YearToAvoid

2008 Mercury Mountaineer Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2008 Mercury Mountaineer ranks 2nd worst of 6 model years with a Complaint Index of 80 and 96 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Structure & Body issues, mainly unexpected memory-seat movement, and Electrical System faults dominate owner reports.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
80/100
#2 of 6 Mountaineer years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
96
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Structure & Body
Best nearby year
2010
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15.5
13 city / 19.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2008 Mercury Mountaineer problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body55 (57%)
  2. Electrical System44 (46%)
  3. Engine11 (11%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain9 (9%)
  5. Brakes6 (6%)
  6. Other6 (6%)
  7. Seat Belts4 (4%)
  8. Fuel System3 (3%)
  9. Steering3 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers3 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Driver memory seat moves backward or reclines on its own while driving, sometimes pushing the driver away from the brake and accelerator pedals.
  • Dome light illuminates intermittently and fails to dim automatically, sometimes paired with unexpected seat movement.
  • Vehicle rolled forward while parked and in the off position, striking another vehicle.
  • Front heated windshield produces glare and haze from oncoming headlights at night, described as tiring to drive with.
  • Driver's seat belt reported as too short to buckle comfortably, with dealer replacement providing an identical, unchanged belt.
  • Brake pedal went to the floor along with a clunking noise and loss of power steering while slowing for a red light.
2008 Mercury Mountaineer complaints: complaints filed per quarter62008 Q12010 Q22012 Q12013 Q32015 Q12016 Q32018 Q42020 Q3
96 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q1 to 2025 Q3; peak 2012 Q3 (6).

2008 Mercury Mountaineer recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 07V453000Sep 26, 2007Transmission & Powertrain1,497 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and lines

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2008 Mercury Mountaineer fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13 MPG
Highway
19.5 MPG
Combined
15.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,175
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Mountaineer years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092010
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid100117115
2007Caution6081015
2008Avoid8096115.5
2009Good06016
2010Best2013116

All Mercury Mountaineer years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Mercury Mountaineer reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 model has a Complaint Index of 80, the second-highest among the six model years with data, resulting in an Avoid verdict for this year specifically.
What problems does the 2008 Mercury Mountaineer have?
The largest concentration of complaints is in Structure & Body (57% share, mostly involving memory seats moving on their own) and Electrical System (46% share). Smaller numbers cover Engine, Transmission & Powertrain, and Brakes.
Does the 2008 Mercury Mountaineer have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall, campaign 07V453000, covering vehicles with the 4.6L engine and 6R transmission where the transmission oil cooler line fitting bolt may not have been sufficiently torqued. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2008 Mountaineer compare to other years?
The 2008 model's Complaint Index of 80 is worse than 2005 (40, Good), 2007 (60, Caution), 2009 (0, Good), and 2010 (20, Best), but better than 2006 (100, Avoid).
At what mileage do 2008 Mountaineer problems typically show up?
Median mileage at failure for the top problem area, Structure & Body, is 65,000 miles; Electrical System issues have a median of 65,800 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.