There are 23 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2008 Mercury Marinerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I REALIZED SOMETIME LAST YEAR THAT MY THROTTLE WAS STICKING WHEN I WOULD START THE CAR AND BEGIN TO TAKE OFF. IT WAS HERE AND THERE AND THEN I MUST HAVE GOTTEN USE TO IT BUT NOW IT DOES IT EVEN WHEN I'M DRIVING, IT STICKS ALL THE TIME. NOW IT DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT AT THE RIGHT TIMES AND IT ACTS WEIRD A LOT, GOING UP HILLS, WHEN SHIFTING FROM GEARS AND SO ON.
THE THROTTLE IS HELD OPEN WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS EMPLOYED BUT REMAINS OPEN WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF BOTH BY USING THE OFF BUTTON AND BRAKE APPLICATION. THIS HAPPENS AT 75-80 MPH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IN AZ AND UT. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER IS INEFFECTIVE WITH NO INTAKE VACUUM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE. WE HAD JUST MERGED TO THE PASSING LANE TO ALLOW TRAFFIC MERGING FROM AN ON RAMP TO ENTER THE INTERSTATE A VEHICLE NEXT TO US WAS DOING THE EXACT SPEED AS WE WERE WHICH WAS 72 MPH SET CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM THE REAR AND SINCE I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE DECIDED TO SPEED UP AND GET IN FRONT OF THE CAR BESIDE US I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR ON OUR 08 MERCURY MARINER WITH A 3.0L ENGINE TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR ACCELERATED IN FRONT OF THE OTHER CAR, WHEN I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE ONCE WITH NOTHING CHANGING THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I PROCEEDED TO PUMP THE BRAKE THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES IN ABOUT 1 SECOND INTERVALS. FINALLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RELEASE AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. WE PRECEDED HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND HAS RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES AND DEATHS IN EARLIER MODEL YEARS OF FORD ESCAPE, MERCURY MARINER AND MAZDA TRIBUTE VEHICLES. I HAVE HAD FORD VEHICLES MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON VEHICLES FOR MORE THAN THIRTY FIVE YEARS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND IS NOT THE ONLY TIME OR VEHICLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO IN THIS YEAR THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIMILAR PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THESE FORD AND MERCURY SUV'S ON THE INTERNET EX: CARCOMPLAINTS.COM TO NAME JUST ONE. THE INTERNET IS FILLED WITH THESE DANGEROUS COMPLAINTS. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE UP TO YOUR NAME AND PUT THE SAFETY ASPECT FIRST,WHEN DEALING WITH THESE TO RICH TO BE BOTHERED BY RECALLS AUTO MANUFACTURERS? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE OVER 15 MPH AND THE SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TWICE THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
SAME RESULTS OF THE CONSUMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 13N03. A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. CAR BEGAN TO STALL/CHOKE OUT WHILE ACCELERATING. IT CONTINUED TO DO SO UNTIL IT FINALLY LEFT ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS BUILT AT A DIFFERENT TIME/PLANT DOES NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE FOR A KNOWN UNSAFE PROBLEM. THIS STARTED ON THE FREEWAY AND CONTINUED AFTER I EXITED FOR FEAR OF STALLING ON THE FREEWAY. CAR HAS TO BE TOWED/REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. A FRIEND HAS THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE/SAME PROBLEM LAST YEAR, BUT DUE TO HER CAR BEING BUILT AT THAT PLANT/TIME WAS COMPENSATED FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. AGAIN, FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT MINIMIZES COVERAGE. I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY WIFE/DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING(AT NIGHT). IN REALITY, IT IS UNSAFE AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.
IN COLD WEATHER MY GAS PEDAL STICKS. EVEN AFTER I HAVE STARTED MY CAR AND LET RUN FOR 10-15 MINUTES. WHEN I GET IN, REVERSE TO FORWARD POSITION AND TRY TO ACCELERATE- THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. I HAVE TO SLAM ON IT FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES BEFORE IT ACTUALLY WORKS. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AS WELL, NOT JUST THE INITIAL START. IT DEFINITELY HAPPENS MORE IN COLD WEATHER. WHAT CAN I DO? AFTER RESEARCH THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008 MERCURY MARINERS. I BELIEVE IT'S DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD EXCESSIVELY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ENGAGED HER BRAKES AND WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
ACTS LIKE THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. NO POWER WHEN ACCELERATING BUT RPMS GO UP AND THEN SURGES WHEN FINALLY THROTTLE WORKS . WRENCH LIGHT ON. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING THEN IT JERKS REAL HARD AND TAKES OFF SO I HAVE TO RIDE THE BRAKES AFTER COMING TO A STOP BEFORE I CAN PRESS THE GAS PEDDLE IT TAKES OFF SO I RIDE THE BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING AGAIN IT PICKS UP SPEED ON ITS OWN VERY SCARE PLEASE HELP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 25 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 08/04/17*LJ *CN
VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM REST. PRESS GAS PEDAL - VEHICLE DOES NOT GO - THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT TAKES OFF. DANGEROUS SCENARIO AT STOP LIGHTS. DEALER SAYS ISSUE IS DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. *TR
THE THROTTLE/GAS PEDAL IN MY 2008 MERCURY MARINER KEPT STICKING AND EVENTUALLY BREAKING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE CABLE UNHOOKED FROM THE PEDAL WHEN THE TECHNICIAN HOOKED THE CABLE THROTTLE TO THE PEDAL IT WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE PEDAL, THE THROTTLE PLATE STUCK. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED AND REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MY ISSUE IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS A FORD ESCAPE RECALL BACK IN JULY 2012. IS THIS SOMETHING I CAN CONTACT FORD ABOUT TO SEE IF THIS SHOULD ALSO BE PART OF THEIR THROTTLE CABLE RECALL. *TR
WITHOUT WARNING THE GAS PEDAL STICKS, WILL NOT FUNCTION. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP, BUT ALSO HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR IS WARM. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OR JUST DRIVE NORMALLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE FORD ESCAPE AND THE MERCURY MARINER. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
WAS TRAVELING HOME FOR LUNCH, TURNING CORNER AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT TO IDLE. PUSHED GAS PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT ENGINE REMAINED AT IDLE. WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AT ALL. WAS ABLE TO IDLE HOME BLOCKING TRAFFIC AS I WENT. CHECKED GAS PEDAL AND FOUND THAT THROTTLE CABLE HAD BROKEN. THE WIRE ITSELF HAD BROKEN. THE RUBBER GROMMET AND CRIMPED END REMAINED IN-TACKED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF FOR INSTANCE I HAD BEEN PULLING ONTO FREEWAY OR CROSSING A BUSY INTERSECTION, OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I BELIEVE THIS PART SHOULD BE INSPECTED ON ALL VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR AND MAKE. THIS TYPE OF BREAKAGE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY A FATALITY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECONNECTED THE ARM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. AFTER COASTING FOR A WHILE, THE VEHICLE WOULD RAPIDLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND THE GAS PEDAL JUST WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT I COULD INCREASE THE POWER. I HAD TO COAST ACROSS THREE LANES OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO GET MY VEHICLE SAFETY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS THE SECOND TIME THE ACCELERATOR CABLE IN THIS VEHICLE HAS SNAPPED WITHOUT WARNING. MY DEALER REPLACED THE FIRST CABLE LAST YEAR AND JUST OVER ONE YEAR LATER THE SAME CABLE HAS SNAPPED. I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO PANIC AND WAS ABLE TO BRING MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS CABLE SNAPPED TWICE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE KILLED OR INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. MY DEALER IS REPLACING THE CABLE UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT ARE CHARGING ME TO REPLACE THEIR DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BOX. FORD/MERCURY NEEDS TO RECALL ALL MARINERS AND FORD ESCAPES ASAP. *TR
DIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY I HAD THE CRUISE SENT AT 65MPH AND SUDDENLY THE MARINER WAS ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. I STEP ON THE BRAKE AND IT DISENGAGED THE CRUISE AND SLOWED. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE OF SOME KIND. THEN DRIVING HOME I DIDN'T USE THE CRUISE AND THE CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN ABOUT 15MPH WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS STAYING AT 55MPH. I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS LOSS OF POWER ABOUT 6 RANDOM TIMES. I'VE USED THE CRUISE ON LONG STRETCHES OF HIGHWAY(THAT I RARELY DRIVE) AND THE MARINER HAS ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN 4 TIMES. THE FOURTH TIME RESULTING IN A SPEEDING TICKET OF 15MPH OVER. THIS WAS 1 OF 2 TIMES THE ACCELERATION WAS GRADUAL. OTHERWISE IT'S AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOORBOARD AS IT TAKES OFF. I SEE ON THE NHTSA THAT THERE ARE OTHERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I'VE QUESTIONED THIS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG NOR RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING FROM FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AS SOON AS I AM WORKING AGAIN I WILL BE TRADING MY FORD MARINER IN FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. UNTIL THEN I WON'T USE MY CRUISE AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. THIS IS SCARY THAT THIS HAPPENS AND FORD DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT! *TR
ON MAY 15, 2010, I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY IN ROSEVILLE, MN. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE SNAPPED COMPLETELY DISABLING THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN, AND WE WERE NEARLY REARENDED AT 55 MILES AN HOUR AS I FRANTICALLY TRIED TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE, STEER IT TO SAFETY AND PUT THE HAZARD FLASHERS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS 50, 980 MILES SO IT NO LONGER HAS BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY ON IT AND THIS PIECE IS NOT CONSIDERED PART OF THE POWERTRAIN AND WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I FEEL THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP FEELS THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND OBSERVED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD DETACHED FROM THE CABLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ATTACHED BACK TO THE CABLE; AND FUNCTIONED NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CLIP. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,600.
Showing 1–20 of 23 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026