54 of the 156 complaints about the 2008 Mercury Mountaineer are about the seats — 35% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 65,000 miles.
54
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SEATS
DRIVER SEAT ELECTRICAL ADJUSTMENT WILL MOVE ITSELF BACKWARDS WHILE CAR IS MOVING. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO THIS PROBLEM, IT IS RANDOM.
NHTSA complaint #11282163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 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 complaint #11244504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SEAT GOES BACKWARD AND INTERIOR LIGHTS GOES ON WITH OUT USING OR PUSHING NO INSTRUMENTS
NHTSA complaint #11210214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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 complaint #11141363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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 complaint #11052947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTED BACKWARDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. ALSO, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING ILLUMINATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #10917907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10876942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I ALSO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION CAUSING THE SEATS TO MOVE THE EASY EXIT POSITION. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING AND IS VERY UNSAFE. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AS IF THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF AND REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, ALSO CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE THE EXIT POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I AM UNABLE TO REACH THE PEDALS AND SCRAMBLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. I SEE WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING TO QUITE A FEW OTHER OWNERS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10863318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE POWER DRIVERS SEAT MOVES SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING BACK INTO THE ENTRY/EXIT POSITION MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO REACH THE BRAKE/ACCELERATOR PEDALS.
NHTSA complaint #10850623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE DRIVER SEAT MOVES BACK WHEN DRIVING. NO SET PATTERN. SOMETIMES AS MANY AS 10 TIMES WHEN DRIVING AND OTHER TIMES 1 TIME. NO SET PATTERN. JUST HAPPENS
NHTSA complaint #10846218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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
NHTSA complaint #10838908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER SEAT MOVES FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS. NOT THE FIRST TIME. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT HAPPENED AND WE BROUGHT VEHICLE TO SHOP AND MODULE WAS REPLACED, NOW THIS ISSUE IS HAPPENING AGAIN CAUSING ME NOT ABLE TO REACH BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS.
NHTSA complaint #10824854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SEAT MOVED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10822350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHEN I HIT A BUMP THE DRIVER SEAT MOVED IN AND OUT OF POSITION THAT I HAD SET IN THE MEMORY SEATING
NHTSA complaint #10780182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATICALLY MOVES BACK FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH CAUSES PROBLEMS STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT THEN MOVES YOU FORWARD PRESSING YOUR FOOT AGAINST THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING YOU TO SPEED UP. IT IS A RANDOM ISSUE AND YOU ARE UNAWARE WHILE DRIVING WHEN IT WILL OCCUR. THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO SOMEONE OR SOMEONE'S PROPERTY AND INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
NHTSA complaint #10776480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
DRIVER SEAT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTS WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS AT SPEEDS FROM SLOW TO FAST AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING REGULARLY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN 2010.
NHTSA complaint #10713270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING IF ON BUMPY ROADS THE SEATS WILL RETURN TO THE OPEN DOOR POSITION AND INTER LIGHTS COME ON. MAKING IT HARD TO REACH PEDALS.
NHTSA complaint #10669249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10664865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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?
NHTSA complaint #10641103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10637710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
ONCE THE KEY IS INSERTED THE SEAT WILL MOVE INTO POSITION AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TURN OFF. THAT IS WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENS IS MY KNEE NUDGES THE KEY THE CAR WILL THINK I HAVE TAKEN THE KEY OUT AND WILL TURN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON AND MOVE MY SEAT ALL THE WAY BACK TO ITS OUT POSITION. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE ME FEET NO LONGER TOUCH THE PEDALS. AS SOON AS THIS HAPPENED MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON BUT NO CODES ARE SHOWING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND I AM SURPRISED THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS SINCE THERE ARE OTHERS SUFFERING WITH THIS AS WELL THAT I HAVE SEEN POSTED IN ONLINE FORUMS.
NHTSA complaint #10619404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10609098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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).
NHTSA complaint #10606409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10597822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT SUDDENLY WENT ALL THE WAY BACK AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. AFTER A MOMENT, THE SEAT WENT BACK TO NORMAL POSITION AND THE LIGHTS WENT BACK OUT. 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 2 INCHES, WHEN THE SEAT MOVES BACK I CAN NO LONGER REACH THE PETALS, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING. I HOPE THIS GETS FIXED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT, AS I HAVE A COUPLE FRIENDS WITH MOUNTAINEERS, ONE IS THE SAME YEAR, WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10595676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
IF I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES TO THE EASY EXIT POSITION THE DOME LIGHTS COME ON. HAPPENS ALSO IF YOU BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL OR IF YOU TOUCH THE KEY WHEN IT IS IN THE IGNITION. IT HAS HAPPENS WHILE BACKING OUT IN DRIVE. STALLED THE ENGINE TWICE. TURNING THE KEY SLIGHTLY WILL PUT THE SEAT BACK INTO THE SET POSITION. I AM ONLY 5' 5", SO WHEN THE SEAT GOES BACK WHILE I AM DRIVING, I AM MOVED TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. MECHANIC INSPECTION INDICATES IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HAS QUOTED IT AS A $203 REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10565841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BACK INDEPENDENTLY AND THE DOME LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A DEFECT IN THE SEATING SWITCH BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,600. UPDATED 3/14/14
NHTSA complaint #10562682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINED INDEPENDENTLY AS THE DOME LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
NHTSA complaint #10555055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGED INTO THE EASY EXIT POSITION AS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIRS. THE IGNITION AND SEAT SWITCH WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10553814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE ISSUE STARTED OUT WHILE WE WERE DRIVING; THE SEAT WOULD MOVE TO THE EASY EXIT FEATURE AND THE DOME LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AS THOUGH THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. IT'S NOW MORE FREQUENT AND HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. TURNING THE KEY SLIGHTLY WILL PUT IN BACK INTO THE DRIVING POSITION. THIS IS A SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD AS YOU'RE MOVED VERY FAR AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. SADLY, IT WILL TAKE A DEADLY ACCIDENT OCCURRING FOR THIS TO BE CONSIDERED A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10549519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.