2009 Mercury Mariner: jerking or lurching

Filed Dec 14, 2023 · Steering · 150,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the steering wheel was jerking independently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Feb 1, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · WI

Electronic Power Steering System, which was part of a previous recall, and was allegedly fixed, but continues to experience the same loss of power steering. This is a continual problem, meaning that it is not a one time incident. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection at any time. When the power steering goes out while driving, the steering wheel jerks to one side, and feels like a lock-up. The vehicle is still drivable, but can be dangerous in a situation where attempting to avoid an obstacle, could result in an inability to do so, because the maneuvers are being executed for a vehicle with power steering, so when it goes out, those same corrections will not successfully avoid a collision. The dealership is aware of the problem. They did a system check and insist that the steering column needs to be replaced, and that it has nothing to do with the previous recall, but it is exactly the same problem involved with the recall, therefore I do not believe they are differing issues. I believe the initial recall repair was unsuccessful, or the wrong fix. There were three or four options for fixing the issue. There are no warning lights that come on prior to the power steering going out, but a click can be heard however, at the exact moment when the mechanism for the power steering goes out. The same click can be heard when the vehicle is started and the power steering does come on. It usually comes on when it is cold outside. It will then go out once the car gets warm. I bought the car in January of 2000, and I did not experience the issue for a few months. When it did start happening, it was only once in a while - maybe every few months. The problem started happening more frequently with time, with the current status being that the power steering is predominantly not working.

Filed Jan 8, 2020 · Steering · 108,000 miles · MI

My 2009 mercury mariner has an issue with the steering. Sometimes it works but most of the time it does not. There will be times when it does work it will go out in mid turn and jerk the wheel straight, sometimes causing me to swerve into traffic or out of my lane. I did hear that this particular vehicle was involved in a recall but I was not sure how to get that information.

Filed Dec 9, 2017 · Transmission · 94,700 miles · CA

Driving my 2009 mariner premier about 35/45 MPH when wrench symbol comes on indicating throttle control powertrain / transmission problem car is not accelerating properly and transmission is jerking when I step on the gas pedal and the car shakes vibrates and feels under powered. Got home and parked it. Started it up and now check engine light is also on. Is this covered by the recall for extended warranty from ford ?

Filed Feb 23, 2016 · Steering · 120,000 miles · IA

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 mercury mariner. While turning the steering wheel either left or right, the steering wheel jerked. After the steering wheel lost power, it went into manual steering mode. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was unaware if the vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was not provided.

Filed Jan 6, 2016 · Engine, Fuel system · 73,000 miles · NY

On 1/1/2016 I was driving on 495 w in queens, ny heading back to manhattan where I live. Out of nowhere the car began jerking, a wrench light on the dash panel came on (which I never saw before) and I could tell the car was decelerating. I tried hitting the accelerator again, the car would jerk, the engine was revving but was barely moving. I knew I had to pull over and luckily I was able to navigate to the shoulder of the road. This was an extremely dangerous situation. I am a confident driver, however, a less confident or timid driver most likely would have panicked and gotten into a potentially serious collision.

Filed Feb 22, 2014 · Steering · 49,000 miles · PA

While waiting at a stop sign to make a right turn, my steer wheel jerked in my hand and seem to lock. When the traffic cleared, I tried to make the turn and the steering wheel had definitely lock, making it impossible to turn and steer and placing me in a very dangerous situation. I stopped the car and turned it off while in traffic. When I restarted the car the steering had unlocked. My car was in an accident a month prior to this incident and I had body work done, however the dealership and the insurance company both stated that this was not a result of the accident. The steering on the 2009 mercury mariner is electronic and failed to operate properly. The entire steer column has to be replace at my expense.

Filed Nov 6, 2013 · Transmission · 119,960 miles · VA

I was driving and all of a sudden I lost power. There was jerking in the transmission.

Filed Sep 5, 2013 · Acceleration · 84,000 miles · GA

Upon accelerating, vehicle stalled. Occurred on aug 29 and again on sept 4. Had to glide to a stop on highway shoulder, put car in park, turn off, and restart. I've had intermittent issues for a while where car doesn't accelerate when pushing on the accelerator, then it lurches forward. Ford dealership said it was throttle body and repaired it. Upon looking online, this seems to be an ongoing issue with certain escapes and mariners.

Filed Aug 27, 2013 · Engine, Fuel system · 59,500 miles · PA

This actually first occurred on friday. I was traveling on the thruway at about 65mph when the car felt almost like it downshifted and then I totally lost acceleration and the wrench light appeared on the dash. I limped to the side of the road and the car jerked and sputtered before I shut it off. After a few minutes I restarted the vehicle and it sounded like it was flooded at first then it turned over normally. I was an hour from home and made it back without further incident. I took it to the dealer the next morning and it did not show any codes. They suggested I replace the purge valve, and as I had a busy week of work related travel scheduled I went ahead and had them do it for $120. Better safe than sorry. Right? Today I get an hour from home and it happens again. I call my dealer and they suggest I find the closest ford dealer and take it there immediately. Closest ford dealer couldn't take me for 2 weeks!! I was an hour from my destination, so I decided to chance it. I drove about 20 minutes and it happened again. Same exact scenario. I started it again, got back on the road and drove 10 minutes and again, except this time the engine light also came on. I called roadside assistance and was towed to a garage. I am 2 1/2 hours from home and driving a rental. Garage will diagnose and hopefully fix tomorrow. Service tech said if he had to diagnose without a code he would say throttle body! It also sounds like this is not covered by my 5 year/60k warranty either. With all of the similar stories I have read online ford needs to be forced to do a recall and reimburse us all for our expenses.

Filed Jun 10, 2013 · Acceleration · 32,000 miles · AR

While I was driving the car jerked as if I hit my brakes and it wouldn't let me accelerate anymore so I pulled over on the side of the road and the car was vibrating real rough so I turned the car off and sat there for a minute and tried starting it and it took a couple tries and I got down the road and pulled into where I was going and it did it again as I was pulling into a parking spot. I really hope this problem can get resolved soon with no cost iv done everything I can to my car to keep it in good condition as in getting the oil changed in it every three thousand miles and even putting the best gasoline in it at $3.65 cents a gallon so its time for ford/mercury to support there side of the situation.

Filed Jun 5, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 46,000 miles · FL

When being aggressive with the accelerator the engine stalls and the accelerator stops working forcing the driver to pull off of the road. When bring the car to a stop it jerks forward until it is put into park, still the accelerator does not work no matter how pushed. After turning it off start up takes longer than usual and either the little wrench or the engine symbol appears. After taking it to a mechanic it is diagnosed that is has a bad electronic throttle and it will have to be replace. Prior to this there has not had an accident, instance or work done that would cause this.