2009 Mercury Mariner Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Mariner years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 315 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Mercury Mariner. That ranks 2nd out of 11 Mariner model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (167 complaints, 53%), typically at around 119,588 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 3 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 315owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2009 Mercury Mariner problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 167 | 53% | 119,588 | “steering assist” (25%) | $1,900 |
| Engine problems | 53 | 17% | 73,000 | “throttle body” (30%) | — |
| Power Train | 44 | 14% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 41 | 13% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 22 | 7% | 98,291 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 15 | 5% | 76,750 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 15 | 5% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 15 | 5% | 96,161 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 3% | 99,146 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 2% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 7 | 2% | 60,524 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 1% | 16,804 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 1% | 147,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 1% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 1% | 1,906 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 1% | 163,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 0% | 1,906 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2009 Mercury Mariner recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of power steering while driving (DP15001) — opened Apr 1, 2015, closed Jun 14, 2018.
- Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction (PE13003) — opened Feb 21, 2013, closed Feb 28, 2014.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My vehicle was returned to me following a torque sensor replacement on 4/9/2026 in poor condition (locked steering and a catastrophic gash in the driver-side tire) rendering it undrivable and unsafe. Crossroads Ford of Prince George shop's inspection report claims the tire damage was pre-existing…
The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds on several occasions, the steering wheel started shaking abnormally. The contact added that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality…
My steering has been locking while I am driving and causing loss of steering and control of car. I have contacted crossroads dealer and I have not gotten a response as I am now aware there has been a safety recall on this vehicle.
The power steering stopped working. A note did appear to let me know it wasnât working. I took it in to the mechanic and he confirmed the power steering wasnât working.
Drivers rear shock rusted off the wheel well causing wheel to snap and metal frame to hit the ground while I was traveling 40 mph. At this time the other wheels locked up and started squealing causing loss of control of vehicle shooting me across lanes and hitting curbs on both sides. This was…
Other Mercury Mariner years
← 2008 Mariner · 2010 Mariner →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Mariner | 87 | 2 |
| 2010 Mariner | 270 | 2 |
| 2009 | 315 | 1 |
| 2008 Mariner | 461 | 3 |
| 2007 Mariner | 33 | 2 |
| 2006 Mariner | 63 | 3 |
| 2005 Mariner | 67 | 2 |
| 2004 Mariner | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 Mariner | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 Mariner | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 Mariner | 0 | 1 |
See all Mercury Mariner problems by year, every Mercury model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Mercury models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mercury Mariner?
Owners most often report steering, engine, power train problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 167 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Mercury Mariner?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2009 Mercury Mariner a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Mariner model years, the 2009 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.