Page 4 of 304

CALIFORNIA Proposition 65 Warning
WARNING:Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and
certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. In addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and
certain products of component wear contain or emit chemicals known
to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
PERCHLORATE MATERIAL
Certain components of this vehicle such as airbag modules, seat belt
pretensioners, and button cell batteries may contain Perchlorate Material
– Special handling may apply for service or vehicle end of life disposal.
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations on acquiring your new Mercury. Please take the time to
get well acquainted with your vehicle by reading this handbook. The
more you know and understand about your vehicle, the greater the
safety and pleasure you will derive from driving it.
For more information on Ford Motor Company and its products visit the
following website:
•In the United States: www.ford.com
•In Canada: www.ford.ca
•In Mexico: www.ford.com.mx
•In Australia: www.ford.com.au
Additional owner information is given in separate publications.
ThisOwner’s Guidedescribes every option and model variant available
and therefore some of the items covered may not apply to your
particular vehicle. Furthermore, due to printing cycles it may describe
options before they are generally available.
Remember to pass on theOwner’s Guidewhen reselling the vehicle. It
is an integral part of the vehicle.
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Introduction
4
Page 7 of 304

Service Data Recording
Service data recorders in your vehicle are capable of collecting and
storing diagnostic information about your vehicle. This potentially
includes information about the performance or status of various systems
and modules in the vehicle, such as engine, throttle, steering or brake
systems. In order to properly diagnose and service your vehicle, Ford
Motor Company, Ford of Canada, and service and repair facilities may
access vehicle diagnostic information through a direct connection to your
vehicle when diagnosing or servicing your vehicle.
Event Data Recording
Other modules in your vehicle — event data recorders — are capable of
collecting and storing data during a crash or near crash event. The
recorded information may assist in the investigation of such an event.
The modules may record information about both the vehicle and the
occupants, potentially including information such as:
•how various systems in your vehicle were operating;
•whether or not the driver and passenger seatbelts were buckled;
•how far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator and/or the
brake pedal;
•how fast the vehicle was traveling; and
•where the driver was positioning the steering wheel.
To access this information, special equipment must be directly connected
to the recording modules. Ford Motor Company and Ford of Canada do
not access event data recorder information without obtaining consent,
unless pursuant to court order or where required by law enforcement,
other government authorities or other third parties acting with lawful
authority. Other parties may seek to access the information
independently of Ford Motor Company and Ford of Canada.
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Introduction
7
Page 10 of 304
These are some of the symbols you may see on your vehicle.
Vehicle Symbol Glossary
Safety Alert
See Owner’s Guide
Fasten Safety BeltAirbag - Front
Airbag - SideChild Seat Lower
Anchor
Child Seat Tether
AnchorBrake System
Anti-Lock Brake SystemParking Brake System
Brake Fluid -
Non-Petroleum BasedParking Aid System
Stability Control SystemSpeed Control
Master Lighting SwitchHazard Warning Flasher
Fog Lamps-FrontFuse Compartment
Fuel Pump ResetWindshield Wash/Wipe
Windshield
Defrost/DemistRear Window
Defrost/Demist
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Introduction
10
Page 14 of 304

Anti-lock brake system:
If the ABS light stays illuminated or
continues to flash, a malfunction has
been detected, have the system
serviced immediately by your
authorized dealer. Normal braking is still functional unless the brake
warning light also is illuminated.
Airbag readiness:If this light fails
to illuminate when the ignition is
turned to RUN, continues to flash or
remains on, have the system
serviced immediately by your authorized dealer. A chime will also sound
when a malfunction in the supplemental restraint system has been
detected.
Safety belt:Reminds you to fasten
your safety belt. A Belt-Minder
chime will also sound to remind you
to fasten your safety belt. Refer to
theSeating and Safety Restraints
chapter to activate/deactivate the Belt-Minderchime feature.
Charging system:Illuminates when
the battery is not charging properly.
Engine oil pressure:
Illuminates when the oil pressure
falls below the normal range, refer
toEngine oilin theMaintenance
and Specificationschapter.
Traction Control™:Illuminates
when the Traction Control™ is
active. If the light remains on, have
the system serviced immediately,
refer to theDrivingchapter for
more information.
ABS
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Instrument Cluster
14
Page 95 of 304

FRONT SEATS
Notes:
Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to slide under the
seat’s safety belt, resulting in severe personal injuries in the
event of a collision.
Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to reduce the risk of
injury in a collision or sudden stop.
Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
Adjustable head restraints
To minimize the risk of neck injury in the event of a crash, the
driver and passenger occupants should not sit in and/or operate
the vehicle, until the head restraint is placed in its proper position. The
driver should never adjust the head restraint while the vehicle is in
motion.
The purpose of these head restraints is to help limit head motion in the
event of a rear collision. To properly adjust your head restraints, lift the
head restraint so that it is located directly behind your head or as close
to that position as possible.
The head restraints can be moved
up and down.
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
95
Page 97 of 304

Using the manual lumbar support (if equipped)
The lumbar support control is
located on the inboard side of the
driver’s seatback.
Turn the lumbar support control
clockwise to increase firmness.
Turn the lumbar support control
counterclockwise to increase
softness.
Adjusting the front power seat (if equipped)
Never adjust the driver’s seat or seatback when the vehicle is
moving.
Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to avoid injuring
people in a collision or sudden stop.
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap
belt snug and low across the hips.
Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to slide under the
seat’s safety belt, resulting in severe personal injuries in the
event of a collision.
Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat back reclined
too far can take off weight from the seat cushion and affect the
decision of the passenger sensing system, resulting in serious injury or
death in a crash. Always sit upright against your seatback, with your
feet on the floor.
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
97
Page 101 of 304
3. Pull the seat release control.
Note:Make sure the floor is clear of all objects before folding the seat.
4. Flip seat forward.
Attach the safety belt web snap
button to the quarter trim panel
snap button. This will ensure that
safety belt does not get caught by
staying out of the seat back folding
path.
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
101
Page 103 of 304

2. Rotate seat cushion down into the
seating position making sure that
the seat cushion is locked into place
and that the safety belt buckles are
exposed.
Make sure safety belt buckle
heads are through elastic
holders on seat backs. Safety belt
buckles may break if they are
trapped underneath the seatback
as the seatback is rotated down.
Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.
After returning the seatback to its original position, reinstall the head
restraints, and pull on the seatback to ensure that it has fully latched.
An unlatched seat may become dangerous in the event of a sudden
stop or collision.
Remove the head restraint
stored under the front set
and return it to the original
position on the seatback. Failure
to do so could result in personal
injury.
3. Unsnap the safety belt webbing from the quarter trim panel.
2008 Mariner(mrn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
103