2008 Mercury Mariner Steering Problems
Owners have filed 297 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2008 Mercury Mariner, 64% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 120,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering assist” (23% of reports).
- 297steering complaints
- 120,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 30%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering assist: mentioned in 69 of 297 complaints (23%)
- Torque sensor: mentioned in 44 of 297 complaints (15%)
- Difficult turn: mentioned in 30 of 297 complaints (10%)
- Wheel became: mentioned in 27 of 297 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2008 Mercury Mariner at $1,800, and half of them between $1,100 and $2,650.
Based on 23 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 258 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 297 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 4 an injury.
Mercury Mariner steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Mariner | 20 | 23% | 127,500 |
| 2010 Mariner | 61 | 23% | 110,000 |
| 2009 Mariner | 167 | 53% | 119,588 |
| 2008 Mariner | 297 | 64% | 120,000 |
| 2007 Mariner | 1 | 3% | 49,845 |
| 2006 Mariner | 9 | 14% | 80,500 |
| 2005 Mariner | 2 | 3% | 30,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at 55 -60 MPH, the power steering failed. The steering wheel became increasingly difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was turned off while the contact inspected the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted but a short distance…
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was significantly difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the electric power steering…
The steering wheel does not return to center when making turns. It is more pronounced during left turns. This is a dangerous condition that could result in the vehicle going left or right of center and striking pedestrians, bicyclists, oncoming traffic, fixed objects. An independent service center…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2008 Mercury Mariners have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 297 owner complaints about steering for the 2008 Mercury Mariner (64% of the 461 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Mercury Mariner steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 120,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2008 Mercury Mariner?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,800 (half paid between $1,100 and $2,650), from 23 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2008 Mercury Mariner?
The most frequent phrase is “steering assist”, in 69 of 297 complaints, followed by “torque sensor” (44).
Other 2008 Mercury Mariner problems
- Power Train problems (66)
See all 2008 Mercury Mariner problems or steering problems across all Mariner years.