2008 Mercury MOUNTAINEER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10216580 · 2008-01-31 (January 31, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT HEATED WINDSHIELD GIVES OFF A GLARE AT NIGHT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, BUT THE GLARE IS STILL PRESENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CAUSES HIM TO FEEL TIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,823 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 23 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243208 · 2008-09-23 (September 23, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS TOO SHORT. THE DRIVER IS BARELY ABLE TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, AND ONCE HE DOES, HE IS UNABLE TO MOVE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RISK BECAUSE IT PUTS HIM IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION. THE DEALER EXCHANGED THE SEAT BELT, BUT IT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE THAT WAS ALREADY IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO MAKE ANY CHANGES BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A SAFETY VIOLATION. FORD ONLY OFFERED A SEAT BELT EXTENDER, BUT THE CONTACT REFUSES TO USE AN EXTENDER…
Owner-reported narrative. 23 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243208 at NHTSA ↗
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 10258041 · 2009-02-09 (February 9, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE DOME LIGHT ILLUMINATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DOME LIGHT WOULD NOT DIM AUTOMATICALLY. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, THE DOME LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S EASY-ACCESS SEAT RETRACTED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TO KEYLESS ENTRY MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258041 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 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 10331489 · 2010-05-20 (May 20, 2010)
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT IN A FORD WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD. THE LINES IN THE WINDSHIELD CREATE GLARE AND HAZE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OF ONCOMING CARS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10331489 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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
07V453000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
Reported: 2007-09-26 (September 26, 2007)
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.6L ENGINE AND 6R TRANSMISSION, THE BOLT SECURING THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE FITTINGS AT THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TORQUED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY LOOSEN AND THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.
Consequence: IF LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTACTS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, IT MAY POSE A RISK OF FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE ATTACHMENT BOLT TIGHTENED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign record ↗