Model year guide

2008 Mercury Mariner

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Mercury Mariner is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 96 on record.

2008 Mercury Mariner — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2008 Mercury Mariner at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints461
Combined19–32 mpg
Typical price$6,375

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2008 Mercury Mariner recalls 4

Suspension:front:wheel Bearing NHTSA Campaign #15E045000 · 03/06/2015

The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimensio…

Fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift NHTSA Campaign #15V606000 · 29/09/2015

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 lev…

Fix: 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. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-4…

Hybrid Propulsion System NHTSA Campaign #14V526000 · 03/09/2014

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.

Fix: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #14V284000 · 29/05/2014

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.

Fix: 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. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for th…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 5 Oct 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2008 Mercury Mariner common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 461 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

2008 Mercury Mariner safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2008 Mercury Mariner 4-DR. w/SAB (Later release). Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2008 Mercury Mariner MPG & running costs

Combined19–32 mpg
City23 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,942

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 6 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2008 Mercury Mariner worth?

Low
$3,300
Typical price
$6,375
High
$8,900

From 95 comparable 2008 Mercury Mariner listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2008 Mercury Mariner costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,710
Depreciation (5 yrs)$5,100
Total$19,810
Per mile$0.26

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($6,375) with the same model 3 model-years older ($3,314), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2008 Mercury Mariner trims & engines on record

Trims
Premier · V6 · Base · Luxury
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl 200 hp · 2.3L 4-cyl 153 hp · 3.0L 6-cyl 240 hp

2008 Mercury Mariner vehicles on record

2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU81158KJ44404 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Premier4M2CU87138KJ54047 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Premier4M2CU87178KJ22010 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Base4M2CU81Z98KJ42337 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU91158KJ03163 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU91128KJ02083 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU91198KJ17695 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Premier4M2CU97128KJ17299 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU91138KJ41099 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Premier4M2CU87128KJ24165 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Premier4M2CU97158KJ18575 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Base4M2CU81Z78KJ35032 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU81168KJ53645 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Base4M2CU91ZX8KJ01057 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Premier4M2CU97118KJ03975 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Base4M2CU81ZX8KJ48308 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU91118KJ29548 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Premier4M2CU97168KJ48832 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner Base4M2CU81ZX8KJ00601 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU81128KJ05625 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU81198KJ40212 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU91168KJ17296 2008 Mercury Mariner 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU91178KJ44524 2008 Mercury Mariner V64M2CU81168KJ42564

Other Mercury Mariner model years

2011 2010 2009 2007 2006 2005

2008 Mercury Mariner — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Mercury Mariner have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2008 Mercury Mariner. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercury Mariner?

Across all 461 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, power train, service brakes.

What is the 2008 Mercury Mariner safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2008 Mercury Mariner crash-test ratings of frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2008 Mercury Mariner get?

The 2008 Mercury Mariner has U.S. EPA estimates of 19–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (6 versions).

How much is a 2008 Mercury Mariner worth?

Comparable 2008 Mercury Mariner listings run roughly $3,300–$8,900, typically around $6,375 (from 95 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.