILL QUICK AS WE ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO MANEUVER WHEN THE STEERING QUITS, AND IF IT WERE TO QUIT AS YOU WERE MAKING A TURN OR IN A SHARP CURVE, THE OUTCOME COULD POSSIBLY BE VERY BAD. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583875

59,000 miles · Mar 19, 2014

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH SPEED CONTROL ON AT 75 MPH, ALL OF THE SUDDEN VEHICLE RAPIDLY SPED UP TO 95 MPH. THE VEHICLE JUST TOOK OFF RAVING ENGINE UP. APPLIED BRAKES AND TOOK OFF CRUISE CONTROL. IF THERE HAD BEEN TRAFFIC THIS COULD OF BEEN A DANGEROUS OR DEADLY INCIDENT. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN BEFORE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, IT WOULD SPEED UP WHILE MAKING A TURN. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE BY A FORD DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573444

50,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S DASH LIGHTS AND HEAD LAMPS GO BLACK FOR 2-5 MINUTES BEFORE COMING BACK ON. MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. I ALSO CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AS THIS PROBLEM POSES A HAZARD DURING NIGHT DRIVING. TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE ALL ACCELERATION, THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD POSING A HAZARD AS YOU HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AN ON AGAIN TO REGAIN CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568954

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2014

EquipmentPower Train

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MY CAR 2009 MERCURY MARINER PREMIER, HAS BEEN SLIPPING (TACH GOES UP BUT MY SPEED DOES NOT) SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 2-3 YEARS AGO. THERE IS NOW ABOUT 56,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN A COLD WINTER, AND WHEN I START THE CAR AND IT IS COLD, I HAVE BEEN SEEING A LITTLE POOL OF OIL LIKE SUBSTANCE, AND WHEN I BACK UP, THERE IS A LINE OF IT. IT THEN SEEMS TO STABILIZE AND STOP. ONE DAY I WAS USING THE CAR COLD, AND THE TACK WENT UP, BUT I COULDN'T GO ANY FASTER, OR UPSHIFT. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE, AND THEY SAID: 6F35 TRANSMISSION - FLUID LEAK - SEAL - LEFT SIDE HALFSHAFT. THE GARAGE POINTED OUT THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY YEAR MERCURY MARINER, AND ALSO THE FUSION, MILAN, AND ESCAPE. THE GARAGE SAID THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I CAN MAKE A COPY OF THE BILL AND SEND IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND THE WHEEL COULD FALL OFF. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS ONGOEING PROBLEM WITH MY FORD MERCURY MARINER, AND OTHER FORD MODELS. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568028

137,500 miles · Mar 6, 2014

Steering

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STARTED THE CAR LIKE NORMAL WENT TO LEAVE FROM MY PARKING SPACE WHEN STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN FREELY. DROVE THAT WAY TO WORK (THOUGHT IT WAS ICE IN SYSTEM DUE TO A SNOW STORM) CALLED MY MECHANIC BUT WHEN I WENT BACK AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN IT WAS FINE, IT DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN FOR A WEEK. ONE DAY AS I WAS DRIVING IT STARTED HAPPENING WHICH NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. READ A POST THAT IT HAPPENED TO SOME OTHER PEOPLETHIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD, I HAVE A KIDS AND GRANDCHILDREN THAT RIDE WITH ME I WILL NOT PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567727

100,000 miles · Mar 3, 2014

Steering

POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING. IF YOU STOP SHUT OFF CAR THEN RESTART POWER STEERING WILL WORK FOR AWHILE. FORD HAS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. SUGGESTED FROM FORD DEALERSHIP WAS TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN AT $1400.00. THIS IS NOT AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE AND EFFECTS 2008,2009, 2010 FORD AND MERCURY VEHICLES. AFRAID TO D…

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NHTSA ODI #10566865

49,000 miles · Feb 22, 2014

Steering

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WHILE WAITING AT A STOP SIGN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, MY STEER WHEEL JERKED IN MY HAND AND SEEM TO LOCK. WHEN THE TRAFFIC CLEARED, I TRIED TO MAKE THE TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD DEFINITELY LOCK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND STEER AND PLACING ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR THE STEERING HAD UNLOCKED. MY CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT A MONTH PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND I HAD BODY WORK DONE, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY BOTH STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE STEERING ON THE 2009 MERCURY MARINER IS ELECTRONIC AND FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE ENTIRE STEER COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565425

117,605 miles · Feb 7, 2014

Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

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DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE", PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, CALLED FOR TOW AND HAD CAR TAKEN TO SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR. SHOP DETERMINED IT WAS FAULTY THROTTLE BODY ( THERE WERE OVER 700,000 ORDERS FOR REPLACEMENTS ON WEBSITE AT THIS TIME)PART WAS ON BACKORDER---CAME IN, WAS REPLACED AND I PAID THE BILL OF $720.60 FOR PARTS, LABOR, TOWING AND TAXES. I GOT LETTER FROM FORD THAT PART IS NOW A RECALL ITEM SO I TAKE THE BILL TO KERRY FORD IN CINCINNATI, OH AND THEY TAKE ALL OF MY INFO AND SEND ME A CHECK FOR $167.85 AND TELL ME TOO BAD FOR NOT HAVING WORK DONE AT FORD STORE, THAT'S ALL I AM GOING TO GET. THIS DOES NOT EVEN COVER THE COST OF THE PART ALONE. SO AS A STRANDED MOTORIST, I WAS SUPPOSED TO THINK OF A FORD DEALERSHIP FIRST INSTEAD OF SAFETY FIRST AND GETTING MY CAR REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563411

33,000 miles · Jan 5, 2014

EngineVehicle Speed Control

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THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER AND ACCELERATOR IS UNRESPONSIVE. THIS FIRST OCCURRED WITH APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES WHILE STILL IN WARRANTY AND DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. VEHICLE WAS FINE UNTIL NOVEMBER OF 2013 WITH ABOUT 80,000 MILES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE VEHICLE GOES DOWN TO IDLE SPEED AND WITH NO POWER, IT'S VERY HARD SOMETIMES TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITH ONLY COAST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE AS I'M AWARE OF THE MANY OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM. I'M MAKING THIS COMPLAINT TO TRY AND HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS AND ALSO TO DOCUMENT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558529

Official recalls

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

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