Mercury Mariner Steering Problems
Owners have filed 557 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Mercury Mariner across 7 model years. The 2008 model year has the most (297). The words owners use most often: “steering assist” (25% of reports).
- 557steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 27%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 139 of 557 complaints (25%)
- Torque sensor: mentioned in 70 of 557 complaints (13%)
- Difficult turn: mentioned in 54 of 557 complaints (10%)
- Wheel became: mentioned in 50 of 557 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 Mercury Mariner at $1,800, and half of them between $1,100 and $2,050.
Based on 41 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2023), 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 457 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 557 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 9 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
Model years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
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 2010 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, an alarm sounded, and the steering wheel locked up. The message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. The contact was able to drive to the residence nearby. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…
The contact owns a 2011 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering became inoperable with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering shaft port sensor had failed and needed to be…
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 Mercury Mariners have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 557 owner complaints about steering for the Mercury Mariner. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 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.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Mercury Mariner?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,800 (half paid between $1,100 and $2,050), from 41 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Mercury Mariner?
The most frequent phrase is “steering assist”, in 139 of 557 complaints, followed by “torque sensor” (70).
Other Mercury Mariner problems
See all Mercury Mariner problems.