Ignition Switch problems of the 2008 Mercury Mountaineer

While driving down the road, the seat will suddenly move backwards to the "open door" position, as though the key had been pulled out of the ignition. This creates a very dangerous situation, especially for people with short legs, as one can no longer reach the gas pedal or brake. Slightly "wiggling" the key or ignition switch will usually get the seat to move back to the preset driving position. When this happens, the interior lights also go on, and turn off when the seat moves back into position. This seems to happen at all different speeds, and it seems most events happen after the car hits a bump, but not always. There have been times when it just seems to happen without anything to set it off. It also can happen when the vehicle is first started up, or just as you start to shut the vehicle off. It is absolutely ridiculous that repair of this condition is not a recall item. The date shown for when it happened is the latest date - I have not driven the vehicle since then - but it has been occurring for at least the last 10 months.

While driving, I moved my foot from the accelerator to the brakes, and my knee brushed along the key fob dangling from the ignition switch. The seats then automatically retracted to the rear position. This has now happened four times, and seems to be extremely dangerous--particularly because it happens when moving my foot to the brake. While I reacted quickly enough in these normal incidents, if I was braking to avoid an accident, I doubt I'd be so lucky.

Tl- the contact owns 2008 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph going over a speed bump, the ignition switch malfunctioned causing the seat to move back and the interior lights to come on. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed the ignition switch was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware. The failure mileage was 35,000 and the current mileage was 80,000. Bt.

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that while traveling 70 mph, the driver's seat moved backward independently as all of the indicator lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact inadvertently touched the ignition switch and the seat moved to its normal position. The contact was able to continue driving but the failure recurred. The vehicle was merged to the side of the road and once it was restarted it resumed normal operation. The failure recurred multiple times. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 73,800 and the current mileage 74,900.

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.

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.

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.