2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid complaints

DRIVING AT 50+ MPH ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND VEHICLE GIVES STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE AND SUDDENLY REDUCES GREATLY IN SPEED. IT RANDOMLY HAS OCCUED AND WHEN IT HAS, I HAD TO TRY TO NAVIGATE OUT OF 50+MPH TRAFFIC AFTER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY REDUCES SPEED TO ABOUT 20 MPH TO A SHOULDER OR OTHER SAFE AREA. HAD THE COOLANT PUMP REPLACED BUT STILL OCCURS. FORD SAID THE TWIN VEHICLE THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID HAS RECALLS FOR THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AND BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR FOR HYBRID BATTERY COOLING SYSTEM THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS CAUSING THE STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE WHICH BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPS FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO ABOUT 20MPH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. SINCE THE 08 MARINER HYBRID IS THE 08 ESCAPE HYBRIDS TWIN, THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AND HYBRID BATTERY SYSTEM BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR SHOULD BE RECALLED ON THE MARINER HYBRID ALSO AND REPLACES TO PROTECT LIVES BY PREVENTING ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *JS

JUST AFTER STARTING MY CAR AND DRIVING DOWN MY STREET AT ~5MPH, THERE WAS A WARNING SYMBOL (RED TRIANGLE) AND THEN MESSAGE SAYING "STOP SAFELY NOW." THE VEHICLE THEN LOST POWER STEERING, AND POWER TO THE ENGINE. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND MADE IT ~100FT AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS ALSO HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES PREVIOUSLY ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING ~65MPH AND WITH THE SAME MESSAGE "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE APPEARED AND IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER TO STEERING AND THE ENGINE. I WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE HYBRID COOLANT PUMP AND BLEND DOORS AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL TODAY. I HAD ALSO JUST TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING. THIS LOSS OF POWER AND ABILITY TO STEER IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! *TR

THE SUV LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY...EVERYTHING WENT OFF INCLUDING THE ENGINE. THE DASHBOARD LED READ PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT EXTREME FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY RESUME TO NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

HAD THE THROTTLE BODY FIXED ONCE TWO MONTHS AGO BECAUSE I WAS GOING 45, MY SUV. HAZARD LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SAID TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER SAFELY. THEN IT HAS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE I GOT IT FIXED, MY SUV IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN, I PAID 845 LAST TIME AND I STILL HAVE $15,000 LEFT TO PAY ON MY CAR. I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING TO GET THIS FIXED, LET ALONE THE SAFETY ISSUE.THE LADY TWO TIMES IT HAPPENED I HAD MY BABY IN THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND IT WAS RAINING... IT WAS FRIGHTENING. *TR

MY 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID HAS A DANGEROUS HIGH SPEED STALL CONDITION. IT IS VERY SERIOUS AND PUTS THE VEHICLE AND OCCUPANTS IN A SITUATION THAT CAUSES A VERY HIGH RISK OF A CRASH. THIS SAID, MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED IN THE CURRENT RECALL? WHY NOT? *TR

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 MERCURY HYBRID MARINER ON A HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH (RED TRIANGLE WITH AND EXCLAMATION POINT) AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SLOWING DOWN IN A MANNER THAT PREVENTED HER FROM CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE, FORTUNATELY, WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE FORD DEALERSHIP'S DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED A FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT FOR SAFETY REASONS. I UNDERSTAND THAT AS A RESULT OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH FORD ESCAPE AND MERCURY MARINER MODELS, THROUGH A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM, FORD VOLUNTARILY HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY WORK FOR SOME ESCAPE AND MARINER VEHICLES. THE VIN FOR OUR 2008 MERCURY HYBRID MARINER, HOWEVER, WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM. I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AND WITH A SUPERVISOR FROM FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE (800-392-3673), AND THE SUPERVISOR REPORTED THAT FORD IS NOT IN A POSITION TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO MY VEHICLE, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH DATA TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE WITHIN THE VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. *TR

A "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AS SAFELY AND QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE HYBRID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY ONCE IT WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, MY MERCURY MARINER HYBRID DISPLAYED A "STOP SAFELY NOW" SIGN ON THE CONTROL PANEL. NOT EVEN A MINUTE LATER, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN AND I HAD TO MANEUVER GET OFF THE FREEWAY. WHEN I PARKED THE CAR, I SAT FOR A MOMENT AND THEN THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. I DROVE ANOTHER FEW MILES AND IT DISPLAYED THE SAME MESSAGE AND THEN STOPPED. IT STARTED AGAIN AND THEN DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. *TR

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 6 PM ON MONDAY AND I WAS GOING 35 MPH AND THE SUV HAZARD LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN SAID "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW" AND I LOST POWER AND COULDN'T ACCELERATE. IM GLADE I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY. TOOK MY SUV INTO FORD AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. THEY ARE FIXING IT NOW $845 LATER IM HOPING ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT WHAT I HAVE READ TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE FIXED THEIRS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. IM NOT FEELING VERY COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY SUV ON THE FREEWAY, AND I HAVE TO DRIVE IT ON THERE 5 DAYS A WEEK FOR WORK. WASN'T EXPECTING THIS TO BE SUCH A BIG ISSUE, MAKES ME NOT WANT TO BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN.... THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS FOR 2008 ALSO NOT JUST THE NEWER VEHICLES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH A RED TRIANGLE AND THE DISPLAY SAYS TO PULL OFF SAFELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES ALREADY. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY BECAUSE THERE IS A SENSOR THAT FAILS IN THE UNIT AND THEY EXPLAINED THE FACTORY CALIBRATES THE WHOLE UNIT WITH A STEEP PRICE TAG. LUCKY I STILL HAVE 5000 MILES TILL WARRANTY EXPIRES. I GUESS A NUMBER OF TIMES IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CARRY ON. THIS LAST TIME WE HAD SERVICE DONE TO THE VEHICLE I INFORMED THE FORD SERVICE AGENT THAT WE WERE GOING ON A LONG TRIP AND IF WE SHOULD GET A RENTAL. HE WAS CONFIDENT THE WORK THEY PERFORMED WOULD RESOLVE THE SHUT DOWN ISSUE. WE LEFT LA AND WENT ON OUR WAY TO BISHOP FOR A GROUP HIKING TRIP. THE MARINER RAN FINE FOR 3/4 OF THE WAY AND AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD THE MARINER SHUTS OFF. I NEGOTIATED TO THE RIGHT AS MY SPEED WAS DECLINING AND A 18 WHEELER WAS PASSING ME UP ON THE RIGHT AND THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS GAINING ON MY REAR. IT WAS A BIT SCARY BUT WE MANAGED TO PULL OVER SAFELY. UPON TURNING OFF THE MARINER IGNITION AND RESTARTING WE CARRIED ON TO THE DESTINATION. IT WAS RAINING AND A ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT THE BEST BUT WE DID NOT WANT TO BE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE AGAIN AFTER DRIVING FOR 10 MINUTES THE MARINER SHUT OFF AND WITH THE LOSS OF POWER. NOT A SAFE SITUATION TO HAVE YOUR ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN A FREEWAY AT SPEED OF 65 AND TO SU

ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND DISPLAY SAYS TO PULL OFF ROAD. THIS HAS BEEN A ON GOING PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT STILL HAPPENS. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO LOSE YOUR VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION AND HAVE THE ENGINE TURN OFF. I THINK IT MAY BE A COMPUTER CODE GLITCH BECAUSE BASED ON WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF BECAUSE A FUEL MIXTURE ISSUE DETECT THAT MAY EVEN BE A FALSE READING. THIS AUTOMATED ACTION WITHIN THE VEHICLE BRAIN DECISION PUTS MANY AT RISK AS I FOUND OUT WHEN I WAS IN THE FURTHEST LEFT LANE ABOUT A MILE BEFORE THE 55 FREEWAY TURN OFF WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON THE 91 FREEWAY WITH THE CAR SHUT OFF IT'S ENGINE. I LOST POWER AND NEEDED TO PULL OVER WHILE A CAR BEHIND ME WAS FLASHING THEIR HEADLIGHTS AND THE CAR TO MY RIGHT WAS SLOWLY PASSING ME UP. NEXT CAME A BIGGER CHALLENGE SINCE THERE WERE 2 BIG RIGS ON THE ROAD AND I HIT THE BRAKES A LITTLE WHILE SIGNALLING A LANE CHANGE WITH MY FLASHERS ON I MANAGED TO SQUEEZE BETWEEN THE TWO RIGS AND ALMOST CAUSED THE ONE BEHIND ME TO REAR END ME. THE BIG RIG IN TURN CAUSED THE CAR BEHIND TO BREAK AND THIS ALMOST LEAD TO A PILE UP. THAT INTERSECTION ON THE FREEWAY WHERE THE 55 FREEWAY BEGINS ON YOUR LEFT LANES AND THE 91 FREEWAYS CONTINUES ON THE RIGHT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE TO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE A PULL OVER. IT IS COMPOUNDED WITH A ENTRY RAMP WITH CARS TRYING TO QUICKLY GET INTO THE LEFT 2 LANES IN ORDER TO GET ONTO THE 55 FREEWAY. I DO NOT SEE A REASON TO HAVE YOUR VEHICLE TURN ITSELF OF FOR ANY RE

I AM CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM ARE NOT LIMITED TO A FAULTY TORQUE SENSOR BUT TO THE OVERALL POWER STEERING SYSTEM WHICH MAY CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR OTHER STEERING EMERGENCIES. AS A RESULT, I AM PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING REPORT SHOULD YOU RECEIVE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS OF FORD VEHICLES ABOUT WORN PARTS OF THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WHICH AFFECTED DRIVING. WHILE STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT, AFTER TURNING ON THE IGNITION A SOUND LIKE A QUICK POP OCCURRED. AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, A KNOCKING SOUND SUCH AS THAT OF A SMALL HAMMER HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT PRODUCED A RUBBING SOUND AND MINOR RESISTANCE. THERE ALSO WAS A CONSTANT SQUEAKING IN THE ROTATION OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WHICH EXISTED PRIOR TO THE ABOVE OCCURRENCE. THESE CONDITIONS CONTINUED TO OCCUR. ON JULY 9, 2014 THE DEALER REPLACED THE 8L8Z-38676-E STEERING SHAFT JOINT CONNECTOR. (I WAS UNAWARE OF RECALL 14S055 AT THE TIME.) ON THE TRIP HOME, THE STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY SQUEAKED WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT. RESPONDING TO THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RECALL 14S055 ON 2008-2011 FORD VEHICLES AND A REMEDY FOR THE SQUEAKING, RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON AUGUST 1, 2014. ELECTRIC STEERING UPGRADE PERFORMED. SQUEAKING SEEMS TO BE REMEDIED BY REPLACING SWAY BARS AND 1 TIE ROD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE STEERING KNUCKLE, UPDATE THE PSCM AND THE IC SOFTWARE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 9/18/14*CN UPDATED 2/4/2015 *JS

ON THE FREEWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE THE MOTOR UNEXPECTEDLY STOPS AND THE "PULL OVER SAFELY LIGHT" CAME ON. THIS CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION CAUSING ME TO MOVE OVER FOUR LANES TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND PUT IN PARK THE MOTOR RESTARTED. OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. *TR

PCM, "STOP SAFELY NOW" & SHUT-DOWN PROBLEM AND I HAVE A RED TRIANGLE ILLUMINATED ON THE CLUSTER ACCOMPANIED BY AN AUDIBLE CHIME. IN ADDITION, THE MESSAGE CENTER WILL INDICATE "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WILL COMMAND THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. THIS IS WHERE EVER YOU ARE AND IT HAPPENS REALLY QUICKLY IT IS FOR SURE A SAFETY HAZARD.... I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, SINCE SO MANY HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. *TR

THE CAR SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED CAUSING FEAR, DANGER AND A POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER. STILL DOING THIS MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS JUNE 25, 2014. FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS RECURRING PROBLEM I HAVE, AS DO MAY OTHER OWNERS OF FORD HYBRID VEHICLES. *TR

TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, LEFT LANE @ 70 MPH. I HAD 1 VEHICLE BEHIND ME AND A SEMI TRUCK / TRAILER TO THE RIGHT AND ONE BEHIND HIM. WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE DIED AND I BEGAN COASTING IN TRAFFIC. I HIT MY FLASHERS AND THANKFULLY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME WAS ALERT AND NOTICED MY INSTANT LOSS OF SPEED AND FLASHERS. THEY SLOWED LONG ENOUGH FOR BOTH BIG TRUCKS TO PASS ON MY RIGHT AND FOR ME TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER ON I-70. QUICK RESEARCH TURNS UP POSSIBLE ISSUES WITH A MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL PUMP OR MAYBE THE THROTTLE BODY. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE ISSUE AND WAS SURPRISED THAT I FOUND SEVERAL POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET WHERE PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE IN THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE. I VISITED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH THE PARTS DEPARTMENT (2 INDIVIDUALS) WHO COULDN'T DECIDE WHICH WAS THE CORRECT PART NUMBER FOR THE MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL PUMP. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE EXPERIENCES THIS ISSUE AND CAN'T GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND IS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT AS A RESULT. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND I ALSO NOTICED THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILING BECAUSE SO MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE. I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT CRITERIA NEEDS TO BE MET BEFORE THE NHTSA TAKES ACTION AGAINST FORD / MERCURY. *TR

FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH MY 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID SHUTTING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND GIVING ME THE PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY WARNING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HYBRID COOLING SYSTEM DOOR ACTUATOR AND THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP (MEC UNIT), ALL WITHIN THE PAST YEAR AND HALF. ON JUNE 11, 2014 THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AGAIN AND GAVE MY WIFE THE PULL OVER WARNING. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND THEY SAID THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THEY GAVE ME THE ERROR CODE P1A0C. THE FUNNY THING IS, THIS IS THE SAME ERROR CODE THEY GAVE ME WHEN THEY SAID THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP (MEC UNIT) HAD TO BE REPLACED. I CHECKED THIS UNIT THE OTHER DAY WHEN THE CAR DIED AND IT WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE FORD HYBRID PRODUCTS AND FORD REFUSES TO FIX THEM. THEY SOLD LEMONS TO THOUSANDS OF HYBRID OWNERS WHO HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS AND FORD JUST BRUSHES US OFF. THEY JUST KEEP TELLING OWNERS TO SUCK IT UP AND PAY TO REPLACE DIFFERENT PARTS. PLEASE MAKE FORD TAKE CARE OF THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE THEY DO SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, HAS HAPPENED TO ME NUMEROUS OF TIMES IN HEAVY HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC AND IT IS NOT A GOOD FEELING. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER THE INCIDENT THE HIGH TEMPERATURE SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 08/27/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE COOLANT PUMP WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 09/5/2014 *JS

WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE. THE CHANGE WAS NOT PROGRESSIVE, ABRUPT. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT TO LEFT, LEFT TO RIGHT. THIS IS THE SECOND 2008 MARINER HYBRID I HAVE OWNED AND THAT ONE DID THE SAME THING. IN RESEARCHING ON LINE THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AND ARREARS TO BE WIDE SPREAD. THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND SAID THERE HAD NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUED BUT "HOLD ON TO YOUR RECEIPTS" AS THOUGH HE EXPECTED ONE IN THE FUTURE. HONEST, THE CAR WAS HARD TO POINT STRAIGHT AFTER THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING 55 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE JERKED. I SAW A RED EXCLAMATION POINT ON DASH AND WHERE THE CAR MILEAGE IS LOCATED, IT SAID STOP SAFELY NOW. SO I PULLED OVER AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE, RESTARTED AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN ONE MILE AWAY. IT CONTINUED DOING THIS. IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR TO GET 10 MILES DOWN THE ROAD TO MY DESTINATION. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST MONTH. I FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR

ABS AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON SPONTANEOUSLY. BRAKING ABNORMAL AND UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. BRAKING SYSTEM NOT WORKING. NEUTRAL AND HAD TO DO SHOULDERS TO CONTROL VEHICLE AND SLOW DOWN GRADUALLY. VERY DANGEROUS! *TT

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON A FRIDAY EVENING A RED TRIANGLE SHAPED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAYING "STOP SAFELY NOW", AS THE LIGHT CAME ON THE VEHICLE STARTED LOOSING POWER GOING SLOWER AND SLOWER, EVENTUALLY SLOWING TO 20 OR 30 MILES AN HOUR, THERE WAS NO SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER OFF THE INTERSTATE. THIS WAS NOT SAFE AT ALL. AFTER PULLING OVER, THEN PRESSING SYSTEM RESET BUTTONS, TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAITING A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT RAN FINE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY AND THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEN ON SUNDAY (A DAY AND A HALF LATER) I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND IT DID THE SAME THING, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER. I REPEATED WHAT I DID THE PREVIOUS TIME, BUT IT DID IT AGAIN WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE, IT DID IT SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN I GOT BACK ON THE INTERSTATE THE LAST TIME I KEPT MY SPEED AROUND 60 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE DID THIS THE SAME THING OCCURRED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO SEVERAL TIMES ON THE INTERSTATE. I ASSUMED WHAT EVER THE PROBLEM WAS IT WAS IT WORKED ITSELF OUT BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SO LONG SINCE IT OCCURRED. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM IS AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ I AM LEERY OF BRINGING IT IN FOR REPAIR BECAUSE FORD DOESN'T EVEN SEEM TO KNOW THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM FROM EVERYTHING I HAVE READ, AND THE OWNER ENDS UP PAYING A LOT OF MONEY FOR REPAIRS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVING IN FAST LANE OF FREEWAY WHEN "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE WITH RED ALERT CAME ON. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. NO WARNING, NO ABILITY TO DRIVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT IN THIS VEHICLE. I CANNOT CONCEIVE OF A PROBLEM THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE ENGINE TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. IT IS JUST LUCK THAT WE GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT AS THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC, AND WITHOUT POWER, IT WAS JUST PLAIN LUCK THAT WE MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DOING INTERNET RESEARCH: THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT, BUT WITHOUT A SOLUTION OR A FIX. WHAT EVER THE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS THAT FORD HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM LIKE THIS THAT HAS THE ENGINE SIMPLY STOP. WE GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SIMPLY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RE-STARTED THE ENGINE, WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEM. THERE MUST BE SOME WAY TO AT LEAST HAVE SOME WARNING TIME, OR A MEANS OF PROPULSION SUFFICIENT TO GET SAFELY TO THE ROADSIDE. EVEN FIVE MINUTES WORTH OF POWER WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. *TR

REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT APPEARED ON DASH, 2013. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO GET CHECKED. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER. COST APPROX 1500.00. WENT ON LINE AND FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD SAME EXPERIENCE AND AFTER PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER THEY THEN HAD TO REPLACE THE AN ABS MODULE TO THE TUNE OF 4500.00. TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FEB OF 2014 AND WAS TOLD THE ABS MODULE NEEDED REPLACED FOR 4,724.00 AND THEN THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR 1360.00. THE MECHANIC DID NOT ADVISE DRIVING DUE TO THE POTENTIAL BRAKE FAILURE. I ONLY HAVE 18,600 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY PUTTING THAT MUCH MORE MONEY INTO IT. IT SEEMS TO A PROBLEM FORD NEEDS TO DEAL WITH. IT DOES INVOLVE A SAFETY ISSUE AND I'M NOT SURE IF THEY ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOME ONE DIES BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO DO A RECALL. *TR

FROM DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH BOTH MERCURY MARINERS AND FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS. I WAS IN SHOCK WHEN THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WILL COST $4,800.00 TO REPAIR THE ABS BRAKES. THIS IS A SAFETY FLAW THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I ONLY HAVE 65,000 MILES AND HIGH PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE. I TOLD THE DEALER I WOULD NOT PAY THIS. THEY FIXED THE SUV WITHOUT MY PERMISSION SAYING IT WAS FOR MY SAFETY. IS THIS LEGAL? I DIDN'T AGREE WITH PAYING ANY COST. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE OPEN HWY @ 75MPH, I SUDDENLY GOT "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE ON THE INFO CENTER OF THE DASH AND A RED TRIANGLE ALERT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASH. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED A MOMENT. I THEN STARTED THE CAR, ALL SEEMED FINE (NO MESSAGE) AND PROCEEDED. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I PULLED OFF THE HWY AND REPEATED THE STEPS ABOVE. THE CAR WAS RIDING WELL AND SMOOTHLY WITH NO APPARENT PROBLEMS. BUT, THE LONGER I DROVE, THE MORE FREQUENTLY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE DASH BOARD WARNING WOULD REAPPEAR. I PULLED INTO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY AND AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MI/HR. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND "STOP VEHICLE SAFELY" LIGHT CAME ON. I NEEDED TO PULL OVER TURN CAR OFF WAIT AND RESTART ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 25 MILES DOWN THE HIGHWAY. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT IT DID NOT HAPPEN UNTIL MY RETURN TRIP THE NEXT DAY REPEATING THE SAME AS ABOVE. THIS DID HAPPEN TO ME ONCE BEFORE ABOUT A YR AGO. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, CAR LOST POWER, SPEED DECLINED TO 25 MPH AND WENT INTO HYBRID MODE. "PULL OVER SAFELY" LIGHT WENT ON. WE PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT RESTARTED AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NORMAL SPEED. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS HIGH--IN THE 90S--AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON HIGH WHEN THE POWER FAILED. WE HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER WHILE TRYING TO PARK THE CAR ON A HOT DAY WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON..SPEED WAS MINIMAL BECAUSE WE WERE PARKING BUT CAR LOST POWER AND PULL OVER SAFELY LIGHT WENT ON. AFTER SECOND INCIDENT WE TOOK CAR TO A FORD DEALER WHO SAID THE HYBRID SYSTEM COOLING PUMP HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. COST TO REPLACE THE PUMP WAS $470. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING AND THE STEERING GETS EXTREMELY STIFF. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW. AT FIRST IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER AND I ATTRIBUTED IT AS A FREAK OCCURRENCE DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED IT WAS A WARM SPRING DAY. NOW IT DOES NOT OCCUR FREQUENTLY, BUT WITHOUT WARNING. ONE TIME I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A INTERSECTION AND THE STEERING FROZE UP, CAUSING ME TO MAKE MY TURN REALLY WIDE. I HAPPENED TO HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO COMPLETE THE TURN WITHOUT A COLLISION, BUT UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY FATAL IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION WITH AN ONCOMING CAR OR AT GREATER SPEEDS.

AROUND OCT 2009. MY SENSOR WENT BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED THEN AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2010 OR 2011 WITH AROUND 60000 MILES GOING DOWN I-75 AROUND 70 MILES AN HOUR A RED TRIANGLE CAME ON TELLING ME TO PULL OVER SAFELY NOW. I NEED A MECS PUMP SOMETHING ABOUT A PUMP TO COOL THE BATTERY AFTER AGAIN ANOTHER COSTLY BILL ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS SPRING THE RED TRIANGLE CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME INSTEAD OF TAKING THIS CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC IT SAVED ME AROUND $100.00 ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COOLING PUMP. I WAS DRIVING IN CONSTRUCTION AUGUST 22, 2013 AND THE RED LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN TELLING ME TO PULL OVER SAFELY I DID HAVE MY AIR ON AND I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC SO I PULLED OVER. IN THE HEAT I HAVE NOT HAD MY AIR ON AGAIN AND IT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS BUT I DO NOT TRUST MY CAR AND I NOW NEED TO GO TO MY MECHANIC AND HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. . *TR

DURING BRAKING TO STOP OR TURN, THE BRAKES ENGAGED AND RELEASED AT LOW SPEED THEN REENGAGED, CAUSING A LURCH. THIS PROBLEM WAS ONGOING BUT INTERMITTENT. UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE AND AFTER SEPARATE SERVICE VISITS TO TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS, WITH MY INPUT FROM ONLINE FORUMS, THE TONE RINGS ON BOTH FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED, RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. THESE RINGS WERE CRACKED AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I THINK THESE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR

STALLING, TOTAL LOSS OF POWER ON FREEWAY, OR MAKING A CITY TURN, OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT, OR GOING UP EVEN A SLIGHT INCLINE, SUCH AS A DRIVEWAY TO A HOUSE. ONLY IN THE SUMMER. DO NOT DARE USE AIR CONDITIONING, WHICH MAKES IT OCCUR QUICKER AND MUCH MORE OFTEN. 95 DEGREES OUTSIDE, 113 DEGREES IN CAR - CANNOT AND DO NOT USE AIR CONDITIONER, BUT STILL HAPPENS ON TRIP OVER 15 MINUTES LONG. TOTALLY UNSAFE. LIKE OTHER CONTRIBUTORS, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. JUST TODAY, JULY 10, 2013, 18-WHEELER BEHIND ME (CLOSE) ON 45 MPH CITY STREET, AND I STALLED. I STUCK MY LEFT HAND OUT OF MY WINDOW IN A "PLEASE STOP" GESTURE, AND DRIVER DID STOP, BUT I WAS TERRIFIED. MUST COME TO FULL STOP, PUT CAR IN PARK TO RE-START IT. BUT SAME THING WILL HAPPEN AT NEXT LIGHT OR SIGN OR CHANGE OF SPEED, WHETHER IN 5 MINUTES OR 30 SECONDS, CITY STREET OR FREEWAY. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD SAY THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 250 TIMES. YES, THAT IS NOT A TYPO. NO QUESTION FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. *TR

TURNING RIGHT FROM A STOP, ONTO A MAJOR STREET, ACCELERATING FELT CLICK IN WHEEL AND ALL OF THE POWER ASSIST WAS GONE. I COMPLETED THE TURN AND CONTINUED SLOW ACCELERATION TO AROUND 35MPH, THE WHEEL STILL OPERATED LIKE DRIVING A PRE-SIXTIES PICKUP TRUCK BUT WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE ANOTHER RIGHT TURN I REALLY HAD TO PUT MY SHOULDERS INTO IT TO COMPLETE. I RETURNED HOME AND GOT ON LINE TO SEE IF I NEEDED POWER STEERING FLUID AND FOUND THIS SITE. THIS JUST HAPPENED AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AT 3 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THEY FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS AND THE CHECK BRAKE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO CRASH INTO A TREE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,311.

I WAS TRAVELING WEST AT ABOUT 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE ON I-66 OUT OF WASHINGTON, DC WITH FOUR PEOPLE IN THE CAR. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE DIED AND WE WERE LEFT WITH ONLY THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ON THE HYBRID AND A DASH WARNING OF A RED TRIANGLE AND THE STATEMENT "STOP SAFELY SOON." THE CAR QUICKLY LOST POWER TO ABOUT 30 MPH AND WE STRUGGLED TO GET ACROSS THE FOUR LANES TO THE SHOULDER. THE ELECTRONICS IN THE CAR STILL OPERATED (RADIO, DASH LIGHTS, ETC.), BUT THE GAS ENGINE STALLED. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER, WE STOPPED. THE FORD OWNER'S MANUAL TOLD US TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND TRY TO RE-START. WE DID THIS AND THE CAR RE-STARTED. WE STARTED TO DRIVE, BUT THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE CAR DID THE SAME THING ON ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS UNTIL WE COULD GET TO AN EXIT THAT HAD BUSINESSES. THE FORD DEALER IN THIS AREA (AWAY FROM MY HOME) STATES THAT THE ELECTRONIC COOLING PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THAT PARTS FAIL, MY COMPLAINT IS THAT FORD SHOULD NOT TELL OWNERS TO RE-START THE CAR AND TRY TO PROCEED ON. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN IT CONTINUES TO FAIL AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THE NEXT FAILURE MIGHT OCCUR (ON A BRIDGE, IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, ON A BUSY, FAST INTERSTATE). MOREOVER, HAVING REVIEWED COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET ABOUT FORD HYBRIDS, I KNOW THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS SITUATION WHERE THE CAR ENGINE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO VARIOUS PROBLEMS (E.G., THE ELECTRONIC COOLING PUMP, BAD SENSORS, OR A CORRUPTED P

THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND UN-WARNED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER ON A FREEWAY. HAVING COASTED OUT OF TRAFFIC ON THE FIRST UNWARNED ENGINE / PROPULSION SYSTEM SHUT-DOWN IN FAST-MOVING FREEWAY TRAFFIC, MANAGED TO FIND WIDE-ENOUGH SECTION OF OUTSIDE SHOULDER TO COME TO A STOP. BUT BEING STUCK IN 10PM DARKNESS ON A NARROW SHOULDER WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO CONSIDER REMAINING THERE. ONCE STOPPED, I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION TO PARK, CYCLED IGNITION OFF THEN TO START ? ENGINE RESTARTED, DASH WARNING LAMPS CAME ON- THEN CYCLED OFF NORMALLY, ENGINE RAN SMOOTHLY. NOTE: THE ONLY WAY TO ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE HYBRID DRIVETRAIN IS TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK .. IT DOESN'T WORK IN NEUTRAL .. AND THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO TRY TO PUT THE TRANS IN PARK IN 72-75 MPH FREEWAY TRAFFIC IN 10PM DARKNESS. ACCELERATED MODERATELY INTO MERGING LANE, ENTERING GAP IN N/B TRAFFIC TO RE-ENTER I-5 TRAFFIC ? HOPING TO GET PAST SR-2 TO MORE-FAMILIAR EXIT ? WITHIN 2 MINUTES, AND AT SPEED ~ 55 MPH ? DRIVE TRAIN DIED AGAIN (SAME WARNING TONE AND LIGHT...AND SAME "TOO LITTLE TOO LATE" STOP NOW WARNING TEXT). AGAIN HAD TO HUNT FOR A WIDE-ENOUGH SECTION OF OUTSIDE SHOULDER TO STOP AND TAKE STOCK OF DANGEROUS SITUATION. SHUT OFF ENGINE, MOVED TRANS INTO PARK TRIED RESTART - AGAIN, ENGINE STARTED AND SETTLED TO NORMAL OPERATION - NO WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON. ABLE TO RE-ENTER TRAFFIC AND TRANSITION OFF I-5 FWY .. BUT ONLY ESCAPE WAS TO ANOTHER FREEWAY (SR-2). KEPT SPEED BELOW 45MPH ON THAT FREEWAY UNTIL ABLE TO EXIT

THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND UN-WARNED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER ON A FREEWAY. HAVING COASTED OUT OF TRAFFIC ON THE FIRST UNWARNED ENGINE / PROPULSION SYSTEM SHUT-DOWN IN FAST-MOVING FREEWAY TRAFFIC, MANAGED TO FIND WIDE-ENOUGH SECTION OF OUTSIDE SHOULDER TO COME TO A STOP. BUT BEING STUCK IN 10PM DARKNESS ON A NARROW SHOULDER WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO CONSIDER REMAINING THERE. ONCE STOPPED, I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION TO PARK, CYCLED IGNITION OFF THEN TO START ENGINE RESTARTED, DASH WARNING LAMPS CAME ON- THEN CYCLED OFF NORMALLY, ENGINE RAN SMOOTHLY. NOTE: THE ONLY WAY TO ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE HYBRID DRIVETRAIN IS TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK .. IT DOESN'T WORK IN NEUTRAL .. AND THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO TRY TO PUT THE TRANS IN PARK IN 72-75 MPH FREEWAY TRAFFIC IN 10PM DARKNESS. ACCELERATED MODERATELY INTO MERGING LANE, ENTERING GAP IN N/B TRAFFIC TO RE-ENTER I-5 TRAFFIC HOPING TO GET PAST SR-2 TO MORE-FAMILIAR EXIT WITHIN 2 MINUTES, AND AT SPEED ~ 55 MPH DRIVE TRAIN DIED AGAIN (SAME WARNING TONE AND LIGHT...AND SAME "TOO LITTLE TOO LATE" STOP NOW WARNING TEXT). AGAIN HAD TO HUNT FOR A WIDE-ENOUGH SECTION OF OUTSIDE SHOULDER TO STOP AND TAKE STOCK OF DANGEROUS SITUATION. SHUT OFF ENGINE, MOVED TRANS INTO PARK TRIED RESTART - AGAIN, ENGINE STARTED AND SETTLED TO NORMAL OPERATION - NO WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON. ABLE TO RE-ENTER TRAFFIC AND TRANSITION OFF I-5 FWY...BUT ONLY ESCAPE WAS TO ANOTHER FREEWAY (SR-2). KEPT SPEED BELOW 45MPH ON THAT FREEWAY UNTIL ABLE TO EXIT FREEWAY.

THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD TOTAL ENGINE POWER SHUT-DOWN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WITH NO LIMP-AWAY OPTION AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY, REALIZED THAT WE WERE IN AN UNSAFE NEIGHBORHOOD [SO NOT A GOOD OPTION TO STOP AND CALL FOR TOW], TRIED MAPPING SURFACE STREET ROUTE TO SAFER AREA, BUT NAV SYSTEM SHOWED THE ONLY SURFACE STREET ROUTE TO TAKE US BACK HOME PUT US ON A STEEP, NARROW WINDING SECTION OF LAUREL CANYON - NO SAFE EXIT IF ANOTHER SHUT-DOWN. ALSO REALIZED WE COULDN'T USE RIVERSIDE THRU GRIFFITH PARK WHICH IS LOCKED AFTER DARK .. SO ZIG-ZAGGED NORTH AND WEST ABOUT 5 MILES BELOW 40 MPH KEEPING TO LIGHTED STREETS HOPING FOR SAFE PLACE OR UNREMEMBERED ROUTE. ENGINE REMAINED STABLE ONCE MORE, DROVE TOWARDS I-5 AGAIN ON LOS FELIZ (PAST THE GRIFFIN BAR ' AND A TOPLESS CLUB) .. REMEMBERED LOS FELIZ AHEAD HAD A LONG, SEPARATE ENTRANCE RAMP TO N/B I-5 . THE DRIVETRAIN ACCELERATED SMOOTHLY TO ~50 MPH, THEN WARNINGS / DRIVE TRAIN DIED AGAIN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ON-RAMP .. HAZARDS ' AGAIN .. BUT WITH LESS MOMENTUM, HARDER TO FIND A WIDE-ENOUGH SPOT ON THE N/B OUTER SHOULDER ACROSS FROM S/END GRIFFITH PARK GOLF COURSE. WHEN MINIMAL SPOT FOUND STOPPED / PARKED / SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED AGAIN, ENGINE STARTED AND IDLED SMOOTHLY, NO WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON. NOW ABOUT 10:15PM. WITH HAZARDS ON, ROLLED BELOW FWY SPEEDS ALONG SHOULDER UNTIL IT RAN OUT JUST AS ADEQUATE OPENING APPEARED IN OUTSIDE LANE. ACCELERATED CAUTIOUSLY TO BELOW 50 MPH, LIMPED OFF AT ODD FREEWAY APPENDIX WHICH LEADS EAST - MERGED

AT ~ 10:10PM TRAVELING AT 68-70 MPH IN FAST, MODERATE FREEWAY TRAFFIC IN THE #3 N/B LANE OF I-5 IN SILVERLAKE AREA, ~ -MI SOUTH OF THE INTERCHANGE WITH THE SR-2 FREEWAY (~ @ RIVERSIDE DR. OVER-CROSSING) . SUDDENLY / WITH NO WARMING, ENGINE LOST ALL POWER & SHUT DOWN AND I HEARD A `SCREECHING' WARNING TONE, SAW THE RED TRIANGLE OF DOOM WARNING SYMBOL APPEAR IN THE UPPER/RIGHT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE TACHOMETER DROPPED TO `ZERO'' AND THE `TOO-LITTLE-TOO-LATE' WARNING TEXT STOP NOW' TEXT APPEARED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO THIS WITH NO POWER?). ONLY THING THAT SAVES US WAS THAT WE HAD SIGNIFICANT SPEED TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC - OTHER DRIVERS THANKFULLY GAVE-WAY TO LET US DO SO. FIRST OF THREE SUCH COMPLETE LOSSES OF POWER IN TRAFFIC, ATTEMPTING TO REACH SAFETY. *TR

AT ~ 10:10PM TRAVELING AT 68-70 MPH IN FAST, MODERATE FREEWAY TRAFFIC IN THE #3 N/B LANE OF I-5 IN SILVERLAKE AREA, ~ -MI SOUTH OF THE INTERCHANGE WITH THE SR-2 FREEWAY (~ @ RIVERSIDE DR. OVER-CROSSING) . SUDDENLY / WITH NO WARMING, ENGINE LOST ALL POWER & SHUT DOWN AND I HEARD A `SCREECHING' WARNING TONE, SAW THE RED TRIANGLE OF DOOM WARNING SYMBOL APPEAR IN THE UPPER/RIGHT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE TACHOMETER DROPPED TO `ZERO'? AND THE `TOO-LITTLE-TOO-LATE' WARNING TEXT STOP NOW? TEXT APPEARED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A FAST-MOVING FREEWAY?). ONLY THING THAT SAVES US WAS THAT WE HAD SIGNIFICANT SPEED TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC - OTHER DRIVERS THANKFULLY GAVE-WAY TO LET US DO SO. FIRST OF THREE SUCH COMPLETE LOSSES OF POWER IN TRAFFIC, ATTEMPTING TO REACH SAFETY. *TR

AT 70 MPH ON FREEWAY, "STOP WHEN SAFE" MESSAGE CAME UP, ENGINE STOPPED, HAD TO COAST TO A STOP ON SHOULDER. LUCKY IT WAS 1AM SO NOT MUCH TRAFFIC. RESTARTED VEHICLE, MADE ANOTHER 5 MILES, HAPPENED AGAIN. RESTARTED, MADE IT OFF FREEWAY, ABLE TO GET HOME, KEEPING UNDER 40MPH (ASSUMPTION WAS SOME SORT OF OVERHEATING PROBLEM WITH HYBRID SYSTEMS). CURRENTLY IN DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, MY INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OTHERS HAVING THIS ISSUE. VERY FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS TO LOSE POWER AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND HAVE TO MAKE WAY TO THE SHOULDER AND STOP. *TR

VEHICLE WAS IN MIDDLE LANE OF INTERSTATE 95 WITH TRAFFIC MOVING AT 65-70 MPH WHEN THERE WAS (ACCORDING TO FORD TECH) A FAILURE OF THE MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLING PUMP. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN AND COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT/DEATH IF WIFE WASN'T ABLE TO GET TO SHOULDER WEAVING THROUGH LANES OF TRAFFIC. I SEE ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2008/MERCURY/MARINER_HYBRID/ENGINE_AND_ENGINE_COOLING/PROBLEM.ASPX THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED AS A MAJOR COMPLAINT FOR AWHILE. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? SOMEONE WILL SURE GET KILLED. OUR CAR HAS ONLY 57K MILES. *TR

THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, (9-6-2010), DRIVING IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY- THE LIGHT, "STOP SAFELY NOW" COMES ON AND YOU CANNOT USE THE GAS PEDAL AND YOU HAVE TO TRY TO GET TO THE SHOULDER SAFELY AS THE CAR HAS NO POWER. I WAITED FOR HALF AN HOUR AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO WHERE I HAD TO GO. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE 2ND OCCURRENCE (MARCH 31, 2012), SAME THING HAPPENED EXCEPT I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WITH EVERYONE GOING AT LEAST 65 MILES PER HOUR AND HAD TO GET TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT ANY POWER. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A COOLANT PUMP PROBLEM. I WENT ONLINE AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. COULD SO EASILY HAVE BEEN HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SCARY EXPERIENCES. *TR

WE PURCHASED A FORD CERTIFIED 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO. ACCORDING TO FORD, A FORD CERTIFIED' VEHICLE HAS BEEN PASSED A 172 POINT INSPECTION. WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE EXPERIENCE A STOP SAFELY NOW' WARNING ON THE DASH, ACCOMPANIED BY THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF, AND THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT SPEEDS OF 50+ MPH. I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONGESTED 4 LANE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHILE THIS HAPPENED TO ME RECENTLY. MY CAR CEASED TO ACCELERATE, AND I HAD TO WEAVE OUT OF THE CENTER LANES, SWERVING TO AN EXIT, GOING UP ON AN EXIT RAMP, WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER, AND THE REPRESENTATIVES JUST TELL US TO TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. AFTER FIXING THE PROBLEM THAT THEIR TECHNICIAN AT OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP TOLD US TO FIX, OUR VEHICLE DID THE VERY SAME THING A MONTH LATER. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL THROTTLE BODY. WE'VE ALSO REPLACED THE HYBRID BATTERY FILTER' AS PER THE COMPANY'S RECOMMENDATION. WE WANT SOME ATTENTION BROUGHT TO THIS MATTER. I FEEL I NO LONGER TRUST THAT THE TECHNICIANS AT THE FORD HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. AFTER SOME SEARCHES ONLINE, I'VE FOUND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW FORD CAN JUST PRETEND THIS ISN'T A SERIOUS ISSUE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET THEIR ATTENTION? THE FACT THAT THEY'RE ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE BY NOT RECALLING THIS VEHICLE, AND THE LACK OF ACCOUN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING LIGHT AND THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE THEN SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND ONLY WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THERE MAY BE A FAILURE WITH THE COOLING PUMP, BUT WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO VERIFY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.