The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (tires). While driving at 30 mph, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the electric power steering needed to be replaced and stated that the vehicle would not be repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (tires) due to a recent repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,363.

- Hornell, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. While driving at 35 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the power steering assist fault warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The contact believed the failure was related to the recall. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,719.

- Fairmont, WV, USA

While driving my 2008 Mercury Mariner, my steering went out on a curve on a 4 lane highway which caught me off guard. I could not move my steering wheel which caused me to almost drive into the car beside me. I pulled over to get gas & when I started the car, the steering was fine. I was told that it would cost at least $545 for just the sensor but that the whole steering column would need replacing so it would be a lot more than that to fix. I was unable to afford a repair, I simply stayed on my guard & would just pull over & re-start the car so that I could drive again safely. Then I got notice of a recall so I took it in & told them that I had issues with the steering & was very glad that there was finally a recall. Then 2 mos later, the steering went out again & this time it is worse than before. I can no longer turn the car off & re-start it to get steering, it is simply gone out completely & it harder to turn than ever. The steering wheel actually tries to turn the opposite way that the direction that I am turning. I called the dealership & they told me that this happened to another person & Ford would not cover it and told me that all they did was re-program the car. After researching the recall, I found that if the car shows history of a loss of the torque sensor, that the torque sensor was to be replaced. I then called Ford customer care & the lady there was very cold & simply stated that there was nothing they would do since it was already fixed once. I told her that it was not repaired correctly because of previous issues with it, it should have been replaced. She told me to take it up with the dealer that I took it to. I now have neck problems due to driving my unsafe car that I have no money to repair & am still making payments on. This is my only vehicle & I still need to get to work & get my son to school so I am left with no choice but to drive it.

- Kearney , NE, USA

I took my car in for the power steering recall they supposedly fixed it I have no proof of that. Since I have gotten my vehicle back the steering wheel started shaking while at a complete stop I took my vehicle back to the dealership and they have told me that I need a new steering column because the torque sensor is bad which is part of the recall and that Ford will not cover this under the recall because they already fix it which again I have my concerns that they did not really fix it in the first place.

- Davisburg, MI, USA

On August 8th 2014. At the time of the repair at sunnyvale Ford, I told the advisor ([xxx] ) that I had an incident where the power steering stopped working and reverted to manual mode. Sunnyvale Ford then only conducted a re-programming of the electrical power steering. On Wednesday, January 21st 2015 while driving my kids to school the power steering went into manual mode again and failed to work (steering wheel was stiff). Sunnyvale Ford then directed me to the advisor ([xxx] ) and they asked for the vehicle to be taken in to their shop for a diagnosis (with a fee of $150). I called Ford customer service to talk to someone and get their help on the issue, I talked to a representative that told me there was a 12,000 mile/ 12 month warranty on the recall repair. I then had the vehicle towed to sunnyvale Ford on Friday morning (1/24/15) I was advised that they needed authorization from Ford (manufacturer) to re open the recall and replace the power steering torque under the recall, but would not have information until Monday January 26th. On Monday, January 26th I called, I was then told that [xxx] was out for the day and no one else could help me. I called Ford directly to ask for assistance in getting this expedited, they advised me that there was no warranty (contradicting what the representative told me on 1/23/14). I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told that there was a 24 hour call back to speak to a supervisor. On Tuesday, January 27th [xxx] called to tell me that the repair would not be covered under the recall and now they would have to replace the column (costing about $1,300). Later on Tuesday I received a call from Ford customer service supervisor [xxx] to tell me that it wasn't going to be covered. I asked to talk to his manager and he said he is the highest ranked so there was no one else I could talk to. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Sunnyvale, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel seized without any warning. The vehicle had to be pulled over, turned off and restarted in order to reset the computer. The contact stated that the recall repair was performed for NHTSA campaign id number: 14V284000 (steering). The dealer updated the pscm but the instrument cluster module was not replaced. The failure recurred and the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for further inspection, diagnosis and repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

My teenage son was driving this vehicle his 2008 Mercury Mariner when the steering wheel froze without warning. It took all my strength but he manage to get to his grandparents and pulled over. His dashboard indicated it was "power steering assist fail." The power steering failure was the #1 trending complaint on carcomplaints.com in April, 2014 and is a known problem. Prior to contacting the dealership, I research it and found that Ford issued safety recalls for approximately 1.1 million cars in North America. The first recall affected escape and Mercury from 2008-2011. However, I did not receive a recall notice and when the dealership was called we were informed the recall had expired. Safety recalls should not expired, especially for known issues like this.

- Anna, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number 14V284000 (steering) was received in May 2014. The vehicle was taken to the dealer in August 2014 and the power steering software update remedy was performed. On January 16, 2014 while driving the steering wheel began to vibrate and erroneously turn before eventually malfunctioning completely making the steering wheel very difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the steering column was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that due to the previous software updates the vehicle was not eligible for the recall remedy to replace the affected parts. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 114,000.

- Redford, MI, USA

When taking this vehicle in for recall service Ford # 14S05 (NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000), the reprogramming of the electronic power assist steering was done, but was told the steering shaft and lower U-joint was faulty and needed to be replaced. The description of the recall indicates failed components will be replaced, but upon inquiry at the dealer (brondes, toledo, Ohio) I was told it only applied to electronic components--not mechanical ones. The wear on these components is exactly what happens when the torque sensing device is not working properly. This seems to be me to be Ford not wanting to meet its financial obligation to fix this entire recall. This was a new design introduced in this model year and it is only now starting to fail. I asked the dealer about assistance with the repair and was denied; and I called the Ford hotline and was similarly denied assistance with the repair, but advised to retain my receipts in case there was further action on this recall. The internet has several references to this type of failure/repair. I think they are directly linked.

- Petersburg, MI, USA

TL- the contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the power steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The failure caused the contact to use excessive force to maneuver the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,810. Djr

- Westlake , OH, USA

Started vehicle. Dash message read "power steering assist failure." No power steering. After doing online research (it didn't take long to find similar to identical complaints), I found that there was a steering related recall pertaining to the vehicle (7/2014). Took vehicle to Lincoln-Mercury dealership from which it was purchased new. The dealer service department informed me that the recall work had been done the last time we had our oil changed over the summer, and that the recall had been "closed out".... we weren't informed of either the fact that there was a recall in the first place, or that they had "taken care" of it. The recall work was apparently to "reprogram" some "module" to simply make the driver aware that something has gone awry with the power steering (no kidding). The ultimate diagnosis: The vehicle needs a new steering column at a cost of nearly $1,300 as the "torque sensor" has failed. It is apparent to me and many others that the recall had nothing to do with repair of the failed component, which is not such an "unlikely event"....also, the failure of the component is not a matter of improper maintenance as could be the case with typical power steering systems...it just fails. The failure of the component(s) is however a pretty serious safety issue I would think. I will make the dealer service department aware of this, and continue to find out why these repairs should not be the responsibility of the manufacturer. By the way, mileage was 87,810 when this happened.

- Westlake, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel was extremely difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician reset the steering code to remedy the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Beaver Dam , WI, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 mph, the power steering failed. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed a power steering failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Blusston, IN, USA

TL- the contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that after the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign id number: 14V284000 (steering), the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 132,000. Djr updated 02/24/15 updated 9/13/2017

- Smithsburg, MD, USA

This is reference to NHTSA id number: 10653141. I discovered the July 1, 2014 Ford's safety recall 14S05 notice to all us Ford dealers. On page 6 a question and answer for the Ford dealers from Ford's service engineering operations, reveals Ford never attended the reprogramming the modules to fix the safety recall for electronic power steering for escapes and Mariners 2008-2011 models. This is the excerpts from this document tilted July 1, 2014 to: All us Ford and Lincoln dealers subject safety recall 14S05. Q3. what does the software updates do" a. the software updates may extend the time steering assist is maintained. In addition, the update provides increased driver awareness by sounding a chime and displaying the wrench light or warning in the message center when a fault is detected. Q4. what if a customer experiences loss of steering assist after the modules have been reprogrammed? a. the modules were reprogrammed to prevent sudden loss of steering assist while driving. Additionally, the instrument cluster software update will provide audible and visual indications to the driver in the unlikely event of a torque sensor fault. Any subsequent loss of assist repairs experienced after completion of module reprogramming are not covered by this recall. Q5. what should I tell a customer who experiences loss of steering assist after the recall has been performed" a. the modules were reprogrammed to prevent sudden loss of steering assist while driving in the event of a torque sensor fault. Customers should be advised that the replacement of the steering column or torque sensor is at their expense.

- Bridgeport, WV, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while approaching a stop sign, the steering wheel seized. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the torque needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Washington, MO, USA

I started losing power steering approximately once a month but could turn my car off and it would restore itself. I took my car in for the recall on July 29, 2014, and everything was fine for a few months but then November 8, 2014, it did the same thing as before and November 9, 2014, the power steering went out completely. I took my car to the Ford dealership that did the recall and they told me I needed a new steering column. Obviously their reprogramming in the recall did not fix the problem and have seen the same problem with other people. I keep getting the run around from customer relations who tells me the dealership needs to call the recall exemption department but when I tell the service department they act like they do not know what I am talking about and that due to my vehicle having so many miles they can't help me. It only has 5,000 miles since the recall. The dealership even told me they had another Mariner do the same thing recently. Ford needs to own up to their faulty steering in these vehicles before people get seriously injured due to this.

- Garland, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that the remedy for NHTSA campaign number 14V284000 (steering) was completed on October 31, 2014 and the dealer updated the software for the power steering control module. The contact mentioned that while operating the vehicle the power steering malfunctioned making the steering wheel very difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the torque sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced but would not repair the failure as part of the recall. After notifying the manufacturer, the contact was informed that the remedy to satisfy the recall had been completed previously when the dealer updated the software. The failure mileage was 100.000. The VIN was not available.

- King City, MO, USA

Power steering cuts out intermittently with no warning. Brought to dealer in September 2010 and they could not find problem. It has happened many times since then. In early 2013 it became more frequent and in February 2013 it was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with a problem that could only be remedied by the complete replacement of the steering column. This repair was done for a cost of $1087.41. No further problems to date. It has since come to my attention that Ford has recently issued a recall on vehicles like mine manufactured at the Kansas City plant that are experiencing the same exact issues that I have experienced. My vehicle was made at the Kansas City plant. I contacted Ford and they told me my car is not involved in the recall. I find this hard to believe and think the recall should include my vehicle. I assume that because their data base shows I have already paid to have the complete steering column replaced (which was the only available remedy at the time) it is no longer necessary to modify this vehicle. I feel it is only fair that I be reimbursed for the repair. We am the original owner of the vehicle.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

I have a 2008 Mercury Mariner (VIN # [xxx]) that had the power steering recall in August 2014, where the dealer updated the software (NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000). Three months later (11/3/2014) my power steering is out and needs to be replaced. I am being told since the recall is closed out that it is now my problem to have fixed, yet under the recall they could have replaced the steering column and power steering module software. I completely do not understand this. The safety issue is still present under the recall and obviously was not fixed, surely Ford would want to fix it. At least do the things that should have been completed under the original recall. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Bridgeport, WV, USA