NHTSA Complaint #10652453 — 2008 MERCURY MARINER

I HAD STOPPED BY MY APARTMENT COMPLEX OFFICE TO PICK UP A PACKAGE. I STARTED THE MOTOR AND BEGAN TO BACK OUT. I THEN PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN. I TRIED TO DRIVE IT SLOWLY TOWARDS MY APARTMENT TO PARK IT. I RESTARTED THE CAR. ONCE I DID THIS, THE STEERING WAS BEHAVING NORMALLY EXCEPT WHEN IDLING THERE WAS A THUNKING VIBRATION TO WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVING. I HAD REMEMBERED I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE WHICH WAS FOR POWER STEERING. THE TECHNICIAN LOOKED UP THE VIN # AND YES IT WAS A RECALL ITEM. I TOOK IT IN YESTERDAY AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY REPLACING THE PART. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT A LOT OF THE VIBRATION I HAVE FELT RECENTLY CAN BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING UNIT. THANKFULLY I WAS NEAR HOME. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL TRIPS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. IN ADDITION, I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM IN THE MORNINGS ESPECIALLY IN THE COLDER MONTHS WHERE I AM AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND STEP ON THE GAS, THE MOTOR WILL REV UP BUT I DON'T MOVE, THEN A SUDDEN KICK IN OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS SCARY WHEN TRYING TO TURN INTO TRAFFIC. *TR