My EPS failed in my 2009 Mercury Mariner about a month ago. I replaced the EPS's Rotator Torque senser and my power steering is a little better but still feels like there's no power steering. Can hold it straight a little easier when driving down the road, but nothing else. I'm puzzled. I don't know if I should buy another one and try that, or put the old one back in and see if my friend-the one who fixed it last time-can do a hard reset into it again and have that fix it because 2 years ago. The prior owner, lost the EPS and his cousin put on his computer and did a hard reset-it saying power steering motor failure-and that fixed it. He never had another problem w/ the EPS. I put my OBD 2 on it and cleared a bad coil code, and an Evap. code, and around that same time I lost my power steering. Is there anything else besides the EPS Rotator Torque Sensor that gives the steering power assist, I wonder.

Driving off of a parking lot onto a one way street when power assist failure light lit up. My steering locked up so I pulled over and shut off motor. I restarted the engine but i still could barely turn the wheel. I called the dealer to ask if it still was under warranty because I purchased an extended warranty but unfortunately it wasn't. In 2015 there was a recall to update the the software in the steering wheel which I had done. I called ford to ask if there was any open recalls, No there isn't and any work done on the vehicle I would be responsible for. I had my truck taken to a private garage so it would not cost as much. Later I looked up a list of all open and closed recalls on the 2009 Mercury Mariner and discovered that I wasn't the only consumer with issues. There is a lot of power steering complaints. Mostly in the 2008 Mercury's but I found a link listing 2008-2011 Mercury Mariner's have the same problem with the power steering. More research uncovered numerous 2009 Mercury's experiencing power assist failures. Additional research uncovered the a lot of Ford Fusion with power assist complaints. Isn't that funny, I think ford fusions are a less luxurious version of the Mercury Mariners. Many of Ford vehicle complaints are about "Power assist failures " or steering wheels locking up. I believe there are probably thousands of Mercury Mariners that have or had power steering complaints. I don't have the time to research exactly how many (theres got the thousands) but I did note that it's being investigated by NHSA. I really beleive

Ford should be responsible for all fixes to Mercury's, escapes, fusions. Not only did I have problem with steering the engine cuts out, hesitation, problems steering wheel , and making lots of noise or clunking when the wheel is turned.

Update from Dec 31, 2016: Ford recalled vehicles that may have a steering torque sensor that may not to properly detect driver steering input, As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist. If this happened the steering would become more difficult to steer increasing the risk of a crash. I've notified Ford using my VIN number and they said my car wasn't covered by a recall. Currently my vehicle is at a garage having the entire steering column replaced because the torque sensors affected the steering wheel and as a result it caused the EPS to not properly detect driver steering input.

Like all the other Escape/Mariner owners here, the previous owner of my Mariner had the recall done in Oct of 2014. HOWEVER, only the PCM was updated and the sensor was not replaced as recommended. My daughter was driving on the expressway when the "power assist failure" light came on and she lost all power steering.

Took the car to the dealership, which they were great by the way, and said they would try to get Ford to cover the cost due to previous recall.

Ford refused.

When I called and opened a case, it took a couple days for them to get back to me...with the same result....refused to assist. This is unconscionable!! Ford obviously knows they have a problem and are willing to take the cheapest way out instead of fixing the problem. The PCM update obviously doesnt fix the problem and Ford is willing to risk people's lives rather than do the recall properly. Sound familiar??? GM Ignition Recall?? That recall damn near put GM out of business. Ford should pay attention.

Update from Mar 10, 2016: Ford, of course refused to assist in the repair. However, I do know, after filing a complaint with the NHTSA, that Ford is being investigated for not properly adhering to the spirit of the recall. In short, not really fixing the problem. I hope eventually that Ford will be forced to issue another recall and reimburse the repair cost.