2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid: steering wheel locks up

Filed Oct 23, 2018 · Electrical, Fuel system · UT

Car has been rock solid reliable up until 3 weeks ago. Driving normally on city streets the car abruptly shut down the hybrid and ice propulsion units. Steering froze up and it was like putting the brakes on it stranded me in the middle of traffic causing delays for other drivers and a dangerous obstruction. The car has no limp mode to allow for safely getting out of traffic. It had to be towed. Ford dealer has had car for 3 weeks and are still uncertain as to what caused the unsafe shutdown.

Filed Feb 24, 2017 · Electrical, Steering · 110,000 miles · KS

The power torque sensor for the power steering was already recalled and had the system updated before I got the car in 2014. The cars steering wheel starts shaking a little then all of a suddle the steering wheel locks up and the power steering stops working, so you can't hardly turn it. I came inches from getting in a wreck. You can update the system but it will only work for about 1 or 2 years.

Filed Oct 4, 2016 · Steering · 58,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mercury mariner hybrid. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and the power steering indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering torque sensor failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 58,000.

Filed Nov 7, 2014 · Steering · 87,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mercury mariner hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel seized. The contact mentioned that extreme force was required to control the steering wheel and the vehicle would independently resume to normal operation. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the computer needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000.

Filed Sep 7, 2013 · Steering · 110,000 miles · NJ

While driving the vehicle the power steering suddenly stops working and the steering gets extremely stiff. This has been happening for a few months now. At first it was in the middle of winter and I attributed it as a freak occurrence due to the cold weather. The next time it happened it was a warm spring day. Now it does not occur frequently, but without warning. One time I was making a left turn at a intersection and the steering froze up, causing me to make my turn really wide. I happened to have enough room to complete the turn without a collision, but under other circumstances this defect could cause an accident, possibly fatal in the event of a collision with an oncoming car or at greater speeds.

Filed May 17, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 39,380 miles · CA

On-freeway gas engine/electric motor shut-down. Driving in morning rush-hour traffic approximately 15 minutes after cold start in 60-degree weather, both the gasoline engine and the electric motor propulsion systems shut-down together without prior warning while the vehicle was in motion - "stop safely now" was the `too-little-too-late' info on the instrument panel. Neither power mode would restart with trans in neutral (I refused to try cycling ignition key to off, and risk steering lock). Fortunate to coast onto shoulder, where I had to move gear selector to park, turn ignition key full-off and then back to start, at which time normal operation resumed. Total loss of both power sources while in-use on a freeway ' and unable to re-activate without shifting transmission into park is absolutely inexcusable and unacceptable!