2008 MERCURY MARINER Electrical System Problems

Power steering goes out at regular intervals. in the same type of issue as the following Recall notice 14S05/NHTSA Or the Electric assist system as bad.

THE CAR WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (A CITY STREET, NOT A HIGHWAY) AND A TRIANGULAR LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH, ALONG WITH A MESSAGE TO STOP SAFELY. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I HAD TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. THIS HAD HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY AND I HAD PAID A DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE HYBRID COOLING PUMP. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS PART HAD BEEN RECALLED AND WAS REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE ORIGINAL REPAIR. THE SAME PART HAS FAILED AGAIN ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT UPON CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE PART AGAIN.

THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHEN IT COMES TO A STOP, MID TURN, SLOWING DOWN, AND SOMETIMES ACCELERATING. SEVERAL WEBSITES SHOW 100'S OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS A MAY SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT DIES AT ANY POINT WHILE DRIVING.

Mileage: 117,000

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN TRAFFIC AND HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL OVER OR GET OFF THE HIGHWAY.

Mileage: 135,000

FORD'S RECALL "CODE 14S19" ON 2005-2008 MARINER HYBRIDS AND ESCAPE HYBRIDS SHOULD COVER ALL OF THESE HYBRIDS BUT IT HAS EXCEPTIONS! FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON *SOME* OF THE 2005-2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS AND *SOME* OF THE CORRESPONDING MERCURY MARINER HYBRIDS. HOWEVER THEY ARE REFUSING TO ISSUE A RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR 2008 MARINER HYBRID (WHICH IS EXHIBITING THE ELECTRONIC OVERHEATING PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL WHERE THE STOP SAFELY NOW COMES ON AND THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER). THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX MY MARINER JUST BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH THE PARTICULAR MANUFACTURING LOT COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL FORD RECALL - THOUGH MY SUV DOES FALL IN THE DATE RANGE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL) I AM CERTAIN THIS RECALL SHOULD COVER MORE HYBRID SUV THAN FORD HAS ADMITTED TO, AND SINCE THE MARINERS HAD A VERY LIMITED PRODUCTION RUN, IT IS LESS LIKELY THAT THERE WIL BE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS DUE TO THIS VERY SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE - AND I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS INCLUDING ON NHTSA. FORD SHOULD EXPAND THIS RECALL TO INCLUDE ALL DEFECTIVE FORD ESCAPES AND MARINER HYBRIDS BEFORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS START OCCURRING AS A RESULT OF VEHICLES SHUTTING OFF DURING OPERATION BECAUSE OF EITHER DRIVE ELECTRONICS OVER HEATING DUE TO A BAD COOLANT PUMP, (AND POSSIBLY OTHER CAUSES?). ----RELEVANT RECALL-- NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY RECALLS RECALL NUMBER 14V526000 RECALL DATE 09/03/2014 COMPONENT HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM FORD CONTACT NUMBER FOR RECALLS 1-866-436-7332. RELEVANT LINKS: HTTPS://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/VEHICLE/2007/MERCURY/MARINER%252520HYBRID

Mileage: 120,000

SPEEDOMETER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES KEEP GOING OUT AND CAUSING SUV TO NOT START

Mileage: 129,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERBALE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS COLD STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO LOCATED FAILURE CODE: B2278 (STEERING TORQUE SENSOR). THE DEALER (KOONS SILVER SPRING FORD, 3111 AUTOMOBILE BLVD #1, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904, (855) 458-6764) DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND IGNITION HOUSING ASSEMBLY WERE NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

IN MARCH 2018, I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT AND MAKE A GRINDING SOUND. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS EVERY TIME FOR A COUPLE WEEKS. THEN TOWARD MID MARCH, I WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND THE POWER STEERING TOTALLY WENT OUT.IT STATED ON PANEL "POWER STEERING DEFAULT ASSIST." IT TOOK EXTREME EFFORT TO STEER THE WHEEL TO THE SIDE AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY RIGID. BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVE, IT HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN TO MOVE CAR IN APARTMENT PARKING LOT. I GOT THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE 2017 FROM A CAR DEALER WITH NO WARRANTY. FORD SAYS THIS VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL FOR TORQUE PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE. AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND A SAFETY HAZARD, I WANT THIS VEHICLE VIN ADDED TO RECALL LIST. IF I DRIVE IT ON OPEN ROAD, IT WILL SURELY CAUSE INJURY TO MY FAMILY. I CAN'T EVEN MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL.

Mileage: 143,750

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONWAY FORD (2393 US-501, CONWAY, SC 29526) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TT CONTACT STATES THAT WHEN VEHICLE WAS LEFT OVER NIGHT IN A PARKING GARAGE THE STEERING WAS COMPLETELY OUT UPON STARTING VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY STEERING WOULD WORK IS WITH THE HELP WITH ANOTHER PERSON TURNING THE WHEEL. CONTACT STATES IGNITION STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT

Mileage: 126,022

MANUFACTURER'S FAULTY IGNITION LOCK MODULE WEARS OUT PREMATURELY AND VEHICLE OFTEN DOESN'T START. CAUSED CONSISTENT BUT INTERMITTENT PROBLEM FOR LAST 3 YEARS. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 2008-2012 MARINERS, FORD ESCAPES AND 2008-2011 FORD FOCUS, WHICH ALL USE THE SAME IGNITION LOCK.

Mileage: 78,000

MY VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL 14S05 AND SAID RECALL WORK WAS DONE IN 2014 IN VA UNDER THE PREVIOUS OWNER, FORD DOES NOT HAVE RECORD OF WHAT "STEP" OR PART OF THE RECALL WAS DONE, THERE ARE 3 PARTS. LESS THAN 4 YEARS, THE RECALLED PART, THE TORQUE SENSOR IN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS FAULTED, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT WASN'T REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. SINCE IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE SAID RECALLED PART THAT WAS ORIGINALLY COVERED. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE WHEN THE ASSIST FAULTED CAUSING STEERING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT AND HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN ACCIDENT CAUSING. I FEEL THAT THE RECALL WORK SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO REPLACING THE PART SINCE IT WASN'T DONE ORIGINALLY UNDER THE RECALL OR WAS AGAIN REPLACED WITH A FAULTY SENSOR TO FAULT AGAIN WITHIN LESS THAN 4 YEARS

Mileage: 217,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MODULE WENT OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BARBER FORD IN HOLLAND, MI (640 E 8TH). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE OPERATING THE CAR, POSING A DANGER. TRANSMISSION LURCHES ON UPSHIFT BETWEEN 1 - 2 GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL NOT CHARGE BATTERY AND COMPLETELY FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION ON THE HIGHWAY, POSING A DANGER. VEHICLE MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY.

Mileage: 60,000

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A HIGHWAY, THE WARNING LIGHT CHIMES AND DISPLAYS TO "SAFELY STOP VEHICLE". THE CAR NO LONGER ACCELERATES AND SLOWS TO A STOP EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SHOULDER TO PULL OFF TO. I NORMALLY JUST HIT MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULL TO A STOP, WAIT A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPEN ONCE A MONTH AND SOMETIMES TWICE OR THREE TIMES IN A ROW. IF THE HYBRID ELECTRONICS SYSTEM OVERHEATS, IT MAY SHUT DOWN THE POWERTRAIN, RESULTING IN A STALL-LIKE CONDITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM #14S19. CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE ISN'T A PART OF IT EVEN THOUGH IT CLEARLY WAS BUILT IN THE SAME TIME AND HAS THE EXACT ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY PROBLEM.

Mileage: 133,500

STEERING WHEEL WILL FREEZE UP WHILE DRIVING. STEEL ON STEEL HORRIBLE NOISE WHEN DRIVING. SHIFTER GETS STUCK HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO START IT. *TR

Mileage: 235,508

KEY IGNITION DOESN'T WORK. CAR WON'T START WITHOUT JIGGLING KEY.

Mileage: 150,000

SAFETY RECALL 14S05 -AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL FORD UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE IN MY CAR IN DEC. 2015, BUT THREE MONTHS LATER THE STEERING FAILED. (THE CAR WAS PARKED ON A QUIET SAN FRANCISCO STREET WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AND REALIZED THAT THE STEERING WOULDN'T WORK.) I FIRST TOWED THE CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO LOOKED AT IT FOR A WEEK AND THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS RELATED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL; HE ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO FORD. WHEN I RE-TOWED THE CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THEIR WRITTEN COMMITMENT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND INSTEAD TRIED TO ARGUE THAT BECAUSE I GOT A SOFTWARE UPDATE, THEIR RESPONSIBILITY WAS OVER. WHEN I ASKED IF THE SYMPTOMS IN MY CAR MATCHED THOSE THE RECALL WAS MEANT TO FIX, THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THE SYMPTOMS MATCHED. THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING B/C A "CODE" DIDN'T TRIP. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE RECALL SAYS THAT SOFTWARE UPGRADES "MAY" FIX THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD AT LEAST NOTIFY THE DRIVER BY BEEPING. MY CAR NEVER BEEPED, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT "MAY" FIX THE PROBLEM IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR SAFETY! THE STEERING ISSUE SHOULD BE FIXED/REPLACED BY FORD! FORD IS NEGLIGENTLY PUTTING CUSTOMER LIVES IN DANGER. MOREOVER, FORD SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PUSH THE COST OF A MALFUNCTIONING, CORE PRODUCT FEATURE ONTO CUSTOMERS. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, AT THE TOP OF THE MARKET PRICE FOR IT, I WAS NOT TOLD "IN 50,000 MILES YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A COMPLETELY NEW STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE THIS ONE WILL FAIL AND PEOPLE IN YOUR CAR MAY DIE." PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS MANY CONSUMERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW FORD IS TRYING TO PUSH RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECALL 14S05 ONTO INDIVIDUAL CAR OWNERS.

Mileage: 59,234

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ENGINE, AND ABS SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND AN AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING MECHANISM WAS FAULTY. THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS REPROGRAMMED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED IN 2014 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,720.

Mileage: 92,720

MY PARENTS PURCHASED A 2008 MERCURY MARINER THIS LAST SPRING, AND JUST STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IS CUTTING IN AND OUT. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL GARAGE WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM (ERROR CODE THAT CAME UP WAS B1342-2F) AND RECOMMENDED WE REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. SINCE THAT IS A LARGE EXPENSE ($800) I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY LOOKED UP OUR VIN AND TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND THAT THE WORK FOR THE RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING WAS ALREADY DONE. (FORD'S RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS IS 14S05) MY QUESTION IS SINCE WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE (MEANING THE FIX DIDN'T SEEM TO LAST) IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FOR US TO HAVE FORD FIX THE PROBLEM NOW? ALSO, HOW LONG ARE THESE 'FIXES' SUPPOSED TO LAST? THE DATE THE RECALL WAS PUBLISHED BY NHTSA IS 2014-06-05, AND WE ARE ONLY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2015. I WAS THINKING THAT A RECALL FIX SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. IS NHTSA IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THIS ISSUE?

Mileage: 99,500

THIS IS REFERENCE TO NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10653141. I DISCOVERED THE JULY 1, 2014 FORD'S SAFETY RECALL 14S05 NOTICE TO ALL US FORD DEALERS. ON PAGE 6 A QUESTION AND ANSWER FOR THE FORD DEALERS FROM FORD'S SERVICE ENGINEERING OPERATIONS, REVEALS FORD NEVER ATTENDED THE REPROGRAMMING THE MODULES TO FIX THE SAFETY RECALL FOR ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FOR ESCAPES AND MARINERS 2008-2011 MODELS. THIS IS THE EXCERPTS FROM THIS DOCUMENT TILTED JULY 1, 2014 TO: ALL US FORD AND LINCOLN DEALERS SUBJECT SAFETY RECALL 14S05. Q3. WHAT DOES THE SOFTWARE UPDATES DO? A. THE SOFTWARE UPDATES MAY EXTEND THE TIME STEERING ASSIST IS MAINTAINED. IN ADDITION, THE UPDATE PROVIDES INCREASED DRIVER AWARENESS BY SOUNDING A CHIME AND DISPLAYING THE WRENCH LIGHT OR WARNING IN THE MESSAGE CENTER WHEN A FAULT IS DETECTED. Q4. WHAT IF A CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST AFTER THE MODULES HAVE BEEN REPROGRAMMED? A. THE MODULES WERE REPROGRAMMED TO PREVENT SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SOFTWARE UPDATE WILL PROVIDE AUDIBLE AND VISUAL INDICATIONS TO THE DRIVER IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF A TORQUE SENSOR FAULT. ANY SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ASSIST REPAIRS EXPERIENCED AFTER COMPLETION OF MODULE REPROGRAMMING ARE NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. Q5. WHAT SHOULD I TELL A CUSTOMER WHO EXPERIENCES LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST AFTER THE RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED? A. THE MODULES WERE REPROGRAMMED TO PREVENT SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENT OF A TORQUE SENSOR FAULT. CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN OR TORQUE SENSOR IS AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

Mileage: 94,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. AFTER THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED STEERING AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION FROM ON TO OFF SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN RAINING, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WOULD GET WET AND CAUSED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,400. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 70,400

DECEMBER, 2013, I WAS EXITING PARKING LOT ONTO A MAIN STREET THAT HAD 2 LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HALFWAY INTO THE STREET, LOST POWER STEERING BUT WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO SIDE OF ROAD. JANUARY, 2014 CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 25 MILES PER HOUR, LOST POWER STEERING. FORTUNATELY I WAS NEAR THE GARAGE THAT DOES MY REPAIRS, OIL CHANGES, ETC.. MARCH, 2014, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, NO POWER STEERING, HAD TO WAIT ABOUT A HALF HOUR UNTIL POWER STEERING RETURNED...KEPT TURNING CAR OFF AND ON EVERY 10 MINUTES. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE 3 TIMES BY EMAIL (JAN-MAR). MY LAST 3 CARS HAVE BEEN FORD PRODUCTS BUT APPARENTLY BRAND LOYALTY IS NOT VALUED. REPLIES WERE--SORRY YOU ARE HAVING ISSUES-NO FOLLOW UP FROM FORD EVEN WHEN HEY KNEW THEY WERE ISSUING A POWER STEERING RECALL AS OF APRIL-MAY, 2014. I PAID $2,500 IN REPAIRS FROM DEC'13-MAR'14. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT ,AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST QUIT. THE TURN WAS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPLETE AND I ALMOST RAN OVER A GAS STATION SIGN. AFTER WRESTLING THE CAR TO A STOP IN A GAS STATION I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND CALLED MY HUSBAND. HE SUGGESTED I HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. WHILE ON THE PHONE I RESTARTED THE TRUCK AND THE POWER ASSIST RESUMED WORKING. I RETURNED HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED IF THEY ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO CONTROL A TRUCK LIKE THIS WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. THE POWER ASSIST HAS QUIT THREE TIMES SINCE AND ONLY MY HUSBAND DRIVES THE VEHICLE NOW. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND AN INCREASINGLY SEVERE "SHAKING" OF OUR STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT IS WORKING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. THE PART ALONE IS $900, $1,400 WITH LABOR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THIS IS QUITE A COMMON ISSUE FOR '08 ESCAPES AND MARINERS (HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/ESCAPE/2008/STEERING/POWER_STEERING_FAILURE.SHTML). IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I CANNOT TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. IT HAS NOT GONE OUT MID-DRIVE FOR US YET, BUT HAVE READ OF THAT HAPPENING TO PEOPLE. FOR US, WHEN WE TURN THE VEHICLE ON, THERE WILL BE NO POWER STEERING AND WE HAVE TO TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN 1-3 TIMES BEFORE THE POWER STEERING WILL WORK. AND THEN THERE IS A SEVERE "SHAKING" WHILE DRIVING. I AM SHOCKED THE DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR THESE VERY POPULAR CARS. WE DRIVE A 3 YEAR OLD AND 5 MONTH OLD IN OUR CAR. WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS TYPE OF REPAIR, BUT CLEARLY CANNOT AFFORD TO DRIVE OUR CHILDREN IN THE CARS VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 65 MPH, IMMEDIATELY LOSING ALL POWER. MESSAGE ON DASH READ "STOP SAFELY NOW". THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AND IT HAS OCCURED 8 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. FORD HAS REPAIRED THE CAR FOR THIS 3 TIMES (IN 2009, 2010, 2013), THE FIRST 2 IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THIS LAST ONE THE REPAIR COST WAS $350. WHAT IS TERRIFYING ABOUT THIS SITUATION IS THAT IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND YOU HAVE ABOUT 10 SECONDS TO REACT, I'VE BEEN VERY CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED A COUPLE OF TIMES. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE EVERY TIME, BUT WHAT SURPRISES ME IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS SITUATION IS SO SERIOUS, I DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL NOW IT'S SO COMMON. I WILL BE SHOPPING FOR A NEW CAR SOON, I HAD ENOUGH. I KEPT THE CAR THIS LONG BECAUSE OTHER THAN THIS ISSUE, I REALLY LOVE DRIVING IT. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

NEW 2008 MERCURY MARINER INTERMITTENT WILL NOT START OR HARD TO START AND WHEN STARTS EMITS HEAVY BLACK SMOKE FROM EXHAUST. WHEN CAR DID NOT START LEFT DAUGHTER IN A UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP, SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADMITTED FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE CAR BULLETIN # 6023000 AND # 20140. DEALERSHIP ALSO ADMITTED FORD HAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. CAR IS UNSAFE AND CAN LEAVE THE DRIVER IN A DEADLY SITUATION. *TR

Mileage: 4,120