Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Mercury Mariner owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Mercury Mariner recall, I purchased a 2008 Mercury Mariner on 9/27/14. On 12/19/14 at night while on highway the wrench warning light came on and the car decreased speed and I almost got hit by the car from the rear, pulled in emergency line and had SUV towed. Required a transmission on 12/26/16 for $1475. On 1/14/16 while on highway during exiting on exit the steering wheel became difficult to turn , hit the guard rail there where not warning light to indicate that the steering had a problem, had the SUV towed to shop and repaired steering shift torque senor for $428.00. On 1/10/17 after grocery shopping the SUV would not start, called cab to take me home with groceries, returned to have SUV towed to shop repair the ignition starter switch for $176.00. On 9/21/17 when leaving for work, the key would not turned, towed to shop and required lock cylinder housing $434.00. …
Well I was at a red light and then the light turned green I pressed the gas pedal and started to go then my RPM started to go up and my Mercury Mariner did not want to go no more so I coasted to the slow lane I rev my engine while I was still drive about about 1 min in went back into gear so started to drive again the RPM went back up and then I coasted to a stop on a busy highway I immediately started to get my family out to safety so I went back to my Mercury Mariner it was in park and still running and I noticed a yellow wrench on the dash board so I put it in drive it did not move then for five min trying to get it to move it went into gear but just enough to get off the highway on to a back street so I turned my Mercury Mariner off so about a half hour went by I started it up and I notice the yellow wrench was off so then it went right into gear but about in one min it did the same …
When I pulled out into traffic on my way to meijer the vehicle began to stall like it was in neutral. I was able to drive it to a stop light where I put it into park. When I took off from the traffic light everything was OK, went to meijer and turned the vehicle off. Went shopping & when I started the vehicle again eveything seemed normal. Within a mile of leaving meijer the vehicle began the same symptoms "acting like it was going to stall." when I tried to increase the speed to get the vehicle home it would not go over 15 MPH. It was like it was confused about what gear it was in. I put the vehicle in reverse to pull into a parking space and the vehicle did nothing. I turned it off and restarted it then put it in drive and pulled into a parking space.
While driving the car on a highway, the warning light chimes and displays to "safely stop vehicle". The car no longer accelerates and slows to a stop even if you don't have a shoulder to pull off to. I normally just hit my hazard lights and pull to a stop, wait a few minutes then restart the engine. This happen once a month and sometimes twice or three times in a row. If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it May shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash. There is currently a recall on this problem #14s19. Called Ford and they said my vehicle isn't a part of it even though it clearly was built in the same time and has the exact issue. Very dangerous and scary problem.
Warning lights come on and loss of power, informs driver to safely pull over. To road. Towed vehicle to Ford dealer and was told only option was to replace with new transmission and that Ford would not allow to repair the transmission, only replace with new. Vehicle has 60K miles and is well maintained. Other transmission mechanics have been told that Ford will not sell them parts to repair the cvts and only a Ford dealer is authorized and can get the replacement parts. This is not right, there is something wrong with the CVT and Ford needs to own up this problem. A $9,200 repair should not be borne by the consumer. I can see over the internet that this is an on-going problem with other consumers.
Speed shift forced on 2nd and 4th, the vehicle has only 77000 miles and transmission is bad, contacted the dealer about the problem and no action taken, they said the vehicle is not on a recall campaign and owner needed to do repair and if the campaign started on this problem in the future they will reimburse the repair amount, I need the vehicle on a daily basis and now I'm stock with the repairs cost of 1500 plus labor. I need to add this vehicle to the recall as shown here: report receipt date: sep 29, 2015 NHTSA campaign number: 15V606000 component(s): power train the vehicle was in motion when it happened , speed was reduced and wrench light came on the dashboard
The car is reving high and accelerating poorly. Then the red triangle light telling me to stop safety now comes on causing me to pull over and shut car off. I turn the car back on and it drives but with same issues. Look on the carcomplaint.com website for TSB-09-19-12 and TSB-08-24-5 which detail what my car is doing and makes it appear like there is a cooling pump recall. Ford just told me there are no recalls listed for my VIN though. The frequency of which the red triangle light comes on is increasing this month. It was every few months and now it is weekly-daily.
On 6/8/2019 while driving on highway with cruise set with my disabled son in vehicle the car pulled badly to one side. I immediately braked and it took all my strength to get us off the road. Front axle has already been replaced 2 years ago. Now dealer is saying transmission blew and is out which caused front axle to fail while driving. Regular maintenance and upkeep have been done. Built car and only driver usually city miles. 2008 with less than 60,000 miles. This is a huge safety issue that needs to be addressed immediately we almost flipped.
Related recalls
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.
Transmission complaints in other Mariner years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2008 Mercury Mariner?
NHTSA has 66 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2008 Mercury Mariner, 14% of the model year's 461 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Mercury Mariner transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-606 (floor shift, Sep 29, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Mercury Mariner transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 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.