NHTSA Complaint #10604596 — 2006 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT (DRIVING AT LESS THAN 5 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN TO LEAVE THE PARKING SPOT), THE STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. THINKING THAT THE ENGINE HAD SHUT OFF, I RESTARTED THE ENGINE THEN I NOTICED THE MESSAGE IN THE CLUSTER "SERVICE POWER STEERING". I DROVE TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE IS BAD AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY ESTIMATED REPAIRS WOULD COST ABOUT $1200 IF THEY CAN FIND A USED ONE. I WAS LESS THAN 5 MILES AWAY AND CONTINUED ON HOME. PARKING THIS VEHICLE IN NYC TIGHT SPOTS WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING IS QUITE AN UNDERTAKING. THE WRENCH DISPLAY IN THE CLUSTER AND THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING" MESSAGE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND HAS NEVER DISAPPEARED ONCE. I TOOK IT TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD FORD DEALER A FEW WEEKS LATER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT I WILL NEED "POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION, MODULE AND ALIGNMENT WITH ESTIMATED REPAIRS COSTING $3850 INCLUDING TAXES. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS SIMILAR TO THOSE REPORTED BY THE OWNERS OF THE 2008 - 2011 FORD ESCAPE / MERCURY MARINER SUVS AND IDENTIFIED IN THE RECENT FORD RECALLS FOR POWER STEERING ISSUES. *TR