I purchased this used vehicle which is in excellent shape and I love everything about it except the seat issue. After having the car for about a week the power seat started moving on its own. The interior lights will come on and the actual navigation/radio system and driving lights dim. I have looked online and this seems to be a constant problem and is basically the ignition area that needs to be replaced. I have almost been in a few accidents because of this and have 2 small children. My mother had to drive my car one day and she pulled over in complete fear because of almost wrecking. There has to be some type of recall to fix this problem. Every bump you hit this happens now. Multiple times in a 10 min drive. It is seriously dangerous. Please respond asap! thank you! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Orwigsburg, PA, USA

While driving the vehicle, the seat suddenly went all the way back and the interior lights came on. After a moment, the seat went back to normal position and the lights went back out. This has happened several times since then, we finally figured out it was the ignition, with the car acting like the key just got put in the ignition or just pulled out, and the seat moving all the way back for easier ingress/egress and the courtesy lights coming on. Since I am only 5 foot 2 inches, when the seat moves back I can no longer reach the petals, a very dangerous situation while driving. I hope this gets fixed before somebody gets hurt, as I have a couple friends with Mountaineer, one is the same year, who have the same problem.

- Mesquite, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph over a speed bump, the ignition switch malfunctioned and caused the seat to move in reverse. Additionally, the interior lights illuminated independently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware. The failure mileage was 35,000 and the current mileage was 80,000.

- Hanford, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the front driver's seat moved back independently and the dome light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where unknown repairs were performed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000 and the current mileage was 38,000.

- Dix Hills , NY, USA

If I hit a bump or pothole while driving, the driver's seat moves to the easy exit position the dome lights come on. Happens also if you bump the steering wheel or if you touch the key when it is in the ignition. It has happens while backing out in drive. Stalled the engine twice. Turning the key slightly will put the seat back into the set position. I am only 5' 5", so when the seat goes back while I am driving, I am moved too far away from the steering wheel and the brake and gas pedals. Mechanic inspection indicates it is a problem with the ignition switch and has quoted it as a $203 repair.

- Castle Rock, CO, USA

The issue started out while we were driving; the seat would move to the easy exit feature and the dome lights would come on as though the key was removed from the ignition. It's now more frequent and happens when you put the key in the ignition. Turning the key slightly will put in back into the driving position. This is a serious driving hazard as you're moved very far away from the steering wheel as well as the brake and gas pedals. Sadly, it will take a deadly accident occurring for this to be considered a recall.

- Bethel Park, PA, USA

There is a recurring problem that the seat will automatically go into the "easy exit" position. This is not a problem for me as I drive with the seat as far back as possible, but this is a huge safety concern for my wife. Why hasn't this been recalled yet? this seems to be a common problem in this make and model. God forbid the electrical problem worsens and causes a fire.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the driver's side seat independently engaged into the easy exit position as the interior lights flashed on and off. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic where a diagnostic was performed, which located the failure at the ignition switch and the cylinder. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage was 66,000.

- Norht Easton , MA, USA

While driving on highway drivers seat went forward independently without warning and seat went in the last memory position as far forward as possible position jamming drivers foot on gas pedal for an unspecified amount of time, and dome light came on. Driver could not get foot off gas pedal and could only get the seat to go back by manually using the seat buttons. Drivers seat was so far forward it was very difficult for driver to get hand between door and seat to get to button and driver was so frantic and scared trying to maintain vehicle control while attempting to get hand between seat and door to reach and find correct button to move seat back when there are 3 different seat buttons. Driver has disabled person that sets behind drivers seat so drivers seat upon disabled person entering vehicle is always put in the fartherest position forward to enable disabled person space to get in vehicle. Upon finally getting seat back driver has no recollection of any events occurring afterward because driver went into shock. Took vehicle to dealership to find problem shop manager got in attempting to duplicate problem instead the seat wouldn't even move as it's automatically programmed to do, then seat rocked back and forth, then went all the way forward. Dealership made two new ignition keys to replace the worn key, replaced computer memory cylinder in steering wheel where it was found if worn ignition key lost contact because of key being worn, with cylinder, seat had a mind of it's own. This resulted in a speeding ticket.

- Garden City, KS, USA

Purchased a used 2008 Mercury Mountaineer almost a year ago, in approx Oct 2012 the driver's seat started moving back and forth while driving. When the seat moved back it was almost so far back I couldn't hold onto steering wheel or keep foot on brake pedal. Took vehicle to mccoy mills Ford and they could not duplicate occurrence. Since that date this has happened multiple times and I figured out it has something to do with the ignition switch. If the car gets any minor jolt as in riding on rough street or going over speed bump, ignition apparently shift which triggers something in the sensor and off you go. Most recent occurrence was on 12/11/2012 while driving through a local walmart parking lot; slowly went over speed bump and seat started moving on its own. Since the occurrences are becoming more frequent decided to take care back in now that I know it has something to do with ignition switch. Called Ford customer care center and spoke to a rep who stated they didn't have any recalls for such a matter and my bumper-to-bumper had expired so I would have to incur cost to repair. Went back to mccoy mills Ford was told that the keysense would need to be replaced and cost would be $390 - $400+. this should really be a recall item, especially after reading the number of postings on this site for the same thing.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

Driver seat moves back to the "easy exit" position while driving! had to manually move the seat up with the side controls in order to reach the pedals again. Could not reach the brake! dealer replaced ignition key tumbler, same problem dealer replaced ignition electrical switch, solution pending. This should be a recall as it is a major safety issue!!!

- West Babylon, NY, USA

Our 2008 Mountaineer is equipped with power seats with settings memory. Normally, when you turn the engine off and open any of the doors, the driver's seat automatically glides in reverse to the fullest extent to allow for more room to exit the car. When the seat glides backwards, the step bar on the outside of the car automatically drops down and outward. For an unknown reason, the driver's seat (randomly) automatically glides backwards to fullest extent and the step bar automatically drops down as though the engine has been turned off and one of the doors has been opened. It happens just about everyday at least once. It happened 6 times in a 4 minute time period the other day. Each time it immediately went back to its original position. The first time it happened, my wife was driving on the freeway at 65 mph. The first time it happened to me was when I was starting to make a right turn. I ended up 2' over in the oncoming traffic lane. Luckily, no cars were near. This problem could have dire consequences.

- Escondido, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the driver seat would move backward and the interior lights remained illuminated while driving. The failure continued numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who replaced the battery, but the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 45,000 and the current mileage was 51,000. Updated 04/23/12

- New Castle , DE, USA

While driving, the driver's side dome light came on and the seat moved all the way back. Now, when you start the car, the seat will move all the way back and has to be manually, with power button, put into a comfortable position for driving. The seat continues to move back by itself at random times. Many times the problem occurs when driving, even at 30 mph or less, over a bump in the road.

- Bondsville, MA, USA

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.

- Westford, MA, USA

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.

- Ocala, FL, USA