Seats. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

96 reports

38,319 miles · Feb 11, 2010

Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicTraction Control System

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MY FORD MOUNTAINEER 2008 TRANSMISSION IS ERRATIC AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE SLIPPING IS TAKING PLACE. BRAKING IS ALSO ERRATIC AS I FEEL A BUMPING WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT FEELS LIKE TO TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS ABOUT TO GO. I CALLED FORD AND THEY HAVE KNOW OF THE PROBLEM SINCE 2006 AS THE TRANSMISSION USED (6R60) CONTINUALLY NEEDS SOFTWARE UPDATES. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, MOST ALL OF THESE VEHICLES WITH THIS TRANSMISSION EVENTUALLY HAVE THE PROBLEM BUT VERY RARELY WITH THE BASE WARRANTY PERIOD, SO NOW ALL OF US HAVE TO PAY BUT FORD HAS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM EVEN B/4 MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED.........WHAT DO I DO, FORD IS NOT RECALLING FOR THIS A SHIFTING THE RISK OF THE ACCIDENT AND REPAIR TO THE CONSUMER. PLEASE HELP AND LET ME KNOW WHAT MY NEXT STEP MIGHT BE....THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308801

35,600 miles · Apr 14, 2009

Seats

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MEMORY SEATS CHANGE SEAT SETTING WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ASSISTANCE OF DRIVER. WHILE ON A LENGTHY ROAD TRIP, INCIDENT OCCURRED 3 TIMES. ONE OF WHICH NEARLY RESULTED IN A COLLISION WHEN DRIVER WAS FORCED ONTO SHOULDER OF ROAD TO AVOID TRAFFIC. DRIVER MEMORY SEAT POSITIONS ITSELF IN SUCH A POSITION THAT DRIVER IS UNABLE TO REACH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. THIS FAULT SEEMS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE SEAT FOR A RANDOM AND UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT TIME FORCING DRIVER TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE CONTROL AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN SEAT POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265224

16,000 miles · Feb 9, 2009

Electrical SystemCrash

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE DOME LIGHT ILLUMINATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DOME LIGHT WOULD NOT DIM AUTOMATICALLY. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, THE DOME LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S EASY-ACCESS SEAT RETRACTED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TO KEYLESS ENTRY MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, IT WAS INSUFFICIENT. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR CRASH, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE'S MALFUNCTIONS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,500.

NHTSA ODI #10258041

17,000 miles · Dec 16, 2008

Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

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WHILE COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN I TRIED TO STOP FOR THE RED LIGHT. I ALSO LOST POWER STEERING. LUCKILY, I FINALLY GOT THE SUV TO STOP AFTER I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS CLOSE TO MY HOME SO I SLOWLY DROVE TO MY HOUSE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IF NECESSARY. I CONTACTED MERCURY WHO TOWED THE SUV TO THEIR SHOP THE NEXT DAY ON THE 15TH OF DECEMBER. THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE ALL DAY ON THE 15TH AND 16TH AND TOLD ME THAT I COULD PICK IT UP ON THE 17TH. THEY COULDN'T, HOWEVER. FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND SAID THE COMPUTERS SAY EVERYTHING IS FINE. THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND ARE GIVING ME THE VEHICLE BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252031

23 miles · Sep 23, 2008

Seat Belts

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS TOO SHORT. THE DRIVER IS BARELY ABLE TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, AND ONCE HE DOES, HE IS UNABLE TO MOVE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RISK BECAUSE IT PUTS HIM IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION. THE DEALER EXCHANGED THE SEAT BELT, BUT IT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE THAT WAS ALREADY IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO MAKE ANY CHANGES BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A SAFETY VIOLATION. FORD ONLY OFFERED A SEAT BELT EXTENDER, BUT THE CONTACT REFUSES TO USE AN EXTENDER. HE ALSO OWNS A 2006 MERCURY VEHICLE, IN WHICH THE SEAT BELT IS 6-9 INCHES LONGER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 600. UPDATED 11/14/08 *CN UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10243208

23 miles · Jan 31, 2008

Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT HEATED WINDSHIELD GIVES OFF A GLARE AT NIGHT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, BUT THE GLARE IS STILL PRESENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CAUSES HIM TO FEEL TIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,823 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23. UPDATED 03-0…

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NHTSA ODI #10216580

Official recalls

07V453000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Sep 26, 2007

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.6L ENGINE AND 6R TRANSMISSION, THE BOLT SECURING THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE FITTINGS AT THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TORQUED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY LOOSEN AND THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTACTS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, IT MAY POSE A RISK OF FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE ATTACHMENT BOLT TIGHTENED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking

Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve

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 (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO