2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid: sudden loss of power

Filed Nov 6, 2023 · Steering · 226,118 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The Power Steering Assist Fault message was displayed. The contact was able to drive to her destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 226,118.

Filed Jun 24, 2022 · Steering · 160,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 5-10 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving however, extra effort was needed to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module needed to be replaced. The contact became aware of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that he would be responsible for the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Filed Mar 3, 2022 · Steering · 143,340 miles · CO

The contact's son owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The contact stated that while her son was starting the vehicle, the steering wheel lost power steering functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's son was able to continue the drive the vehicle, however, extra effort was needed while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that no assistance could be provided because the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately was 143,340.

Filed Feb 16, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 52,000 miles · CA

Experienced two in-traffic drive-train shut-downs as dangerous as the g.m. Ignition switch malfunctions... Traveling in 60mph-70mph night-time valentine's night freeway traffic on the I-405 in santa ana, ca. In the #3 lane of 5 lanes, the check engine warning light suddenly flashed on - accompanied by the `screech' of the `check gauges' tone - and the drive-train lost all power -- along with the absolutely worthless text "stop safely now". With no power steering, and limited brake booster reserves, I activated the hazard flashers - and thanks to alert and courteous traffic, was able to stop in a "reverse gore-point" between the freeway lanes and an outside transition road. Things could have come out far-worse if overtaking drivers had been inattentive - or we had to cross the path of a big-rig with limited braking- or steering capabilities. As an accident reconstructionist, this is unacceptable. This is the second of our family's fomoco hybrids to experience such in-use drive-train shut-downs that provide the driver with no usable warnings of impending doom - not even "limp-away power" ... The "after-it's-too-late" message-panel might as well display "kiss your a$$ goodbye". The idiot fomoco engineers who decided to "protect" the hybrid battery by "stalling" the vehicle on the freeway obviously never considered what a freeway-speed rear-end impact would do to their precious battery...or to the "replaceable" living occupants of the vehicle.

Filed Dec 16, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 92,600 miles · CO

Just after starting my car and driving down my street at ~5mph, there was a warning symbol (red triangle) and then message saying "stop safely now." the vehicle then lost power steering, and power to the engine. I restarted the car and made it ~100ft and the same thing happened again. This also happened several times previously on the highway traveling ~65mph and with the same message "stop safely now" message appeared and immediately lost all power to steering and the engine. I went to the ford dealership and was told to replace the hybrid coolant pump and blend doors and this fixed the problem for several months until today. I had also just taken the vehicle into the dealership for a recall on the power steering. This loss of power and ability to steer is extremely dangerous! This needs to be recalled!

Filed Dec 9, 2014 · 72,000 miles · OH

The SUV lost all power while driving 70mph on the highway...everything went off including the engine. The dashboard LED read pull over immediately.

Filed Sep 4, 2014 · Engine, Steering · 60,000 miles · CA

A "stop safely now" warning message came on when I was driving on the freeway at 60 miles per hour. The car immediately lost power and became difficult to steer. I pulled over to the right shoulder as safely and quickly as possible. This has occurred multiple times.

Filed Aug 14, 2014 · Acceleration · 110,000 miles · WA

Driving home from work at 6 pm on monday and I was going 35 MPH and the SUV hazard light came on and then said "pull over safely now" and I lost power and couldn't accelerate. Im glade I wasn't on the freeway. Took my SUV into ford and they said it was the throttle body. They are fixing it now $845 later im hoping its not going to happen again, but what I have read to a lot of people that have fixed theirs, the problem persists. Im not feeling very comfortable driving my SUV on the freeway, and I have to drive it on there 5 days a week for work. Wasn't expecting this to be such a big issue, makes me not want to buy another ford again.... They need to recall this for 2008 also not just the newer vehicles.

Filed Aug 7, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 95,000 miles · CA

While driving the vehicle shuts off with a red triangle and the display says to pull off safely. This has happened about 6 times already. I have taken it back to the ford dealer and they replaced the throttle body because there is a sensor that fails in the unit and they explained the factory calibrates the whole unit with a steep price tag. Lucky I still have 5000 miles till warranty expires. I guess a number of times it was not a big deal to pull over on the shoulder and restart the vehicle and carry on. This last time we had service done to the vehicle I informed the ford service agent that we were going on a long trip and if we should get a rental. He was confident the work they performed would resolve the shut down issue. We left la and went on our way to bishop for a group hiking trip. The mariner ran fine for 3/4 of the way and again while driving on a 2 lane road the mariner shuts off. I negotiated to the right as my speed was declining and a 18 wheeler was passing me up on the right and the car behind me was gaining on my rear. It was a bit scary but we managed to pull over safely. Upon turning off the mariner ignition and restarting we carried on to the destination. It was raining and a road conditions were not the best but we did not want to be stranded on the side of the road. Once again after driving for 10 minutes the mariner shut off and with the loss of power. Not a safe situation to have your engine shut off while driving in a freeway at speed of 65 and to suddenly loss your engine with no ability to accelerate out of a unsafe situation. It could be very dangerous if we were traveling on a windy single lane road without a shoulder as there are a bunch in the higher elevations where we hike. It would not be safe to stop and deal with this situation as cars are coming up a hill and your trying to reset the ignition computer system.

Filed Aug 7, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 96,000 miles · CA

Engine shuts off and display says to pull off road. This has been a on going problem. The dealer replaced the throttle body and it still happens. It is very unsafe to lose your vehicle's acceleration and have the engine turn off. I think it may be a computer code glitch because based on what I was told by the dealer the engine shuts off because a fuel mixture issue detect that may even be a false reading. This automated action within the vehicle brain decision puts many at risk as I found out when I was in the furthest left lane about a mile before the 55 freeway turn off while traveling south on the 91 freeway with the car shut off it's engine. I lost power and needed to pull over while a car behind me was flashing their headlights and the car to my right was slowly passing me up. Next came a bigger challenge since there were 2 big rigs on the road and I hit the brakes a little while signalling a lane change with my flashers on I managed to squeeze between the two rigs and almost caused the one behind me to rear end me. The big rig in turn caused the car behind to break and this almost lead to a pile up. That intersection on the freeway where the 55 freeway begins on your left lanes and the 91 freeways continues on the right is a very dangerous place to have to negotiate a pull over. It is compounded with a entry ramp with cars trying to quickly get into the left 2 lanes in order to get onto the 55 freeway. I do not see a reason to have your vehicle turn itself of for any reason other than a fire or a very serious safely issue. Based on what I know the computer of my vehicle puts people in danger over a possible issue with the smog pollution being too excessive for the moment.

Filed Mar 17, 2014 · Electrical · 82,000 miles · LA

While traveling down the interstate at approximately 70 MPH on a friday evening a red triangle shaped warning light came on saying "stop safely now", as the light came on the vehicle started loosing power going slower and slower, eventually slowing to 20 or 30 miles an hour, there was no safe place to pull over off the interstate. This was not safe at all. After pulling over, then pressing system reset buttons, turning off the vehicle and waiting a few minutes then restarting the vehicle it ran fine for the rest of the day and the following day. Then on sunday (a day and a half later) I was traveling down the interstate and it did the same thing, the light came on and I lost power. I repeated what I did the previous time, but it did it again while on the interstate, it did it several times. When I got back on the interstate the last time I kept my speed around 60 MPH and was able to make it home. This is not the first time the vehicle did this the same thing occurred about 6 months ago several times on the interstate. I assumed what ever the problem was it was it worked itself out because it had been so long since it occurred. I do not know what the source of the problem is and from what I have read I am leery of bringing it in for repair because ford doesn't even seem to know the source of the problem from everything I have read, and the owner ends up paying a lot of money for repairs that may or may not be the source of the problem.

Filed Sep 13, 2013 · Engine · 68,390 miles · IL

While traveling on an interstate highway, car lost power, speed declined to 25 MPH and went into hybrid mode. "pull over safely" light went on. We pulled over and turned off engine. After a few minutes it restarted and we were able to drive the car at normal speed. The outside temperature was high--in the 90s--and the air conditioning was on high when the power failed. We had a similar incident about a month earlier while trying to park the car on a hot day with air conditioning on..speed was minimal because we were parking but car lost power and pull over safely light went on. After second incident we took car to a ford dealer who said the hybrid system cooling pump had failed and needed to be replaced. Cost to replace the pump was $470.