I've had plenty of Mercury in the bay over the years, and the steering complaints on these don't surprise me. 1,008 on the NHTSA record across 21 model-year entries (2005–2011) is not a fluke. The 2008 Mercury Mariner leads the list but the pattern shows up across multiple years and models. Not a one-off. 33 crash reports and 31 injuries on the record. Severity is real, not theoretical. Average shop fix runs about $700 — not catastrophic, but it adds up over time. Across the 738 complaints reporting odometer mileage, the median failure lands at about 110,248 miles. Steering does not have a graceful failure mode. Take any "unintended movement" complaints seriously and check for open recalls on the EPS module.
ProblemsByVin MERCURY / STEERING
21 model-year entries · 2005–2011
Mercury steering problems
1,008 owner complaints filed with NHTSA against Mercury vehicles for steering issues. See steering across all makes →
Complaints
1,008
Recalls
0
Year-models
21
Avg fix
$700
33crashes
1fire
31injuries
Worst-affected Mercury model-years for steering Top 21 by complaint volume
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
2008 Mercury Mariner
297 complaints · ~$700 moderate
2010 Mercury Milan
262 complaints · ~$700 severe
2009 Mercury Mariner
167 complaints · ~$700 moderate
2011 Mercury Milan
73 complaints · ~$700 moderate
2010 Mercury Mariner
62 complaints · ~$700 severe
2008 Mercury Grand Marquis
21 complaints · ~$700 severe
2005 Mercury Grand Marquis
20 complaints · ~$700 severe
2011 Mercury Mariner
19 complaints · ~$700 moderate
2008 Mercury Sable
16 complaints · ~$700 moderate
2006 Mercury Grand Marquis
12 complaints · ~$700 severe
2007 Mercury Grand Marquis
9 complaints · ~$700 severe
2006 Mercury Mariner
9 complaints · ~$700 severe
2005 Mercury Sable
7 complaints · ~$700 severe
2010 Mercury Grand Marquis
5 complaints · ~$700 severe
2009 Mercury Grand Marquis
5 complaints · ~$700 moderate
2008 Mercury Milan
5 complaints · ~$700 moderate
2007 Mercury Mountaineer
5 complaints · ~$700 moderate
2005 Mercury Mountaineer
5 complaints · ~$700 moderate
2008 Mercury Mountaineer
3 complaints · ~$700 moderate
2007 Mercury Milan
3 complaints · ~$700 severe
2006 Mercury Milan
3 complaints · ~$700 moderate
Common questions
How many Mercury steering complaints are on file with NHTSA?
1,008 complaints across 21 model-year entries from 2005 to 2011. No active recall campaigns currently cover this category for Mercury.
Which Mercury model has the most steering complaints?
The 2008 Mercury Mariner leads with 297 complaints in this category. Next: 2010 Milan (262) and 2009 Mariner (167).
What does it cost to fix Mercury steering problems?
Independent shops average $700 for steering repairs across the Mercury lineup. Dealer pricing tends to run twenty to forty percent higher. Specific cost depends on the failure mode and parts availability.
Are there Mercury steering recalls?
No active NHTSA recalls currently cover steering issues on Mercury vehicles. The complaints are owner-reported and have not risen to a manufacturer recall.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database.
Editorial commentary written by Mark Driver, an independent contributor to ProblemsByVin
and not affiliated with Mercury.
Severity ratings derive from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities on the NHTSA complaint and recall record.
Repair cost averages reflect independent-shop pricing and may differ in your area.