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2008 Mercury Mountaineer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Mercury Mountaineer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 117.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

81 reports with mileage · 15 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seats. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

96 reports
107,000 miles · Aug 16, 2019
Seats

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 TUR…

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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 ODI #11244504

135,000 miles · May 27, 2019
Electrical SystemSeats

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

NHTSA ODI #11210214

129,000 miles · Apr 17, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

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 DRIV…

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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 ODI #11196908

13,000 miles · Oct 18, 2018
Electrical SystemSeats

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 REC…

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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 ODI #11141363

113,332 miles · Feb 13, 2018
Steering

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

NHTSA ODI #11072475

90,000 miles · Dec 7, 2017
Electrical SystemSeats

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 PU…

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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 ODI #11052947

112,580 miles · Oct 23, 2017
Electrical System

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…

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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 ODI #11035952

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2017
Electrical System

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 T…

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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 ODI #10979404

90,000 miles · Mar 20, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

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/EGRE…

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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 ODI #10967171

135,000 miles · Nov 28, 2016
Electrical System

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 ODI #10928199

Official recalls

1

07V453000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Sep 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking

Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve

ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO