RoadVitals

2008 Mercury Mountaineer Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Sep 3, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 96 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Mercury Mountaineer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
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
Engine
Filed Feb 17, 2015

**************************ENGINE WILL SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING********************** IT HAS HAPPENED WITH VARIOUS LEVELS OF GAS, VARIOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND BOTH WHILE STOPPED AND MOVING. THE "CHECK FUEL FILLER INLET" LIGHT WILL COME ON. SOMETIMES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON, BUT WILL CLEAR WITHIN THE NEXT STARTUP OR TWO. CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALERS AT LEAST 4 TIMES FOR ISSUE. ENGINE THROTTLE BODY AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. IN THE BEGINNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD DO THIS ONCE OR TWICE, THEN RUN PERFECTLY FOR MONTHS AT A TIME. EACH TIME IT IS "FIXED" BY DEALER, WHO CLAIMS THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. LATELY IT WILL STALL 4-6 TIMES WITHIN A 30 MINUTE PERIOD. LAST MONTH, I WAS ABLE TO READ CODE 2107. TODAY, IT STALLED AGAIN 6 TIMES, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS, NO CODE TO BE READ. WHEN CAR IS RUNNING NORMALLY, IT SOMETIMES HICCUPS AND SEEMS TO RUN ROUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10683911
Incident
Nov 1, 2010
Mileage
24,000 mi
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats
Filed Jul 8, 2014

ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. ALL ELECTRONICS WORK. KEEP TURNING IGNITION KEY ON AND OFF SOMETIMES IT WILL START IN A FEW MINUTES OTHER TIMES IT HAS TO SIT FOR A HALF HOUR OR MORE. DOME LIGHT WILL COME ON FOR NO REASON. AFTER READING OTHERS HAVING SAME ISSUES, I TURNED ON EASY ACCESS AND SLIGHTLY TURNED IGNITION KEY AND SURE ENOUGH THE SEAT WENT BACK AND DOME LIGHT CAME ON. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A FORD DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, ONCE TOWED, AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THANKS TO THIS WEBSITE I NOW HAVE MORE INFORMATION AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE ABLE TO GET THIS ON GOING ISSUE FIXED. THE EASY ACCESS IS ALWAYS TURNED OFF. THE NO CRANK NO START IS THE BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE FOR JUST A HALF HOUR AND BE CONFIDENT IT WILL START. *JS

NHTSA ID
10609098
Incident
Aug 3, 2012
Mileage
63,188 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2013

I HAVE 2 BROKEN BOLTS ON MY RT SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND ONCE AND A WHILE CAN SMELL EXHAUST FUMES IN THE TRUCK. I'VE TAKEN IT TO FIVE SEPARATE MECHANICS FOR DIAGNOSTICS THE REPAIRS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND EVERYONE SAID THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN WHO HAVE TO DRIVE IN THIS TRUCK EVERY DAY AND ARE SUBJECT TO DANGEROUS FUMES WHY !!!!!!!!! HASN'T FORD DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I CALLED FORD TELL THEM WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND GET NOWHERE THERE EXACT WORD ARE ( THERE ISN'T ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ) BS !! LOOK ON THE INTERNET AND YOU'LL SEE NHTSA NEEDS TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THIS NOW BEFORE IT'S TO LATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10536855
Incident
Aug 1, 2008
Engine
Filed Feb 7, 2013

VEHICLE IS MISSING, NOW SHAKING. NEED SPARK PLUG REPLACED BUT IS STUCK. NEEDED SPECIAL TOOL/EQUIPMENT TO GET OUT. WILL BE VERY COSTLY. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM SINCE I ONLY PURCHASED IT ALMOST 2 YRS AGO. I AM REALLY CONTEMPLATING SUING!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10496692
Incident
Feb 7, 2013
Mileage
86,400 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 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

NHTSA ID
10370562
Incident
Jan 29, 2009
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Nov 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

NHTSA ID
10365945
Incident
Nov 16, 2010

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .