2009 Mercury Mariner Steering Problems
Owners have filed 167 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2009 Mercury Mariner, 53% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 119,588 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering assist” (25% of reports).
- 167steering complaints
- 119,588median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 22%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 42 of 167 complaints (25%)
- Torque sensor: mentioned in 15 of 167 complaints (9%)
- Electric power: mentioned in 15 of 167 complaints (9%)
- Difficult maneuver: mentioned in 9 of 167 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2009 Mercury Mariner at $1,900, and half of them between $1,600 and $2,000.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2021), 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 121 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 167 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 1 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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2009 Mercury Mariners have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 167 owner complaints about steering for the 2009 Mercury Mariner (53% of the 315 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 2009 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 119,588 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2009 Mercury Mariner?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,900 (half paid between $1,600 and $2,000), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2009 Mercury Mariner?
The most frequent phrase is “steering assist”, in 42 of 167 complaints, followed by “torque sensor” (15).
Other 2009 Mercury Mariner problems
- Engine problems (53)
See all 2009 Mercury Mariner problems or steering problems across all Mariner years.