Most common 2008 Mercury Mariner problems
Share of the 461 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercury Mariner complaints by model year
Best Mariner years: 2007, 2005, 2006. Years to avoid: 2008, 2010, 2009. Compare all years →
2008 Mercury Mariner recalls (3)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
Hybrid propulsion system
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014.
Steering › Electric power assist system
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2008 Mercury Mariner:
Tire valve cracking
On October 14, 2008, odi opened pe08-060 to investigate allegations of cracked and leaking snap-in tire valves in model year (my) 2007 vehicles manufactured by Ford motor company.the valves were supplied to Ford by topseal auto-parts, a subsidiary of the shanghai baolong automotive corporation in china.valves made by topseal for aftermarket sale were the subject of two recent safety recalls by tech international…
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 owners say
Steering all 297 →
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated while reversing out of a parking space, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as needed; however, the failure reoccurred while driving 35 MPH. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, however, the failure persisted. The contact used physical strength to steer the vehicle and drove to the local dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall as the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stopped driving the vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, he heard abnormal sounds coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated he lost control of the steering wheel and the vehicle was shuddering. The ABS warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated as he drove, the vehicle continued to shudder. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure as a loss of the steering torque sensor signal. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired, and the failure had been reoccurring while driving at various speeds. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) because the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 66 →
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while idled at a stop, the maintenance warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact then stated that he had to apply pressure to the accelerator pedal to increase the RPMs to approximately 3000 to allow the vehicle to proceed forward. Additionally, the contact stated that the brake pedal had to remain depressed to stop the vehicle from rolling on an incline when the vehicle failed to shift in 2nd gear. The contact stated that the vehicle was inspected by a family friend who determined the potential failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V606000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 309,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated while at a stop sign, the vehicle failed to accelerate upon depression of accelerator pedal with the oil warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The contact drove the vehicle despite the failure returning upon restarting the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic and was informed that the shift lever had disengaged from the transmission. The contact was then referred to the manufacturer after the mechanic discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V606000 (Power Train); which the mechanic linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Brakes all 35 →
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, he had to hard brake, however, afterward while depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was diagnosed as a hydraulic control unit (HCU) failure. The contact was informed that the HCU needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired as the parts were on backorder. The contact stated that he discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN nor the Year/Make/Model was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that contact to call the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.
Brakes go to floor dealer said they see nothing. They gave my vehicle back brake are normal again.two months go by it happens again but it fixed itself after 2 days. This just happen again 8/5/2022. I see a recall NHTSA campaign #19V904000 ,MFG campaign #19S54 Also a NHTSA recall#150546 How am I going to drive with brakes on the floor My vehicle is a 2008 Mercury Mariner Thanks in advance
2008 Mercury Mariner 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 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Mercury Mariner a good car?
Based on 461 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Mariner rates avoid: 4.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Mariner at the same age. It is one of the Mariner 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?
The steering — 297 complaints, 64% of all complaints for this model year, most often about column. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (66) and brakes (35).
How many recalls does the 2008 Mercury Mariner have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2008 Mercury Mariner, the most recent from September 29, 2015 (floor shift). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercury Mariner?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007, 2005 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2010 and 2009. See the full Mercury Mariner years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Mercury Mariner problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 106,000 miles; 11% 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.