RoadVitals

2008 Mercury Mountaineer Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
96
Latest Sep 3, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Jan 31, 2008

What this page shows

Our database holds 96 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Mercury Mountaineer. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 96 · page 1 of 4

EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 3, 2025

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle stalled while driving at an undisclosed speed. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle to continue driving. The contact stated that the gear shifter intermittently failed to move to the intended position. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle, and the fuel level was lowered sooner than normal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the result was not provided. The contact stated that there was a code for an EVAP failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Peoria Ford (9130 W Bell Rd, Peoria, AZ 85382) however, the contact was not provided the cause for the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ID
11684759
Incident
Sep 3, 2023
Mileage
200,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 21, 2021

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, he was unable to remove the key from the ignition. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he was able to remove the key after disconnecting the battery. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the steering column lock module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,782.

NHTSA ID
11437666
Incident
Jan 1, 2021
Mileage
141,782 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 18, 2020

SINCE I PURCHASED IN 2009, ENGINE KILLS ANYTIME, MOSTLY WHEN GAS PEDAL NOT PRESSED. PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOTS, SITTING AT RED LIGHTS, OR LETTING OFF GAS ON INTERSTATE, ENGINE JUST KILLS. SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE A JOLT. I HAVE TO PUT THE SHIFT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE. RECORDS OF ALL VISITS FOR THE PROBLEM AT DEALERSHIP. NEVER COULD SOLVE PROBLEM, BUT TOO UNSAFE TO DONATE TO MY GRANDSON. IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO HIM BECAUSE OF A DEFECT THAT WAS NEVER FOUND, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO. CANNOT CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL. SEALED. I DO HAVE SOME FLUID STAINS ON MY DRIVEWAY. FOR YEARS I'VE REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SPECIFIED THE CONCERN FOR SAFETY BUT TO NO AVAIL. IT KILLS ANYTIME. MAY NOT DIE FOR A WEEK, OR TOMORROW, OR EVEN A MONTH. NO PARTICULAR PATTERN. FEELS LIKE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IF I'M SITTING IN A PARKING LOT WITH MOTOR RUNNING, SOMETIMES IT JUST KILLS. IT'S THE SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND STREETS TO RESTART WHILE MOVING I'M WORRIED ABOUT. I'VE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS CLAIM THEY FIXED IT BUT TO NO AVAIL. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME DIRECTION. ALL THE SHOPS I'VE GONE TO ARE REPUTABLE BUSINESSES. ONE MECHANIC SAID THE ELECTRONIC BRAIN (COMPUTER BOX) MIGHT BE CAUSING AND SAID TO SEND IT TO MERCURY FOR RECALCULATION. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. MOST OF THE READ OUTS ARE EPA RELATED.

NHTSA ID
11365014
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
Mileage
15,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 24, 2020

ON A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY HOOKED IN IT COMES LOSE.

NHTSA ID
11351000
Incident
Jun 6, 2020
Seat belts
Filed Aug 10, 2020

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WITH NOT STAY LOCKED IN.

NHTSA ID
11348446
Incident
Aug 6, 2020
Mileage
85,625 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 10, 2020

SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILS TO SAY HOOKED INTO THE SEAT BELT CLIP-IN

NHTSA ID
11344312
Incident
Aug 6, 2020
Electrical
Filed May 27, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS TAKEN TO MARITIME FORD (1305 FRANKLIN ST, MANITOWOC, WI 54220) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE PLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. *DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11326133
Incident
Oct 18, 2017
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed May 9, 2020

CAR WHEN IDLE SHUTS OFF IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC LOCKING BREAK AN STEERING WHEEL CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC THANK GOD I WAS CLOSE TO EMERGENCY EXIT CAR SHUTOFF NOT ALLOWING TO BRAKE HAD TO PRESS EMERGENCY BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11323974
Incident
May 9, 2020
Mileage
140,074 mi
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 7, 2020

AT 28000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATIC, THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM AND COVERED UP THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE WARRANT ENDED AND THE BATTERY FAILED AT WHICH TIME THE CAR REVERTED BACK TO DEFAULT AND CONTINUED TO BUCK AND JERK UNTIL THE CAR REACHED HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY FAILED DURING OPERATION ON THE HIGHWAY ON 3/5/20. THE ABS MODULE JUST FAILED DURING LOW SPEED OPERATION FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALSO THE CAR INDICATED THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE IN GOOD OPERATIONAL CONDITION. THIS ERROR COMES AND GOES CONSTANTLY AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

NHTSA ID
11316784
Incident
Mar 1, 2011
Mileage
29,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Nov 25, 2019

DRIVER SEAT ELECTRICAL ADJUSTMENT WILL MOVE ITSELF BACKWARDS WHILE CAR IS MOVING. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO THIS PROBLEM, IT IS RANDOM.

NHTSA ID
11282163
Incident
Sep 9, 2019
Mileage
198,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 16, 2019

WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR THE SEAT WILL MOVE BACK ON IT'S OWN VOLITION INTO EXIT POSITION. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IT GOES OVER A BUMP OR IF THE KEY IS JIGGLED IN THE IGNITION. IT HAPPENED IN MULTIPLE SITUATIONS LAST WEEK. VERY FRIGHTENING AS I HAVE TO SCRAMBLE TO REACH THE BRAKE AND ALSO MOVE THE SEAT BACK INTO POSITION. I HAVE TURNED OFF THE EASY EXIT OPTION SO THIS HAS STOPPED IT BUT IT UPSETS ME THAT I NO LONGER HAVE A FEATURE THAT I PAID FOR.

NHTSA ID
11244504
Incident
Aug 4, 2019
Mileage
107,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed May 27, 2019

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SEAT GOES BACKWARD AND INTERIOR LIGHTS GOES ON WITH OUT USING OR PUSHING NO INSTRUMENTS

NHTSA ID
11210214
Incident
May 5, 2017
Mileage
135,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 17, 2019

TAKATA RECALL WHILE MY VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, & WHEN I STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, IT'S SUDDENLY SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, & ON CITY STREETS AT NORMAL SPEEDS. IT HAS PROVEN DANGEROUS SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE JERKS VERY HARD. ALSO WHEN I DRIVE FOR MORE THAN 6 TO 7 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR COMES ON.

NHTSA ID
11196908
Incident
Mar 4, 2019
Mileage
129,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Oct 18, 2018

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE INTERIOR LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE SEAT MOVES BACK INTO THE PARK POSITION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO REACH THE PEDAL/BRAKE AND IT HAPPENS WITHOUT NOTICE. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE POSTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND DON'T SEE HOW IT CANNOT BE A RECALL FOR SAFETY REASONS

NHTSA ID
11141363
Incident
Oct 16, 2018
Mileage
13,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 13, 2018

POWER STEERING PROBLEM INTERMITTENT STEERING SEEMS TO CHANGE FROM MANUAL STEERING WHEN TURNING MAKING VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER

NHTSA ID
11072475
Incident
Feb 2, 2018
Mileage
113,332 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Dec 7, 2017

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES THE DOME LIGHTS TURNED ON AND AUTOMATIC SEATS MOVE BACK WHILE DRIVING. THIS ISSUE PERSISTS AND OFTEN OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE FOUND ONLINE. IT IS NOT DUE TO A HEAVY KEY CHAIN AS I ONLY HAVE THE FOB AND KEY ATTACKED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SEATS PULL THE DRIVER AWAY FROM THE PEDALS AND STEERING WHEEL. INVESTIGATE! RECALL!

NHTSA ID
11052947
Incident
Mar 15, 2016
Mileage
90,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 23, 2017

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE SEAT WILL SUDDENLY MOVE BACKWARDS TO THE "OPEN DOOR" POSITION, AS THOUGH THE KEY HAD BEEN PULLED OUT OF THE IGNITION. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH SHORT LEGS, AS ONE CAN NO LONGER REACH THE GAS PEDAL OR BRAKE. SLIGHTLY "WIGGLING" THE KEY OR IGNITION SWITCH WILL USUALLY GET THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK TO THE PRESET DRIVING POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO GO ON, AND TURN OFF WHEN THE SEAT MOVES BACK INTO POSITION. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT ALL DIFFERENT SPEEDS, AND IT SEEMS MOST EVENTS HAPPEN AFTER THE CAR HITS A BUMP, BUT NOT ALWAYS. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN IT JUST SEEMS TO HAPPEN WITHOUT ANYTHING TO SET IT OFF. IT ALSO CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED UP, OR JUST AS YOU START TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT REPAIR OF THIS CONDITION IS NOT A RECALL ITEM. THE DATE SHOWN FOR WHEN IT HAPPENED IS THE LATEST DATE - I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE THEN - BUT IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 10 MONTHS.

NHTSA ID
11035952
Incident
Oct 21, 2017
Mileage
112,580 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 19, 2017

TURN KEY ON AN SEAT GOES BACK AN FOURTH ,THEN STOPS ,WHILE DRIVING IT GOES BACK AN FORTH AGAIN SOME TIMES 3-4TIMES IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE RECENTLY ,DEFINITELY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE LIKE THAT,THIS HAPPENED WHEN STARTING UP THE CAR AN DRIVING,WHICH MAKES THE SEAT GO ALL THE WAY BACK AN I'M SHORT SO WHEN IT GOES BACK I BARELY REACH THE PEDALS, THIS HAPPENED ALL THE TIME FOR NO REASON ON SIDE STREETS ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID
10979404
Incident
Apr 9, 2013
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 20, 2017

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT SUDDENLY WENT ALL THE WAY BACK AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN, WE FINALLY FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE IGNITION, WITH THE CAR ACTING LIKE THE KEY JUST GOT PUT IN THE IGNITION OR JUST PULLED OUT, AND THE SEAT MOVING ALL THE WAY BACK FOR EASIER INGRESS/EGRESS AND THE COURTESY LIGHTS COMING ON. SINCE I AM ONLY 5 FOOT 4 INCHES, WHEN THE SEAT MOVES BACK I CAN NO LONGER REACH THE PETALS, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
10967171
Incident
Mar 20, 2017
Mileage
90,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 28, 2016

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE MY SEAT WILL DECIDE TO MOVE ON ITS OWN AND PULL ME AWAY FROM THE PEDALS ALSO THE DOME LIGHT COMES ON AND IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME VERY DANGEROUS NOW MY CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH I BELIEVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10928199
Incident
Nov 27, 2016
Mileage
135,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 9, 2016

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER SEAT AUTOMATICALLY GOES BACK AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT COMES ON...THIS IS GONNA CAUSE AN ACCIDENT CUZ WHEN THE SEAT GOES BACK THE MEMORY KEY FOR THE SEAT POSITION DOESNT WORK UNTIL U TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, ONCE THE SEAT GOES BACK I CANT REACH THE BREAK OR PEDDLE. THIS IS DANGEROUS SITUATION AND ISEE IM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS ISSUE? IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY..SOEMTIME WHEN U FIRST START IT BUT MOSTLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD

NHTSA ID
10925119
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Mileage
70,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 21, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTED BACKWARDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. ALSO, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING ILLUMINATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID
10917907
Incident
May 1, 2016
Mileage
135,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 6, 2016
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE IN PARK AND TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED OR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,500.

NHTSA ID
10903893
Incident
Aug 28, 2016
Mileage
70,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO SWITCH GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS, IT JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID
10892789
Incident
Dec 1, 2011
Mileage
36,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 28, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED OUT OF POSITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN ONCE, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10889214
Incident
Apr 12, 2016

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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