Problems · by component
2008 Mercury Mountaineer electrical system problems
39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Mercury Mountaineer cite electrical system, 41% of all 96 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
39
41% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“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”
“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.”
“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”
“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!”
“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.”
Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.