NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2008 Mercury Mountaineer (Page 1 of 2)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,521 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Mercury Mountaineer electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 Mercury Mountaineer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #36

May 092020

Mountaineer

  • 140,074 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Elizabeth, NJ, USA

problem #35

Mar 012011

Mountaineer

  • 29,000 miles
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.

- Perry, FL, USA

problem #34

Sep 092019

Mountaineer

  • 198,000 miles
Driver seat electrical adjustment will move itself backwards while car is moving. There is no pattern to this problem, it is random.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #33

May 052017

Mountaineer

  • 135,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving driver seat goes backward and interior lights goes on with out using or pushing no instruments

- Psl, FL, USA

problem #32

Oct 162018

Mountaineer

  • 13,000 miles
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

- Hermantown, MN, USA

problem #31

Mar 152016

Mountaineer

  • 90,000 miles
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!

- Appleton, WI, USA

problem #30

Oct 212017

Mountaineer

  • 112,580 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Stafford, NY, USA

problem #29

Apr 092013

Mountaineer

  • miles
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

- Cranston, RI, USA

problem #28

Mar 202017

Mountaineer

  • 90,000 miles
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.

- Washington, MI, USA

problem #27

Nov 272016

Mountaineer

  • 135,000 miles
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.

- Coldwater, MI, USA

problem #26

Aug 012016

Mountaineer

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

- Tresckow, PA, USA

problem #25

Apr 122016

Mountaineer

  • miles
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.

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #24

Jul 052016

Mountaineer

  • 20 miles
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.

- Pottsville, PA, USA

problem #23

May 112016

Mountaineer

  • 105,000 miles
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.

- Washington Township, MI, USA

problem #22

Feb 262016

Mountaineer

  • 80,000 miles
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. www.carcomplaints.com/Mercury/Mountaineer/2008/accessories-interior/seats.shtml

- Stillwater, MN, USA

problem #21

Oct 102014

Mountaineer 8-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
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.

- Breckenridge, CO, USA

problem #20

Dec 062014

Mountaineer 6-cyl

  • 109,000 miles
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.

- Auburn Hills, MI, USA

problem #19

Jul 292011

Mountaineer 6-cyl

  • 21,000 miles
The first time the following occurred was the first day I drove the vehicle. The dealership replaced the tumbler, but 1 1/2 years later it started again. 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 happens on a daily basis, and seems to be extremely dangerous--particularly because it happens not only when moving my foot to the brake, but anytime. While I react quickly enough, I have children in my car at all times and if I was braking to avoid an accident, it would be impossible as I am only 5'5". since my warranty was only good for one year, it will now cost another $400 for a new tumbler, but I've never had a car where the tumbler is replaced every 1 1/2 years or ever for that matter. Am I supposed to wait for a fatal accident where either myself or my children are severely injured or killed?

- Mount Laurel, NJ, USA

problem #18

Sep 202014

Mountaineer

  • 89,402 miles
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.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #17

Aug 032012

Mountaineer 8-cyl

  • 63,188 miles
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.

- South Bend, IN, USA

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