Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Mercury Mariner, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering297
- Power train66
- Vehicle speed control31
- Service brakes29
- Electrical system27
- Unknown or other19
- Engine14
- Air bags8
- Fuel/propulsion system8
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 31 2008 Mariner vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 13 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2008 Mercury Mariner failed the safety check 2.50% of the time — 1% more often than the average 2008 passenger car (2.48%). Median odometer at inspection: 140,272 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
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 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
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. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
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. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercury told its dealers about the 2008 Mercury Mariner: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10140323 | The Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can only be used with vehicles that are factory built with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE). The master code for the Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can be retrieved from FMCDealer - Parts and Service - Parts Product Line Information - Keys/Entry Devices - Aftermarket Keyless Entry Keypad Code Access. Access to this site is granted through Dealer Program Enrollment System (DPES) and Dealer Principal, General Manager or Parts and Service Director can authorize users. Once authorized the retrieval process for master code can be obtained. The mast |
| 10138524 | The Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can only be used with vehicles that are factory built with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE). The master code for the Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can be retrieved from FMCDealer - Parts and Service - Parts Product Line Information - Keys/Entry Devices - Aftermarket Keyless Entry Keypad Code Access. Access to this site is granted through Dealer Program Enrollment System (DPES) and Dealer Principal, General Manager or Parts and Service Director can authorize users. Once authorized the retrieval process for master code can be obtained. The mast |
| 10137113 | Replacing the original equipment SYNC/Navigation system with either an aftermarket SYNC/Navigation kit or modifying original SYNC/Navigation parts to provide additional features is not recommended nor supported on any Ford, Mercury or Lincoln vehicle. Only approved Genuine Ford accessories or originally installed systems are supported and certified to function correctly with other vehicle systems. If you suspect a system has been modified, the following resources can be used to verify original equipment: Monroney Label (Window Sticker), Professional Technician Society (PTS) OASIS tab select |
| 10109070 | The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer |
| 10095184 | REPLACING THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SYNC/NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH EITHER AN AFTERMARKET SYNC/NAVIGATION KIT OR MODIFYING ORIGINAL SYNC/NAVIGATION PARTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FEATURES IS NOT RECOMMENDED NOR SUPPORTED ON ANY FORD, MERCURY OR LINCOLN VEHICLE. ONLY APPROVED GENUINE FORD ACCESSORIES OR ORIGINALLY INSTALLED SYSTEMS ARE SUPPORTED AND CERTIFIED TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY WITH OTHER VEHICLE SYSTEMS. IF YOU SUSPECT A SYSTEM HAS BEEN MODIFIED, THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES CAN BE USED TO VERIFY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT: MONRONEY LABEL (WINDOW STICKER), PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIAN SOCIETY (PTS) OASIS TAB SELECT |
| 10056710 | MERCURY/FORD: IN ONE OR MORE SPEED SETTINGS, ELECTRONIC MANUAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL (EMTC) A/C SYSTEM IS WARM AND/OR LACK BLOWER MOTOR OPERATION IN SETTINGS DUE TO DAMAGED BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR CAUSED BY WATER ENTERING HEATER AND EVAPORATOR CORE HOUSING. MODEL 2008-12 ESCAPE, MARINER. *PE |
| 10055355 | FORD: THE WRENCH LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE WHEN 4X4 FUNCTION IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO ACTIVE TORQUE COUPLING SOLENOID COIL WIRING BEING BROKE, BUT A KIT IS AVAILABLE TO SERVICE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY/REAR DRIVE UNIT (RDU), AT LOWER LEVEL. MODEL 2008-2012 ESCAPE, MARINER. *PE |
| 10054916 | FORD/MERCURY: IF DIAGNOSTIC CODE B2278 IS STORED IN POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE (PSCM), IT NEEDS REPLACING WITH TORQUE SENSOR SERVICE KIT THAT IS AVAILABLE AND IF NOT, DOES NOT APPLY. MODEL 2008-2012 ESCAPE, 2008-2011 MARINER. *PE |
| 10041387 | FORD SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. THERE MAY BE A TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER TUBE CRACK WHICH CAN LEAD TO ROUGH HARD SHIFTS/TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *RM |
| 10039244 | FORD: THERE IS EXCESSIVE ENGINE OR EXHAUST NOISE, OR AN EXHAUST ODOR DUE TO AN EXHAUST LEAK. THERE WILL BE NO WARNING CODES OR LIGHTS. 2007-2008 ESCAPE/MARINER. *RM |
| 10034548 | FORD/MERCURY: STEERING COLUMN POP/CLUNK NOISE ON TURNS. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A POP OR CLUNK NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA WHILE TURNING. THIS NOISE TYPICALLY OCCURS QUARTER TURN BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL REACHES IT'S END OF TRAVEL STOP AND TYPICALLY GOES AWAY WITH WEIGHT OFF THE WHEELS. *PE |
| 10033726 | FORD/MERCURY: NEW SERVICE KIT AVAILABLE FOR ACCELERATOR CABLE TO PEDAL CONNECTION. SOME VEHICLES MAY REQUIRE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONNECTION REPAIRED. A NEW SERVICE CLIP HAS BEEN RELEASED FOR USE, IN LIEU OF REPLACING THE CABLE AND/OR PEDAL ASSEMBLIES. *PE |
| 10032610 | FORD: INCREASED SHIFT LEVER EFFORT MAY HAVE DEBRIS OR SOMETHING, SUCH AS SWEETENED DRINKS SPILLED IN/ON THE SHIFTER. SHIFTER REPLACEMENT RESULTING FROM SPILLAGE OR DEBRIS IS NOT WARRANTABLE. *PE |
| 10024845 | 2005-08 ESCAPE/ESCAPE HYBRID/MARINER - 2006-08 MARINER HYBRID - WHEEL SPEED SENSOR RING REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE UPDATE TO WORKSHOP MANUAL. *NJ |
| 10024842 | SLOW FUEL FILL BUILT BEFORE 11/26/2007. ONLY HYBRID. *NJ |
| 10024841 | SLOW FUEL FILL AND/OR DTC P0451. *NJ |
| 10024826 | CD4E TRANSMISSION--FLUID LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER (EXCLUDES HYBRIDS)--BUILT ON OR BEFORE 2/18/2008. *NJ |
| 10024695 | MULTIPLE VEHICLE LINES - INTERMITTENT PCM, FUEL PUMP, IGN. COIL, A/C, ABS OR FOG LAMP OPERATION. *NJ |
| 10024328 | NO CRANK / NO TCM COMMUNICATION / THEFT LIGHT ON / MULTIPLE DTCS. (HYBRID ONLY) *NJ |
| 10024327 | INTERMITTENT RED TRIANGLE ON AND (STOP SAFELY NOW) ON MESSAGE CENTER WITH WRENCH LIGHT AND DTC P1A0C. (HYBRID ONLY) *NJ |
| 10024326 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) U2062 (HYBRID ONLY). *NJ |
| 10024321 | 3.0L DURATEC ENGINE--OIL LEAK (LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE)--DIPSTICK OR CRANKSHAFT SEAL. *NJ |
| 10023867 | WINDSHIELD WIPER CHATTER/NOISE--BUILT ONLY ON 4/14/2007. *NJ |
| 10023295 | MULTIPLE VEHICLE LINES - INTERMITTENT PCM, FUEL PUMP, IGN, COIL, A/C, ABS OR FOG LAMP OPERATION. *NJ |
| 10023278 | 2005-2008 ESCAPE HYBRID AND 2006-2008 MARINER HYBRID VEHICLES ARE NOT E-85 COMPATIBLE. *NJ |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Loss of power steering while driving
TIRE VALVE CRACKING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation