2009 Mercury Mariner: stuck in gear or won't shift

6 of the 315 complaints about the 2009 Mercury Mariner describe stuck in gear or won't shift.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 2%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 8 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Stuck in gear or won't shift by model year

2011
2
2010
11
2009
6
2008
3
2007
6
2006
1

What owners say

Filed Apr 27, 2024 · Steering · FL

Months back there were times the power steering would go out, it would be for short amount of times and always came back. As of 40+ days ago the power steering has totally gone out and has not once come back. The dash says "power steering assist fault" The other issue is the wrench on the dash. It's normally after driving for quite some time. Even if there has been a break on the car while grocery shopping etc. when it comes on the car goes into limp mode. VERY DANGEROUS as we cannot tell when it'll happen. There has been multiple times the light turns green we take off, get to about 15-20MPH and she just stops. The dash reads to safetly pull over and I believe it says to shut off the car. This has been happening for 5+ months. There is also random over heating when that happens. This is based on how I remember it. Because of the safety issues I have not driven the vehicle. My husband drives it because he can handle no power steering better then me... Not that it's better for anyone to use..

Filed Feb 7, 2014 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 117,605 miles · IN

Driving home from work the car went into "limp mode", pulled over to side of road, called for tow and had car taken to shop for diagnostics and repair. Shop determined it was faulty throttle body ( there were over 700,000 orders for replacements on website at this time)part was on backorder---came in, was replaced and I paid the bill of $720.60 for parts, labor, towing and taxes. I got letter from ford that part is now a recall item so I take the bill to kerry ford in cincinnati, oh and they take all of my info and send me a check for $167.85 and tell me too bad for not having work done at ford store, that's all I am going to get. This does not even cover the cost of the part alone. So as a stranded motorist, I was supposed to think of a ford dealership first instead of safety first and getting my car repaired.

Filed Dec 27, 2013 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 94,000 miles · FL

While driving the mariner at 45 MPH on a busy street, the engine went into limp mode, lost all acceleration and slowed to 5 MPH. I was nearly rear-ended by the truck behind me and was forced to pull up onto a sidewalk, damaging my tire. Pulled the codes on the car and got a p111 code. Did some searching on the internet and found that this is a common issue and an extreme safety hazard. I was very happy that I was the driver, and not my 16 year old daughter!!! This is the second safety issue we have had with this car in the last month -- earlier the power steering went out, again without any warning in traffic.

Filed Oct 9, 2013 · Electrical · OH

My mercury mariner 2009 has had issues for the past year in regards to the vehicle unexpectedly goes into "limp home mode" at reduced power, like while sitting at traffic light or stop sign. Also, the wrench light will go on while driving and I lose acceleration power. I can push the gas pedal down and nothing happens, the engine is still on but no acceleration power. I will coast until I can get to a safe spot to have to power it off and then restart it. This is very dangerous while driving in rush hour back and forth to work each day. The car lags when accelerating and also pumps while when coming to a stop. I do not feel safe in the car and wish I had never bought it. I can't even make a trip to the store without worrying about the wrench coming on or it going into limp mode.

Filed Oct 4, 2013 · Engine · 78,600 miles · PA

Car went into "limp mode" twice within a 3 mile span while doing approx 50mph on a country road. Both times, stopping and restarting the engine allowed normal operation. 5 days prior, the car also stalled twice. Once while pressing the gas from a complete stop, the other while pressing the gas just before coming to a complete stop (traffic signal went from red to green). This is happening less than 10 days after I had vct solenoids replaced that were causing the check engine light to come on.

Filed Aug 8, 2013 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 45,300 miles · PA

Driving along and unexpectedly engine goes in limp mode with no warning and no acceleration- extremely dangerous as was driving on expressway when this occurred.