Most common 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid problems
Share of the 116 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercury Mariner Hybrid complaints by model year
Best Mariner Hybrid years: 2010, 2009. Years to avoid: 2008. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Loss of power steering while driving
On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY) 2008 through 2011 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (NHTSA 14V-284, Ford 14S05).
What 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid owners say
Engine & cooling all 40 →
Experienced two in-traffic drive-train shut-downs as dangerous as the g.m. Ignition switch malfunctions... Traveling in 60mph-70mph night-time valentine's night freeway traffic on the I-405 in santa ana, ca. In the #3 lane of 5 lanes, the check engine warning light suddenly flashed on - accompanied by the `screech' of the `check gauges' tone - and the drive-train lost all power -- along with the absolutely worthless text "stop safely now". With no power steering, and limited brake booster reserves, I activated the hazard flashers - and thanks to alert and courteous traffic, was able to stop in a "reverse gore-point" between the freeway lanes and an outside transition road. Things could have come out far-worse if overtaking drivers had been inattentive - or we had to cross the path of a big-rig with limited braking- or steering capabilities. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. While driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the coolant pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V526000 (Hybrid propulsion system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Brakes all 34 →
The ABS tone rings on the 2008 model Mercury Mariner and Ford escape are defective in design - they are thin metal, but put under stress by being forced onto the half-shaft (different metal, different expansion rate), and therefore prone to cracking/breaking. When cracked/broken, they cause the ABS brake system and regenerative braking to fault out, sometimes intermittently and with no warning. The part itself is cheap (~$10 each), and apparently should be, but the dealer will not sell them separately, and instead requires the owner to replace the half-shaft, with estimates from the dealership and independent mechanics of between $400 and $1000 to replace both front half-shafts. …
"Takata recall" when I was leaving a store yesterday I noticed that my ABS, brake light came on along with a description indicating my check brake system. I never noticed an issue with my breaks prior to these signals coming on and my fianc's car had been functioning well for the last four years. I normally drive the SUV so when I noticed it said that I made sure the breaks were working when I started to move. I did notice that the breaks required more of a firm push when I was needing to come to a spot. I didn't have any accidents or caused me to run any stop lights or stop signs. However, after doing my own research I did find out that this is a problem for the 2008 Mercury mariners and from some of the warnings I have read stated the breaks ended up failing after this all accrued and about got them into accidents. …
Steering all 24 →
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 5-10 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving however, extra effort was needed to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module needed to be replaced. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that he would be responsible for the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
The contact's son owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The contact stated that while her son was starting the vehicle, the steering wheel lost power steering functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's son was able to continue the drive the vehicle, however, extra effort was needed while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that no assistance could be provided because the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately was 143,340.
2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 34 / 30 / 32 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | 4WD/AWD | 29 / 27 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid a good car?
Based on 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Mariner Hybrid rates avoid: 4.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Mariner Hybrid at the same age. It is one of the Mariner Hybrid years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid?
The engine & cooling — 40 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the brakes (34) and steering (24).
How many recalls does the 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercury Mariner Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008. See the full Mercury Mariner Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 81,000 miles; 16% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.