2008 Mercury MOUNTAINEER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
96 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
66,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 81 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seats is the most frequently named component, appearing in 52 of 96 complaints (54.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 29 | 30.2% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 11.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 5.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seats | 52 |
| Electrical System | 36 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Interior Lighting | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
Seats: 52; Electrical System: 36; Power Train: 7; Engine: 6; Exterior Lighting: 6; Unknown Or Other: 5; Interior Lighting: 4; Seat Belts: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 23 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 6; 2012: 10; 2013: 15; 2014: 16; 2015: 5; 2016: 15; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 4; 2020: 7; 2021: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Seats leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10252031 · 2008-12-16 (December 16, 2008)
WHILE COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN I TRIED TO STOP FOR THE RED LIGHT. I ALSO LOST POWER STEERING. LUCKILY, I FINALLY GOT THE SUV TO STOP AFTER I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS CLOSE TO MY HOME SO I SLOWLY DROVE TO MY HOUSE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IF NECESSARY. I CONTACTED MERCURY WHO TOWED THE SUV TO THEIR SHOP THE NEXT DAY ON THE 15TH OF DECEMBER. THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE ALL DAY ON THE 15TH AND 1…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265224 · 2009-04-14 (April 14, 2009)
MEMORY SEATS CHANGE SEAT SETTING WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ASSISTANCE OF DRIVER. WHILE ON A LENGTHY ROAD TRIP, INCIDENT OCCURRED 3 TIMES. ONE OF WHICH NEARLY RESULTED IN A COLLISION WHEN DRIVER WAS FORCED ONTO SHOULDER OF ROAD TO AVOID TRAFFIC. DRIVER MEMORY SEAT POSITIONS ITSELF IN SUCH A POSITION THAT DRIVER IS UNABLE TO REACH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. THIS FAULT SEEMS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE SEAT FOR A RANDOM AND UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT TIME FORCING DRIVER TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE CONTROL AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN SEAT POSITION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358430 · 2010-09-30 (September 30, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE EASY EXIT FEATURE WOULD ACTIVATE CAUSING THE DRIVER SEAT TO MOVE BACKWARD OUT OF POSITION AND PUSH THE CONTACT AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND PEDALS. THE FEATURE WOULD ALSO MOVE THE SEAT BACK IN POSITION WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE EASY EXIT FEATURE WAS ENGAGED, THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO REPLACE A SENSOR THE DRIVER SEAT BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358430 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453425 · 2012-03-29 (March 29, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT WOULD MOVE BACKWARD AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE CONTINUED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 04/23/12
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10308801 · 2010-02-11 (February 11, 2010)
MY FORD MOUNTAINEER 2008 TRANSMISSION IS ERRATIC AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE SLIPPING IS TAKING PLACE. BRAKING IS ALSO ERRATIC AS I FEEL A BUMPING WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT FEELS LIKE TO TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS ABOUT TO GO. I CALLED FORD AND THEY HAVE KNOW OF THE PROBLEM SINCE 2006 AS THE TRANSMISSION USED (6R60) CONTINUALLY NEEDS SOFTWARE UPDATES. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, MOST ALL OF THESE VEHICLES WITH THIS TRANSMISSION EVENTUALLY HAVE THE PROBLEM BUT VERY RARELY W…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,319 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10365945 · 2010-11-16 (November 16, 2010)
MY 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER IS HAVING A STRONG TRANSMISSION KICK WHEN DOWN SHIFTING AND A SQUICKING NOISE WHICH I THINK IS COMING FROM THE BREAK AND MY DEALER KEPT ON REPORTING BACK TO ME AS "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. THIS SUV WERE BOUGHT AS BRAND NEW AND I FEEL LIKE THAT THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK APART OR LOOSE MY BREAK EVERYTIME I FEEL THOSE RATTLES. EVERYTIME I WOULD GO TO MY DEALER FOR A SERVICE, I WOULD ALWAYS MENTION ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHICH THEY CAN'T FIX! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10365945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10370562 · 2010-12-14 (December 14, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER A SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 06/24/11
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10370562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10565841 · 2014-02-25 (February 25, 2014)
IF I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES TO THE EASY EXIT POSITION THE DOME LIGHTS COME ON. HAPPENS ALSO IF YOU BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL OR IF YOU TOUCH THE KEY WHEN IT IS IN THE IGNITION. IT HAS HAPPENS WHILE BACKING OUT IN DRIVE. STALLED THE ENGINE TWICE. TURNING THE KEY SLIGHTLY WILL PUT THE SEAT BACK INTO THE SET POSITION. I AM ONLY 5' 5", SO WHEN THE SEAT GOES BACK WHILE I AM DRIVING, I AM MOVED TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. MECHANIC INSPECTION INDICATES IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10565841 at NHTSA ↗