There are 37 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2008 Mercury Mountaineerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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
DRIVER SEAT ELECTRICAL ADJUSTMENT WILL MOVE ITSELF BACKWARDS WHILE CAR IS MOVING. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO THIS PROBLEM, IT IS RANDOM.
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
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.
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
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SEAT GOES BACKWARD AND INTERIOR LIGHTS GOES ON WITH OUT USING OR PUSHING NO INSTRUMENTS
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.
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
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
EASY ENTRY/EXIT FEATURE. THIS FEATURE WILL ENABLE WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE. THIS MAKES FOR A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE I AM NOT ABLE TO REACH MY GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC PATTERN.
WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT WILL MOVE TO THE "OPEN DOOR POSITION" CAUSING MY FEET TO BE TOO FAR FROM THE PEDALS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
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.
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!
DEFECTIVE IGNITION. WHEN DRIVING, IF YOU BUMP THE KEY (OR ATTACHED KEYCHAIN), ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON, AND THE DRIVERS SEAT WILL RETRACT ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE "EASY ENTRY/EXIT" POSITION, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SHORTER PERSON TO REACH THE BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL. SOMETIMES DURING THIS EVENT, THE CAR WILL STALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND THE INTERNET IS FULL OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS IDENTICAL ISSUE. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED YET?!? PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR A NEW IGNITION TUMBLER, BUT BEFORE LONG IT STARTS HAPPENING TO THE REPLACEMENT TUMBLER AS WELL. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/MERCURY/MOUNTAINEER/2008/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SEATS.SHTML
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND A LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID CHECK THE CHARGING SYSTEM, THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY CRASHED AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE CAR DIED AND IT LITERALLY TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. NOW EVEN WITH A REPLACED BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR IT WILL ONLY START WITH A JUMP AND CONTINUES TO SAY THE CHARGING SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WHAT IF I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN (WITH NO REDUCTION OF SPEED) THE VEHICLE JUST TURNED OFF AND STOPPED. NO ELECTRIC MEANT NO POWERSTEERING, NO ABS, NO AIR BAG SENSORS ETC... VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL BLOGS AND SITES AND I AM FINDING A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME CHARGING SYSTEM ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THE COMPANY TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50 - 65 MILES PER HOUR THE ELECTRIC DRIVER SEAT WILL MOVE BACK INTO THE OPEN DOOR PARK POSITION AND THE INSIDE LIGHTS WILL COME ON. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE OCTOBER 2014. THERE IS NO SET PATTERN, IT IS COMPLETELY RANDOM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, I MOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO THE BRAKES, AND MY KNEE BRUSHED ALONG THE KEY FOB DANGLING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE SEATS THEN AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTED TO THE REAR POSITION. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED FOUR TIMES, AND SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS--PARTICULARLY BECAUSE IT HAPPENS WHEN MOVING MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE. WHILE I REACTED QUICKLY ENOUGH IN THESE NORMAL INCIDENTS, IF I WAS BRAKING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, I DOUBT I'D BE SO LUCKY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO MOVE IN REVERSE. ADDITIONALLY, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BACKWARD INDEPENDENTLY AS ALL OF THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE SEAT MOVED TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 74,900.
I PURCHASED THIS USED VEHICLE WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT EXCEPT THE SEAT ISSUE. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK THE POWER SEAT STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THE ACTUAL NAVIGATION/RADIO SYSTEM AND DRIVING LIGHTS DIM. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONSTANT PROBLEM AND IS BASICALLY THE IGNITION AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN A FEW ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS AND HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN. MY MOTHER HAD TO DRIVE MY CAR ONE DAY AND SHE PULLED OVER IN COMPLETE FEAR BECAUSE OF ALMOST WRECKING. THERE HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. EVERY BUMP YOU HIT THIS HAPPENS NOW. MULTIPLE TIMES IN A 10 MIN DRIVE. IT IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. PLEASE RESPOND ASAP! THANK YOU! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Showing 1–20 of 37 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026