2003 Mercury Mountaineer Problems & Complaints

After disconnecting the battery for battery replacement original equipment 6 cd in dash player only shows CD Error. no error number. When investigating on the internet I found over 100 complaints with the same issue. I tried all the corrections suggested but nothing works. I own the car since new has very low mileage. I have 6 diskettes in the unit I cannot eject under any circumstance.

BIG O TECHS CONNED WIFE INTO BUYING 2 TIRES AND WE OWN AWD SUV THAT REQUIRES 4 AT THE SAME INTERVALS .I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THEM THAT THIS IS NOT SAFE AND WILL DAMAGE MY CAR THEY CONTINUED FOR OVER 2 MONTHS TO LIE TO ME ABOUT HAVING SOMEMONE COMTACT ME . I HAVE ALL THE COMMUNICATIONS I'VE HAD WITH THEM THROUGH MESSAGES. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THEY PUT THE TIRES ON AND REFUSED TO TAKE THEM OFF AND PUT MY OLD O ES BACK ON AND ISSUE A REFUND WELL MY TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE FAILED I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN THEY LIED TO ME ABOUT SOMEONE CONTACTING ME . I TOOK MY SUV TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WE MEASURED OVER 2 INCH CIRCUMFERENCE DIFFERENCE. I INFORMED BIG O THAT I HAVE A TSB ISSUED BY FORD MY EMPLOYER THAT DATES BACK TO 2011 ON TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE PROCEDURES FOR TIRE DEALERS TO FOLLOW . THE RESPONSE I GOT WAS THAT BIG O REFUSES TO REVIEW OR ACKNOWLEDGE TSBS . THAT'S ALARMING AS TSBS ARE ISSUED MY THE MANUFACTURERS FOR SAFETY . I HAD MY SUV FIXED FOR 3000+ $ OUT OF POCKET AND CONTACTED BIG O THE DAY I PICKED IT UP ABOUT THE TIRES STILL BEING ON THERE . I WARNED THEM THIS IS DANGEROUS AND CAN HURT MY NEW DRIVETRAIN THE VERY NEXT DAY FROM GETTING MY SUV OUT OF THE SHOP THE TIRES AGAIN CAUSED BINDING TO OCCUR BUT THIS TIME IT LED TO WHAT SHOULD'VE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT WHERE AS THE AWD SYSTEM DONE IT'S JOB BUT THE TIRES BEING OFF BY SO MUCH MADE THE SUV BIND A THREE IN INTO 3 360 DEGREE SPIN AND SLAMMED THE CONCRETE MEDIAN TOTALING MY VEHICLE AND INJURING MY WIFE. I'VE DOCUMENTED ALL MESSAGES WITH BIG O AND HAVE MUCH MORE EVIDENCE RELATED TO THIS CASE THAT I'M UNABLE TO ADD IN THIS DESCRIPTION BECAUSE I'M RUNNING OUT OF ALLOWED CHARACTERS REMAINING . I DID CONTACT BIG O AGAIN AND SENT PHOTOS OF MY CRASHED SUV AND SUDDENLY THEY NOW WON'T RESPOND BACK AT ALL . I THINK THIS JUSTIFIES A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THERE REFUSAL TO REVIEW TSBS AND FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL MY

I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO THERE ALWAYS A PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS

I HAVE A MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 2003 AND IT WAS STATIONED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BACK MIDDLE OF THE HATCH NOW THERE A HUGE CRACK AND MY WINDOW OF THE TRUNK CAME UNHINGED AND FELL OFF I SEE THIS PROBLEM IN ALL MOUNTAINEERS THEY ALL HAVE THE CRACK IN THE HATCH HOPE THEIRS DON'T FALL OFF I SEE IT IN ALMOST EVERYONE'S. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED IF I WAS DRIVING AND IT FELL OFF THIS IS NOT SAFE. PLEASE HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT. WHILE PARKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES AND HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

1) FRONT WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY FAILURE RESULTING IN UNSAFE​ UNDRIVEABLE (THIS HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY​ REPORTED BY VEHICLE OWNERS REGARDLESS OF VEHICLES MILAGE) FAILURE ACCURED WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOPLIGHT AFTER EXITING A PARKING LOT OF A RESTAURANT 2) LIFT HATCH CRACKED CENTER OF HATCH ABOVE THE EMBLEM POTENTIALLY ALLOWING WATER INTO THE INTERIOR WORKING OF HATCH AND CAUSING UNTOLD AND UNSEEN WATER RELATED DAMAGES​(THIS IS AN ADMITTED FORD MANUFACTURING DEFECT ACROSS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE​ LINE SPENDING MULTIPLE YEARS PRODUCTION)

MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS A SOLID AIR BAG LIGHT ON. IT HAS A CODE OF 33, WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR ON, THE LIGHT GOES ON AND BLINKS 3 TIMES THEN 3 MORE TIMES. THIS INDICATES A CODE 33. FORD HAS A TECHNICAL LETTER ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE LETTER STATES THERE IS A KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM. 1L2Z-78610E22-AAA IS THE KIT FOR A MEDIUM DARK PARCHMENT KIT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. FORD WANTS TO CHARGE $281.00 FOR THE PART. OUTRAGEOUS. I WOULD BE FORCED TO PAY OR NOT GET MY STATE VEHICLE TEST PASSED. DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER SAFETY RECALL ! SEE INFORMATION : 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER BUILD DATE 09/02 VIN===[XXX] BELOW IS A COPY OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING YOUR CONCERN. YOU CAN BUY THE KITS THROUGH ANY FORD DEALER, THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY PLACE TO GET THEM. YOU'LL FIND THE BUILD DATE ON THE VIN TAG ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. FORD:2002-2003 EXPLORER MERCURY:2002-2003 MOUNTAINEER ISSUE: SOME 2002-2003 4DR EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) B2292 AND LIGHT FLASHING CODE (LFC) 33 (DRIVER SEAT PRETENSIONER FAULT), OR LFC 34 (PASSENGER SEAT PRETENSIONER FAULT). THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY INTERMITTENT PRETENSIONER CONNECTION AT EITHER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. ACTION: INSTALL PRETENSIONER KIT FOR AFFECTED SIDE(S) BY BUILD DATE/COLOR. REFER TO THE FOLLOWING SERVICE INFORMATION FOR DETAILS. SERVICE INFORMATION OBTAIN CORRECT SERVICE KIT AND REFER TO INSTRUCTION SHEET INCLUDED WITH KIT FOR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. 2002 MODEL YEAR THROUGH 3/3/02 BUILD DATES MEDIUM DARK PARCHMENT 1L2Z-78610E22-AAA 2002/2003 MODEL YEARS 3/4/02 THROUGH 1/17/03 MEDIUM DARK PARCHMENT 1L2Z-78610E22-BAA [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER RECALLS I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, IGNITION COILS, I'M HAVING A GAS SMELLS NOW, TRANSMISSION THUMPS HARD WHEN GOING INTO FIRST GEAR, SOUNDS LIKE MY REAR END IS ABOUT TO FALL OUT, MY FRONT SEAT IS ELECTRIC AND DOESN'T MOVE, THE O/D LIGHT COMES ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BRAKE LIGHT ON, I KEEP TRYING TO FIX EVERYTHING THE MORE I FIX THE MORE PROBLEMS THAT COME UP, I HAVE CHECK THE RECALL LIST FOR 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER RECALL ON TRANSMISSION AND ALSO CALLED THE FORD CO THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORST AND AFRAID I WILL BE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN WHEN IT BREAKS. I'VE HAD TRANSMISSION LEVEL CHECKED SAID IT WAS FINE. GETTING READY TO DO A COMPLETE TUNE-UP ON IT TO SEE IF THAT WILL HELP WITH THE SMELL OF GAS AND MAKE IT RUN BETTER. IT IDLES HIGH. IT'S WORST WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION, BUT THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO GO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,610.

JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER MOUNTAINEER OR EXPLORER OF THIS ERA THE LIFT GATE HAS CRACKED AROUND THE VEHICLE LOGO. THIS HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS INCLUDING CORROSION, RUST, AND LOCKING MECHANISM FAILURE ON THE LIFTGATE. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE SEEN ON EVERY SINGLE MOUNTAINEER OR EXPLORER OF THIS ERA. IT'S PRETTY RIDICULOUS THAT FORD HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE OR DONE IT VOLUNTARILY. IT IS CLEARLY AN ENGINEERING FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ITS REAR AT A MODERATE RATE OF SPEED. THE SEAT BACK AND THE HEADREST FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE NECK AND BACK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SEAT AND HEADREST WERE NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

FAULTY AIRBAGS: ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 0540, THE SIDE CURTAIN (BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE) AIRBAGS EXPLODED IN MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITHOUT CAUSE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH ON A MAJOR/BUSY STATE HIGHWAY. THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAGS HIT ME ON MY LEFT SIDE CAUSING NECK STRAIN AND TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS TO THE LEFT EAR. I WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE TO SHOULDER OF ROAD (I DON'T REMEMBER HOW I GOT THERE), LUCKILY NO CARS WERE AROUND ME AT THE TIME. THE EXPLOSION ALSO CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TO FALL FROM ITS CASTERS AND WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE WINDOW (AND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW NO LONGER WORKS). THE AIR IN THE CURTAINS WOULD NOT DISSIPATE AND I REMEMBER NOT BEING ABLE TO BREATH WELL. THERE WAS A CHEMICAL IN THE AIR AND DO TO THE CURTAINS, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. LATER IN THE DAY I TOOK CAR TO REYNOLDS FORD AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY FORD. I ALSO WENT TO MY PCP AND WAS TREATED WITH PREDNISONE AND EAR WASH FOR LEFT EAR HEARING LOSS. LATER, HAD DRIVERS WINDOW REPAIRED.

BACK HATCH GLASS EXPLODED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (PARKED IN A PARKING LOG), AND THE DRIVER WAS CLOSING THE HATCH. BACK GLASS PORTION OF HATCH WAS BEING MANUALLY CLOSED AT A SLOW-MODERATE RATE, AND GLASS SUDDENLY SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE GLASS, NOR ANY DISCERNIBLE REASON WHY THE GLASS SHOULD HAVE SUDDENLY SHATTERED. APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE GLASS ENDED UP IN THE CAR OR ON THE PARKING LOT SURFACE, WITH ONLY ABOUT 10% OF THE GLASS REMAINING ATTACHED TO THE HATCH FRAME AND STRUTS.

SEE WHERE SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2003 MOUNTAINEER. THE REAR GATE IS CRACKING AROUND THE EMBLEM. I'VE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO FORD AND THEY TELL ME I CAN PAY TO FIX IT AND IF THERE IS RECALL THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME. IN ADDITION I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMING ON WHEN ALL ARE SHUT AND SECURE. I HAVE CONTACT FORD AND SEVERAL LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. THE DEALERSHIP ALL TELL ME THEIR HANDS ARE TIED UNTIL FORD MAKES A DECISION AND THAT I AM NOT ALONE. FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY DON'T CARE. WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS WHY ISN'T THIS AGENCY DOING SOMETHING?

NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. A 1 1/2 INCH VERTICAL CRACK HAS APPEARED IN THE BODY BETWEEN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK LIFT DOOR UNDER THE WINDOW EXTENDING TO THE ROUND MERCURY SYMBOL BETWEEN THE LETTERS, R AND THE C. DID NOT NOTICE UNTIL TAKING IT THROUGH A CAR WASH WHERE I WAS WARNED IT HAD TO BE COVERED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

WENT TO PLACE SOMETHING IN THE BACK AND LIFTED THE GATE AND THE LEFT SIDE HINGE CAME OUT AND HAD TO CATCH THE GATE FROM FALLING. GOT MY SON TO HELP TRY TO SECURE IT AND THE STRUT ON THE LEFT SIDE DOESNT WORK SO HAD TO FORCE IT TO CLOSE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE LEFT CHEEK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED A CODE THIRTEEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

ON MAY 19 2014 WHILE PUTTING A BAG IN THE REAR I NOTICED WHEN LIFTING THE TAIL GATE A CRACK HAD APPEARED AROUND THE MERCURY EMBLEM DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFT GATE. I WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AS THERE ARE NO MORE MERCURY DEALERS TO QUESTION THE PROBLEM. THE COLLISION MANAGER TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL AND FORD HAS NOT DONE A RECALL. I DID NOT REPLACE THE PLASTIC PANEL DUE TO THE COST OF $500.00. IN MY OPINION FORD SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL. I ALSO NOTICED ON THE INTERNET HOW MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINED INCLUDING THIS WEBSITE. WHY HASN'T NHTSA DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT?

TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH FRONTAL SIDE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

ON THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON PARKWAY (295 N ) NORTHBOUND, CHANGED LANES TO THE LEFT AND ACCELERATED. THE GAS PEDDLE WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR, STAYED THERE AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I STOOD ON THE BRAKES, BUT ONLY SOMEWHAT SLOWIED THE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED UNTIL WE REACHED ABOUT 80MPH AND COMING CLOSE TO REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WENT OFF ON THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION KEY TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE BRAKE OVERHEATED BRAKES. I COULD NOT SEE A PROBLEM. THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY A FLOOR MAT. THE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I WIGGLED AND PULLED AND IT COME BACK UP WITH A POP. IN DAYLIGHT THE NEXT DAY, I INSPECTED THE PEDAL AND PUSHED IT DOWN. IT AGAIN WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STAYED THERE. I SLID UNDER THE DASH AND FOUND THAT THE HORIZONTAL PIN THAT HOLDS THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BRACKET HAD BACKED OUT SIDEWAYS FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, ALLOWING THE PEDAL TO GO SOMEWHAT SIDEWAYS AND THE MOTOR FOR THE ADJUSTABLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAD CAUGHT ON A METAL BRACKET KEEPING THE PEDAL FROM RETURNING TO THE UP POSITION. I REMOVED THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND INSPECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS POOR ENGINEERING AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.. THERE ARE NO CLIPS OR PINS TO HOLD THE PEDAL PIN IN PLACE ! ! ! THE ASSEMBLY RELIES ON SLIGHT INTERFERENCE BETWEEN SPLINES ON THE PIN AND SPLINES INSIDE WHERE IT GOES THROUGH THE PEDAL. WHAT HAPPENED WAS, THAT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, FROM THE PEDAL WIGGLING, THE PIN BACKED OUT.FROM USE, ON ITS OWN. AGAIN, THIS NOT SUFFICIENT TO KEEP THE PEDAL ASSEMBLED. IT NEED CLIPS ON BOTH ENDS OR COTTER PINS ON BOTH ENDS OF THE PIN ASSEMBLY. A CONCERN IS THE USE OF PLASTIC BRACKET TO MOUNT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. IN MY PAST EXPERIENCE, THE MOUNTING BRACKETS HAD BEEN MADE OF METAL. PLASTIC FATIGUES FASTER THAN METAL AND IS PRONE TO CRACKING AND BREAKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE AND WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE ENGAGED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESS SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO RELEASE IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIBERGLASS ON THE TAILGATE CRACKED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

I PURCHASED A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER ON 2/15/14 AND I TOOK IT ON A ROAD TRIP ON 2/16/4 WITH MY GRANDKIDS. AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND GAINING SPEED I STARTED TO SMELL A STRONG BURNT RUBBER AND EXHAUST SMELL. THE SMELL WAS VERY TOXIC AND STUCK TO OUR CLOTHING. ON 2/18/14, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR HIS MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS SOME DEGREASER THAT OVERFLOWED FROM A CUPLER AND LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A LEAK AND THE MECHANIC RESPONDED BY SAYING NOT REALLY, WHICH MEANT THERE WAS A LEAK. THE MECHANIC ASSURED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS TAKEN CARE OF, BUT IF IT STILL OCCURS, THEY WOULD SEND IT IN FOR TWO DAYS. I CONTINUED TO SMELL THE TOXIC SMELL AND ON 2/19/14 THE HATCH ON LIFT GATE JUST CRACKED. ALSO WHEN I TURN AT A LOW SPEED, I HEAR A STRANGE SOUND AND VIBRATION, COMING FROM THE TIRE AREA. I'VE HEARD OF NUMEROUS ISSUES AND COMPLICATIONS WITH THE MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. I DON'T WANT MY GRANDCHILDREN NOR MY LIFE PUT IN DANGER. A DRIVER SHOULD BE ENSURED WITH SAFETY WHEN DRIVING A VEHICLE. FORD DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THEIR CONSUMERS TO SELL DEFECTIVE AND NONSAFE VEHICLES. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE AS IT HAS TOO MANY ISSUES THAT CAN BE LIFE THREATENING, LIKE THE ROLLOVER RATE. *TR

I'VE BEEN REVIEW THIS SITE AND SEE WHERE SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2003 MOUNTAINEER. THE REAR GATE IS CRACKING AROUND THE EMBLEM. I'VE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO FORD AND THEY TELL ME I CAN PAY TO FIX IT AND IF THERE IS RECALL THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME. IN ADDITION I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMING ON WHEN ALL ARE SHUT AND SECURE. I HAVE CONTACT FORD AND SEVERAL LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. THE DEALERSHIP ALL TELL ME THEIR HANDS ARE TIED UNTIL FORD MAKES A DECISION AND THAT I AM NOT ALONE. FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY DON'T CARE. WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS WHY ISN'T THIS AGENCY DOING SOMETHING? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO THE CLOSE THE REAR LIFTGATE, THE RIGHT SIDE SUPPORT HINGE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 9/4/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE RAISED THE LIFTGATE, IT CAME DOWN AND THE EMBLEM CRACKED. THE RIGHT HINGE BROKE AND THE RIGHT ROD FROZE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MADE A POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE POPPING SOUND WAS LOUDER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC NOTICED A LEAK IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND STATED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

I WANT FORD TO RECALL THERE MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AS IT HAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. ALL OF THERE MERCURY FROM 2002 ONWARD HAVE A CRACK ON THERE REAR LIFT GATE. I DONE GOOGLE AND ALMOST NET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS. *TR CRACK STARTS RIGHT BELOW MERCURY LOGO AND KEEP INCREASING AND INCREASING. MY CAR LOGO NOT CAME OFF, BUT FEW CARS, THIS LOGO BLOWN OFF. ALSO NOW I LEARNT THAT CAR HINGES HOLDING THIS VERY REAR HOOD CAME OFF.. I THOUGHT ITS MINE, BUT AGAIN, ALMOST WEB IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND KNOWING HOW RISKY THIS IS, TRYING BEST TO GO TO EVERY LOOK AND CORNER SO TO ENSURE THAT FORD DOES REPAIR ASAP

THE HASN'T BEEN AN ACCIDENT. I WANTED TO REPORT THAT I HAVE A CRACKED TAILGATE ON MY VEHICLE. THE CRACK APPEARED ONE MORNING - I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CRACKED BEGINS AT THE TOP OF THE TAILGATE, AROUND THE EMBLEM PART OF THE LIFT GATE, THEN DOWN TOWARDS THE TAILGATE LIFT HANDLE. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, CITRUS FORD, ONTARIO, CA, BUT WAS INFORMED THERE WASN'T A RECALL AND THE ISSUE HAD TO DEAL WITH WATER LEAKING INTO THE LOCKING MECHANISM AND CRACKING BECAUSE ITS PLASTIC AND NOT METAL. AT LEAST THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T ACCUSE ME OF BEING IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT NO EFFORTS WERE MADE TO REPAIR THE CRACKED TAILGATE AT NO COST TO ME, THE CUSTOMER. CAN NHTSA PUSH FORD TO RECALL THIS MATTER? *TR

WHEN LIFTING UP REAR WINDOW SECTION (TOP HALF OF REAR DOOR) THE HINGES BROKE CAUSING THE WINDOW AND IT'S FRAME TO FALL DOWN. WINDOW FRAME WAS BARELY HANGING BY PISTON SUPPORTS. *TR

BACK HINGES BROKE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL. *TR

THE BACK LIFT GATE IS CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW, AROUND THE SIDE OF THE MERCURY EMBLEM, ALL THE WAY DOWN. I'VE NOTICED THE SAME CRACKING ON ALMOST EVERY OTHER MOUNTAINEER ON THE ROADS, AND I SEE A HUGE NUMBER OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

FORD HAS A TSB ON THEIR WEBSITE FOR THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED TYEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS IF THERE ARE SOOO MANY COMPLAINT FROM CONSUMERS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME ISSUES IS THAT NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURE BEING IT CONSIDERED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT? I HAVE TO CHILDREN AND THIS IS OF EXTREME CONCERN TO ME THAT THESE ISSUES ON MY CAR CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. -BACK TRUNK DOOR IS CRACKED DOWN THE LATCH. -THE CAR DOESN'T SHIFT CORRECTLY AND TIRES SEEM LOOSE -THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT IS BLINKING ALL THE TIME AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SIGNALING.. I HAVE FOUND SO MANY WEBSITES WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES ON 2003-2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. *TR

THE INSIDE DOME LIGHTS AND THE LIGHTS ON THE OUTSIDE SIDE MIRRORS DO NOT GO OFF UNTIL 15 TO 20 MIN'S AFTER IT HAS BEEN ALARMED THIS HAS RUN DOWN MY BATTERY I HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY. *TR

THE GEAR SHIFT GETS STUCK IN PARK AND I HAVE TO PULL DOWN ON IT REALLY HARD TO GET IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE I'M AFRAID THAT ITS GOING TO BREAK ONE DAY. *TR

MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT POPS ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY. *TR

THE WORD DOOR AJAR ON MY DASH BOARD KEEPS TELL ME THAT A DOOR IS OPEN WHEN ALL THE DOORS ARE CLOSED AND I THINK THATS WHY MY INSIDE LIGHTS AND THE LIGHTS ON MY OUTSIDE MIRRAS TAKES 15-20 MIN'S TO GO OFF AFTER I HAVE ALARMED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I GET IN TO DRIVE THE LIGHTS SHOULD GO OFF ADMEDILY BUT THEY DONT. *TR

MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS A CRACK RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR DOOR, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY MOUNTAINEER BUT I SEE EVERY MOUNTAINEER OF MY MAKE AND MODEL HAS THAT SAME CRACK,WHY IS THAT, IT HAS TO BE A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY BECAUSE EVERYBODY WITH A MOUNTAINEER OF THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL CAN'T BE RELATED. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS CRACK HAS HAPPENED ON THESE MOUNTAINEER IS THERE A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE DEFINITE A STRUCTURE PROBLEM ANDITS DAMAGE TO MY I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE CRACK ITS DAMAGE TO MY CAR I DIDN'T CAUSE AND MERCURY SHOULD FIX IT. *TR

THERE IS A CRACK FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR WINDOW RIGHT BY THE MERCURY EMBLEM, ALL THE WAY DOWN. I'VE SEEN NEARLY IDENTICAL CRACKING ON MANY OTHER MOUNTAINEERS AND EXPLORERS. I SEE A RATHER LARGE NUMBER OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON SEVERAL WEBSITES. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURIES AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS. MERCURY/FORD NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE TRAVELING @ 35 MPH, WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEXT GEAR. *TR

I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY VEHICLE IN REVERSE SO I COULD PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. WHEN I DID THIS, THE TRANSMISSION LEVEL BROKE RIGHT OFF. THE VEHICLE, SINCE IT IS FULL-TIME AWD, CANNOT BE MOVED OR TOWED SINCE ALL THE WHEELS ARE ENGAGED IN PARK. THE METAL HOLDING THE TRANSMISSION LEVER TO THE STEERING COLUMN SHEARED OFF WHICH I CAN ONLY CONSIDER TO BE A GRAVE SAFETY RISK IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THIS HAPPENED. *KB

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE YEARS WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR IT DOESN'T "LOCK" IN THE GEAR I HAVE TO ADJUST IT TWICE, DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AND THANK GOD NO ACCIDENT. BUT I JUST LEARNED TO DEAL WITH IT UNTIL I SAW THIS. WANT UPDATES ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

BACK HINGE BROKE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL. *TT

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO WELL KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER. THE BODY PANEL ON THE BACK HATCH IS CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE AND FRIDAY WE HAD THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE HEAD/SOCKET STRIPPING THE THREADS OUT TO THE POINT THAT THE COMMON REPAIR KIT USED FOR THESE INSTANCES WON'T WORK AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A REPLACEMENT HEAD WHICH IS QUOTED AT A $3500 JOB AND THE VEHICLE IS ONLY WORTH ABOUT $5700. I UNDERSTAND FORD ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ENGINE/HEAD DEFECT DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT HAS OCCURRED ON FACTORY TIGHTENED PLUGS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES RUPTURED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. AS THE VEHICLE TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE BRAKES WERE ON FIRE. THE CONTACT THRUST THE GEAR INTO PARK, PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH FAILED TO FUNCTION, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAS ABLE TO EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT BEING INJURED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW, REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW BEGAN RATTLING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ

RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING FAILURE. A 5 INCH LONG PIECE OF COIL SPRING WAS FOUND UNDER THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVEWAY. INSPECTION CONFIRMED THE SPRING HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NO CRASH OR DAMAGE HISTORY. THE BROKEN PIECE OF SPRING WAS CORRODED AT BOTH ENDS , INDICATING IT WAS CRACKED FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE TOTAL FAILURE. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THIS MAY BE AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DECKLID PANEL WAS CRACKED DUE TO THE COLDER WEATHER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,489 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CRACKED PANEL ON BACK LIFT GATE FROM WINDOW AROUND RIGHT SIDE OF ROUND EMBLEM TO BOTTOM. SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. 90% OF THESE VEHICLES I SEE ON ROAD ARE CRACKED. FORD /MERCURY NEEDS TO RECALL & FIX. *TR

THE BACK LIFT GATE IS CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW, "THRU" THE MERCURY EMBLEM, AND ALL THE WAY DOWN. I'VE SEEN NEARLY IDENTICAL CRACKING ON MANY OTHER MOUNTAINEERS. I SEE A RATHER LARGE NUMBER OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURIES AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

THE BACK LIFT GATE IS CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW, AROUND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MERCURY EMBLEM, AND ALL THE WAY DOWN. I'VE NOTICED THE SAME CRACKING ON ALMOST EVERY OTHER MOUNTAINEER ON THE ROADS, AND I SEE A HUGE NUMBER OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE STEERING COLUMN . THE OFF BUTTON DOES NOT WORK ,THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE APPLIED, AND THE BUTTON TO SLOW DOWN THE TRUCK ALSO DOES NOT WORK . NO SPECIFIC DATE ,A COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO FORD WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG . *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HEAVILY TRAVELED INTERSTATE 295 IN NJ. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO MULTIPLE REPAIR SHOPS WHICH INCLUDED A FORD DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLES AND ALSO THE FORD EXPLORER. I DEPEND ON MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND I SERVICE THE CAR AS RECOMMENDED BY FORD. NOW I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE CAR AND MEANWHILE I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK. IF I WAS NOT AN ALERT DRIVER, THAT FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURIES AND OR DEATH TO ME AND OTHER MOTORISTS. I THINK FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND TRY TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED AND WITH THE VERY HIGH STICKER PRICE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE KIND OF SUV THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE AND RELIABLE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

REAR BACK HATCH CRACKED WHEN PURCHASED, PROMISED TO BE FIXED BY DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY NEVER HONORED THEIR PROMISE. I HAVE SINCE SEEN SEVERAL MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE REAR BACK HATCH CRACKED AS WELL, WONDERING WHY THEIR WASN'T A RECALL?? ALSO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ALREADY REPLACED TRANSFER CASE AND NOW POWER STEERING IS LEAKING. *TR

I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY HATCHBACK. THE EMBLEM HAS A LONG AND LARGE CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE EMBLEM. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL 2003 MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I AM AFRAID THAT THE CRACK WILL CAUSE THE GLASS TO BREAK. I NOTICED WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE ONCE THEREFORE I FELT THAT I SHOULD ADVISE/COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FAILURE TO SEE IF A RECALL OR A BULLETIN WOULD BE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR THE ISSUE WITH NO RECOURSE OR RECURRING ISSUE. I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS ISSUE IS OCCURRING BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE REPAIRED AT NOT COST TO ME BECAUSE AGAIN I HAVE FOUND MANY MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND ALL HAVE BEEN 2003 SO FAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ASSIST FORD/MERCURY TO PRODUCE A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE OVERDRIVE OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. WITHIN SECONDS, THE WARNING LIGHT HAD RE-ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SECOND AND FOURTH GEARS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO STOP FOR RED LIGHT. CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN ON BUT WHEN BRAKES WERE PRESSED VEHICLE WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. AS I GOT CLOSER TO THE STOPPED CARS I PUT TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND RPMS WENT WAY UP. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. HAD CAR TOWED AND REPAIRED. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON INTERSTATE NEXT DAY. BROUGHT TO FORD DEALER AND TOLD IT WAS CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 40 MPH, THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,700.

I HAVE A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY DANGEROUS, MY WIFE STARTED TO BACK UP AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED AND THEN SLAMMED INTO REVERSE CAUSING HER TO JERK AND THEN HER FOOT CAME OF THE BRAKE AND HIT THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING HER TO RAM A PARKED CAR BEHIND HER, AND THAT WAS JUST THE FIRST TIME .THE NEXT TIME I MYSELF WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND IT DONE THE SAME THING EXCEPT THERE WAS NOT A CAR BEHIND ME TO STP ME AND I WENT OVER A EMBANKMENT AND IF NOT FOR A TREE I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT BAD , THE TREE STOPPED ME FROM GOING TO THE BOTTOM , AND IT STILL TO THIS DAY WILL SLAM INTO REVERSE, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE WITH IT YET . I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT ALOT OF MERCURY MOUNTAINEER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THIS IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDSHIELD ASSEMBLY WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OWNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

MOST 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS AND FORD EXPLORERS ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKED LIFT GATES AROUND THE EMBLEM. SOMETIMES MY LIFT GATE OPENS ON ITS OWN...DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS HAPPENING DUE TO THE CRACK BUT THIS IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING OUR VEHICLES. DEALERS KNOW ABOUT IT BUT WON'T REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGING THE CONSUMERS. DRIVE THRU CAR WASH PERSONNEL ADVISE DRIVERS BEFORE THEY DRIVE THROUGH THAT THE CRACK IS PREEXISTING (SO THEY ALL KNOW ABOUT IT?) BUT THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS CAN'T GET THIS DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING ISSUE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE TO ALL OF US? *TR

AFTER SPENDING HOURS TRYING TO REMOVE BACK DISC-DRUMS FOUND THAT THE EBRAKE SHOES HAD RELEASED FROM THE LININGS ON BOTH SIDES REAR OF A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER THE ADHESIVE ON THE SHOES HAD RELEASED FROM THE SHOE. *TR

PURCHASED THE 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER IN 2007. WE ONLY DRIVE THE CAR LOCALLY FOR SCHOOL AND WORK AND WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND MADE THE DEALERSHIP/WARRANTY PAY FOR $1600 REPAIR. SINCE THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON EVERY 3 MONTHS. WE GET CHECK FUEL CAP MESSAGE, REPLACED THAT TWICE (LAST ONE FROM ACTUAL FORD DEALERSHIP) BECAUSE THEY TOLD US IT WASN'T THE ORIGINAL FROM THE CAR. CAR LEAKS WATER THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW/ROOF SEAL AND NOW MY LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN I LOCK THE CAR AND IT TELLS ME EVERY TIME WE GET IN THE CAR THAT THERE IS A DOOR AJAR NO MATTER IF WE GET OUT AND RECLOSE ALL 4 DOORS AND BACK DOOR. R&R WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED 8/29/08 FOR $555. JUST RECENTLY HAD MY TRANSMISSION GO OUT AGAIN (12/8/09) AND HAD TO HAVE COMPLETE REBUILD OF A MERCURY TRANSMISSION WHICH COST US ANOTHER $4000. IT STILL SLIGHTLY VIBRATES GOING BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MILES PER HOUR. ALSO THE BACK HATCH HAS CRACKED COMPLETELY DOWN THROUGH THE LOGO. OUR FORD DEALER CHARGES $200 JUST TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE! *TR

I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. I WAS STOPPED TO GET FUEL. I PUT MY SUV IN PARK TO GET OUT. I WAS LEAVING MY KEYS IN IT. WHEN I STEPPED OUT AND WALKED TO THE REAR, MY SUV STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. I HAD TO RUN BACK AN JUMP IN IT AND HIT THE BRAKE. I LOOKED AT THE GEAR SHIFTER AN IT DIDN'T GO INTO PARK. IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF P AND R. IF I HAD LOCKED THE DOORS I WOULD NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET INSIDE BEFORE IT HIT THE FUEL PUMPS. IT HAS BEEN STOPPING AT THAT SPOT EVERY TIME I PUT IT IN PARK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON IN THE PARK POSITION WITH THE AUTOMATIC START, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND CRASH INTO A VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TO THE POLICE WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE FAILURE MAY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY OR TRAGEDY TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS NOW. I HAD AN ACCIDENT BACK IN JUNE 2009 WHERE MY VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE YARD AND HIT THE NEIGHBORS HOUSE AND I WAS HURT IN THE PROCESS. ON JUNE 22, 2009, I WENT OUTSIDE TO WARM MY VEHICLE UP BEFORE I WENT TO WORK THAT MORNING. WHILE, I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE OUT THE DOOR TO GO TO MY VEHICLE IT START ROLLING BACK. I IMMEDIATELY RAN OUTSIDE BEHIND THE VEHICLE TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING THE NEIGHBORS HOUSE BECAUSE I KNEW PEOPLE WERE THERE. I GRAB THE DOOR AND IT THREW ME ON THE GROUND SO HARD THAT I THOUGHT I DAMAGED MY ORGANS. AFTER THE LOWNDES COUNTY SHERIFF LEFT, I WENT TO GEORGE'S IN WEST POINT, MS WHERE THEY DO MY TIRES AND BRAKES TO CHECK ON THE BRAKES. THEY CHECKED MY CAR AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I WENT TO THE NORTH MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CLINIC TO MAKE SURE I WAS OK AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BROKEN BONES. I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DOCTOR AGAIN THE NEXT DAY ON JUNE 23, 2009 BECAUSE I WAS NOT FEELING GOOD. I WAS TAKEN TO BAPTIST MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ON JUNE 26, 2009 DUE TO THE INCIDENT AND WHEN I WAS THROWN IT JARRED MY ACID REFLUX AND CAUSED A VIRUS. I WAS CHECKED THOROUGHLY FOR ORGAN DAMAGE AND PUT ON PAIN MEDICATION. THIS INCIDENT COST MY INSURANCE TO GO UP AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN UNTIL MY TRANSMISSION STARTING GOING OUT IN MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS AND HAVE THREE MORE YEARS TO PAY FOR IT AND MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET UNDER RECALLS TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY AND I SAW 12 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. ONE COMPLAINT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION REGARDING THE VEHICLE ROLLING OUT OF THE YARD AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPEN TO ME. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO STARKVILLE FORD ON DEC.29, 2009 AND WAS TOLD THAT MY 2ND SHIFT GEAR HAS COMPLETELY GONE OUT AND I ASKED HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW. HE KNOWS BECAUSE I AM PRETTY SURE HE HAS SEEN ALOT OF THESE VEHICLES AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME $3500 TO FIX MY VEHICLE . *TR

I HAVE 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND I HAVE HAD IT SINCE FEBRUARY 2007. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT AND THE LAST PROBLEMS WAS THE BREAKING POINT. I HAVE THREE MORE YEARS TO PAY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I WANT SOMETHING TO BE DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHCILE. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND FIXING THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM COMMUNITY FORD IN NEW ALBANY, MS IN FEBRUARY 2007 WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT. I COULDN'T GET AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OR ANY WARRANTY WITH THE VEHICLE I WAS TOLD. AFTER A YEAR, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT END AND IT WAS $500.00 AT GEORGE'S TIRE SERVICES. I TOOK IT IN DUE TO THIS NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND I WAS ADVISED THAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE WORK DID IT WOULD LOCK UP ON ME WHILE I AM DRIVING AND CAUSE AND ACCIDENT. I NOTICED THAT MY STRUCTURE BODY:HATCHBACK/TAILGATE HAS CRACKED COMPLETELY. MY SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE IN THE BACK DON'T WORK. MY ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM AIRCOMPRESSOR HAS WENT OUT AND I HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHERE MY OIL GAUGE IS CONSTANTLY SAYING IT'S LOW. I HAVE MY OIL CHANGE EVERY 3000 MILES. I AM HEARING THIS NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET GOING TO FORD TO SEE WHAT IT IS. I HAVE BEEN SMELLING THIS BURNING COMING FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS EITHER. MY LASTEST PROBLEM IS MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS AND I HAVE THREE MORE YEARS OF PAYMENT ON THIS VEHICLE. MY TRANSMISSION COST ME AROUND $3500 AND I DON'T HAVE ANY WARRANTY ON IT. THIS IS A LEMON I HAVE PURCHASED AND I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *TR

LIFTGATE PANEL ABOVE EMBLEM (OUTSIDE) HAS CRACKED COMPLETELY TOP TO BOTTOM. WHEN I TOOK TO FORD SERVICE, THEY STATED OTHER SIDE WILL CRACK AND EVENTUALLY PANEL COULD COME OFF. MY TRUCK IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. IF PANEL COMES OFF, ODDS ARE IT WILL COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. I DO ALOT OF HIGHWAY MILES AND THAT COULD BE SERIOUS. I WAS TOLD THERE ARE RECALLS ON SAME PROBLEM BUT FOR DIFFERENT YEAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED. *TR

GEAR SHIFT LEVER (PRNDL) SNAPPED OFF OF STEERING COLUMN WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK FROM A DEAD STOPPED POSITION. *TR

I ALSO HAVE A CRACK ON MY LIFT GATE AROUND THE EMBLEM AND EVERY MERCURY I SEE ON THE ROAD ALSO HAS IT. I ALSO BELIEVE THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

WE PURCHASED A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER APPROX. 9 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE NOW DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAS GONE OUT. WHEN WE DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A MASSIVE RECALL BETWEEN 2002 - 2006 FOR THIS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT ON MOUNTAINEERS, EXPLORERS, EXPEDITIONS AND RANGE/LND ROVERS. WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO; THEY SAID THAT OUR PARTICULAR VIN# DID NOT MAKE THE RECALL LIST. WHEN I ASKED HOW COME A MANUFACTURE'S DEFECT COULD NOT MAKE THE RECALL LIST THEY SAID IT COULD BE AN OVERSIGHT OR JUST MAYBE NOT FOR THAT MODEL. I THEN ASKED HOW COME THE RESEARCH PROVED TO SHOW THAT THESE WERE DEFECTIVE UPON MANUFACTURING AND SOME OF THEM NOT GET RECALLED THEY HAD NO ANSWER FOR ME. WE NOW HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS INOPERATIVE AND NOBODY WANTS TO CLARIFY THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD 2 ESTIMATES BOTH WITH USED PARTS FROM A WRECKING YARD. THE 1ST ESTIMATE WAS $1350 AND THE 2ND WAS $800 AND NO GUARANTEES SINCE THEY WOULD BE PULLING THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OFF OF A WRECKED VEHICLE THE SAME YEAR AS OURS AND IT COULD ALSO POTENTIALLY BE DEFECTIVE. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS AND NOW MY HUSBAND HAS NO TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO WORK. HE DOES DRIVE MY CAR AT THE MOMENT BUT CAN NOT CARRY ALL OF HIS TOOLS IN MY VEHICLE SINCE HIS IS AN SUV. WE DID SEEK LEGAL COUNCIL AND WERE INFORMED THAT WE NEED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT YOU COULD FORCE FORD TO RECALL OUR VEHICLE AND THEY SAID WE HAD A VERY GOOD LAW SUIT. IF MY HUSBAND DID NOT HAVE THIS CHECKED AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE GEARS LOCKING UP AND A CRASH WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND IT HAS A CRACK ON THE LIFTGATE THAT STARTS AT THE TOP IN THE MIDDLE, GOES AROUND THE MERCURY EMBLEM AND CONTINUES DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFTGATE. I AM WORRIED THAT THE GLASS WILL FALL OUT OR BREAK ONE DAY WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR CLOSE THE TAILGATE. OR WILL THE GLASS SHATTER WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR CLOSE IT? *TR

I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH 78000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THREE MONTHS AGO FOR SLIPPING AND NOT DOWNSHIFTING IT IS NOW GONG BACK IN TOMORROW TO BE REPAIRED FOR NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE IT ISN'T VERY GOOD. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND THE LIFTGATE HAS CRACKED AROUND THE MERCURY EMBLEM. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER MOUNTAINEERS WITH EXACT SAME CRACKING AROUND EMBLEM. THIS MAKES ME WONDER IF PANEL COULD FAIL CAUSING GLASS TO FALL OUT. SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED IN NUMEROUS WEBSITES , IS THERE GOING TO BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT OR THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE RAMPANT. *TR

ON THE TAILGATE OF THE MOUNTAINEER, DUE TO HEAT/COLD A CRACK STARTED FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND WENT DOWN PAST THE "MERCURY" EMBLEM DOWN TO THE NEXT PANEL. *TR

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 4.6L-V8: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER ACCELERATION [STOP SIGN/SIGNAL, EXITING AN EXPRESSWAY TO A SURFACE STREET, COASTING] THE ENGINE WILL NOT HOLD IDLE, THEN STALL. THE STEERING & BRAKES ARE COMPROMISED WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS. TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE HEADLIGHTS GO DARK FOR A MOMENT...THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. DECELERATING FROM AN EXPRESSWAY TO A SURFACE STREET, ON A CURVED EXIT RAMP , AT NIGHT MAKES FOR AN OUT OF CONTROL SITUATION WHERE THE DRIVER CAN NOT SEE BECAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE! I'VE REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION CENSOR [TPS] WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. THE DEALER OFFERS REPLACEMENT OF PARTS $1500, AND NO GUARANTEE OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS USELESS TO ME FORE IT IS A HAZARD TO BE ON THE ROAD...FOR ME AND ANYONE ELSE DRIVING NEAR ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING OUT OF PARK AND INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS DIFFICULTY CHANGING GEARS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE INABILITY TO CHANGE GEARS COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,000.

I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY HATCHBACK. THE EMBLEM HAS A LONG AND LARGE CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE EMBLEM. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL 2003 MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I AM AFRAID THAT THE CRACK WILL CAUSE THE GLASS TO BREAK. I NOTICED WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE ONCE THEREFORE I FELT THAT I SHOULD ADVISE/COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FAILURE TO SEE IF A RECALL OR A BULLETIN WOULD BE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR THE ISSUE WITH NO RECOURSE OR RECURRING ISSUE. I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS ISSUE IS OCCURRING BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE REPAIRED AT NOT COST TO ME BECAUSE AGAIN I HAVE FOUND MANY MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND ALL HAVE BEEN 2003 SO FAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ASSIST FORD/MERCURY TO PRODUCE A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE. *TR

A CRACKED LIFTGATE APPLIQUE..IT IS CRACKED AROUND THE APPLIQUE.. *TR

WHEN REPLACING WHEEL BEARINGS (ANOTHER INFAMOUS FORD DEFECT ON THESE VEHICLES), NOTICED BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN IN MULTIPLE PLACES AT TOP OF SPRING, WHERE COILS DUG INTO EACH OTHER AND CREATED A STRESS RISER. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *TR

WHILE OPENING MY HATCH IN THE BACK OF MY CAR THE HOCK CAME APART. ONE OF THE TWO HOCKS THAT HOLD THE GLASS OF THE HATCH BROKE. NOT SURE WHY IT BROKE, THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING LEANING UP AGAINST IT. IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE I COULD HAVE HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THE GLASS COULD HAVE FELL ON THE CARE BEHIND ME. *TR

THE PAINT ON THE REAR LID OF MY 2003 MOUNTAINEER IS PEALING. DEALER AND TWO AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOPS HAVE VERIFIED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A FACTORY DEFECT. FORD/MERCURY REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REFERRED ME TO THEIR WARRANTY INFORMATION. THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECT CAUSED BY THEM DURING THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

I DRIVE MY HUSBAND'S 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER IT HAS 69000 MILES ON IT NOW AND WE BOUGHT IT USED DEC 2004. WHEN THE SUV SHIFTS INTO 3 OR 4TH GEAR IT CLUNKS OR SHUTTERS. WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES HAVING IT RETURNED AND TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. IN DECEMBER 2007 WE TOOK IT IN AGAIN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THEY DID A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. NOW WHEN ACCELERATING UP TO 35 THE RPM WOULD RAISE UP TO 4,000, LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING.THEN IT SHIFT INTO WRONG GEAR. THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT ON THE DASH STARTED FLASHING. NEXT DAY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. WE TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP THEY CLAIM THEY WON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT UNTIL THEY TAKE IT APART AND IT COULD COST ANY WHERE FROM $3,000 TO $4,000. WE REPEATEDLY TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALER AND THEY WOULD NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED WE HAVE A MAJOR EXPENSE NOT COVERED.WE ENDED UP TAKING IT TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. THE OVERDRIVE PISTON PUT IN AT THE ASSEMBLY FACTORY WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND IS A DEFECTIVE PART. SO AFTER 1 WEEK WITHOUT A CAR, THE NEW OVERHAUL KIT, OVERDRIVE PISTON AND TORQUE CONVERTER WE SPENT A GRANT TOTAL $1,895.83. THIS IS SOMETHING THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE FIXED WHEN WE FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. I CAN HONESTLY SAY WE WILL NEVER GO BACK THAT DEALER AGAIN. *TR

THE HEATER STOP WORKING 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, 2ND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, DEALER THINKS MIGHT BE INTAKE MANIFOLD OR HEAD GASKET, 3RD TIME SAY MUST TAKE IT APART TO FIGURE OUT BUT PRESSURE TEST ARE WITHIN NORMAL RANGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK NEXT TO THE EMBLEM ON THE REAR HATCH DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SPECULATED THAT COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $700 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER THREE YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 04-20-09 *BF UPDATED 04/24/09.*JB

CRACK IN LIFTGATE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHEN THE TRUNK LID UNDER THE WINDOW WAS OPENED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK IN THE TRUNK LID. THE TRUNK LID WAS REPAIRED TWO YEARS AGO BY THE DEALER AND NOW A CRACK HAS REAPPEARED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AFTER THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND REPAIR. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $85; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WANTS A FREE REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS A DEFECT AND WILL PROBABLY CRACK AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 02/05/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB

THE FAILURE IS FOR A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE FAILURE IS A CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE THAT OCCURS RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE MERCURY EMBLEM OR LOGO ON THE BACK OF THE TAILGATE OR LIFT GATE. THIS CRACK HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES HERE AND IN ONLINE FORUMS. TO ME SEEMS LIKE A DEFICIENCY OR A DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL THAT MAKES UP THIS PANEL THAT IS A PART OF THE LIFT GATE GLASS AND THE TAILGATE AS A UNIT'.. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THE 2002-2006 MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS AND THE FORD EXPLORER SHARE THIS SAME TAILGATE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MERCURY AND FORD ARE SOLELY TO BLAME FOR PRODUCING THIS FAULTY PART OF THE TAILGATE OR LIFT GATE AND SHOULD STEP UP AND RECALL THEM'.. I NOTICED MY FAILURE OR CRACK IN JUNE OF 2008 WITH LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT. I AM AN ORIGINAL OWNER SINCE 2003. A BIG CONCERN IS SAFETY, SOMEONE WALKING BY THE SUV AND GETTING CUT ON THE SHARP PLASTIC, JUST LOOKING AT THE CRACK IS DISTURBING. HERE IN SOUTHERN CA. FAIRWAY FORD WANTS $425.00 AND CERRITOS FORD LINCOLN MERCURY WANTS $625.00 TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM'.. I WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN 2004. WE WERE PICKING UP THE SUV AFTER HAVING THE REAR GLASS HINGES REPLACED PER THE RECALL. AT THAT TIME THE SERVICE WRITER AT VILLA FORD TOLD ME, TRY NOT TO PUSH ON THE EMBLEM TO CLOSE THE GLASS, THE PANEL WILL CRACK IN TIME'.. (1.) I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE PANELS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE CRACK? (2.) WHY FORD OR MERCURY NEVER DISCLOSED THE PROBLEM? I DID CALL MERCURY, THEY TOOK THE COMPLAINT AND SAID THEY WOULD PUT IT ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE, BUT THEY NEVER DID''''''*TR

PURCHASED THE 2003 MERCURY, MOUNTAINEER, AWD VEHICLE NEW ON 6/17/03. ON 05/10/06 AT 50515, THE LEFT FRONT HUB BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED. A VISUAL EXAM INDICATED WATER DAMAGE WITH BEARING SEIZURE. ON 11/24/08 AT 88826, THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE EARLIER HUB REPLACEMENT WAS DIAGNOSED. AT THIS TIME BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT BEARING HUBS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE RIGHT FRONT HUB WAS PRACTICALLY FROZEN AND SHOWED SIGNS OF HEAT FATIGUE TO THE OUTER CASING. BOTH HUBS SHOWED RUST AND PITTING. I MAINTAINED POSSESSION OF BOTH HUBS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT HAD THE HUB LOCKED UP ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, (70MPH) A POTENTIAL FOR A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT EXISTED. ON 11/21/06, A REAR DIFFERENTIAL NOISE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REBUILT. ON 11/24/08 THE NOISE WAS AGAIN HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. APPARENTLY THE NOISE FROM THE FRONT BEARINGS DAMAGE SHIELDED THE REAR DIFF. NOISE. I NOTICE ONLY ONE OTHER COMPLAINT FOR THE PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR, HOWEVER THE BASIC DRIVE TRAIN DESIGN HAS NOT CHANGED FOR MERCURY OR FORD EXPLORER FOR SOME TIME AND OTHER MODEL YEARS MAY ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NO REASON THAT A REAR DIFFERENTIAL SHOULD NOT GO 100000 PLUS MILES WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND LIKEWISE THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE FRONT HUBS SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ROLL UP 100,000 MILES WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

I OPENED REAR LIFTGATE AND REMOVED SOME ITEMS AS USUAL. UPON TRYING TO LET THE GATE DOWN 1/4 WAY DOWN THE GLASS SHATTERED. THE STRUTS HUNG NOT ALLOWING ME TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE GATE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. I JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT FROM A MECHANIC THAT THE RACKET PINION STEERING COLUMN IS LEAKING AND THE MECHANIC FEELS IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WILL NOT EVEN LOOK AT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN 16 MONTHS. ON OCTOBER 1, 2008, WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN ON DIRT ROADS, ONLY IN THE CITY. SHE FEELS THAT EITHER THE WHEEL BEARING IS DEFECTIVE OR THE FORD DEALER DID NOT PROPERLY CORRECT THE PREVIOUS FAILURES. THE FORD DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE WHEEL BEARING IS ONLY GOOD FOR 12,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT AND STATED THAT THEY WILL FORWARD HER INFORMATION TO THE DEALER. FROM THERE, THE DEALER WILL DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,494 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 11/14/08 *CN THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WAS HANGING DOWN, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. THE REAR HATCH WINDOW CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB

REAR COIL SPRINGS ON MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 2003 JUST BROKE IN TO TWO PIECES. *TR

POWERTRAIN. *TR

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS STARTED AT 62000 MILES. FORD DONE REPAIRS ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TWO DAYS AFTER THE WARRANTY WENT OUT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND IT STARTED SMOKING OUT FROM UNDER IT. THE VEHICLE IS A LEMON!!!! THEY NEED TO RECALL MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. *TR

CURRENTLY I HAVE A CRACK IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BACK LIFT GATE. I DO NOT KOW HOW IT GOT THERE BUT THEN I NOTICED 6 OTHER MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE AME ISSUE. I THINK THIS MAY BE A MANUFACTORS DEFECT AND WONDER IF THES WILL EFFECT THE BACK GLASS? *TR

UPON LEAVING WORK IN THE AM I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND NONE OF MY DASH GAUGES WERE WORKING NOR WERE ANY OF THE ELECTRIC WINDOW OR THE RADIO. I THEN CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO ADV ME TO BRING IT TO HIM. WHILE I WAS EN ROUTE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO HIM IT STARTED MAKING A WEIRD NOISE LIKE I WAS IN A HELICOPTER AND I STARTED SMELLING THIS WEIRD SMELL LIKE OIL BURNING AT FIRST IT THOUGHT THEY MESSED UP MY OIL CHANGE AND I WAS FURIOUS. UPON ARRIVING AT THE SHOP HE IMMEDIATELY SMELLED THE ODOR PUT IT UP ON THE LIFT AND FOUND OUT THAT MY FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAD GONE BAD. I PURCHASED ANOTHER ONE AND HI INSTALLED IT AND I TOOK IT HOME BECAUSE HE COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE GAUGES ON MY WAY TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SMOKE AND WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT AND BACK UNDER MY CAR ANOTHER DRIVING PASSING BY SIGNALED SOMETHING WAS COMING FROM BENEATH MY VEHICLE AND UPON THAT I HEARD A LOUD BANG POPPING NOISE AND MY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT AGAIN THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY VEHICLE AND THE GAUGES WINDOWS AND RADIO STILL DOES NOT WORK. MY MECHANIC CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND ADV THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THEM. HE DID HOWEVER CALL A MERCURY DEALER WHO ADV HE HAS HAD TO CHANGE SOME OF THE FRONT DIFFERENTIALS ON OTHER MOUNTAINEERS BUT WAS NOT CERTAIN AS TO HOW MANY WERE DONE. *TR

CRACK IN THE REAR LIFTGATE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MERCURY EMBLEM. WHEN WE FIRST NOTICED THE CRACK, IT WAS ABOUT 1/2 WAY DOWN THE PLASTIC, THEN WITHIN A WEEK IT WAS ALL THE WAY THOUGH. I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS ANY STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS THAT ARE EFFECTED BY THE CRACK OR WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE CRACK. I'M NOT SURE IF THE GLASS IS EFFECTED OR NOT, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT WHATEVER CAUSED THE PLASTIC TO CRACK WILL ALSO EFFECT THE STRENGTH OF THE GLASS. *TR

CRACK IN LIFTGATE TO THE RIGHT OF THE MERCURY EMBLEM. ON JANUARY, 24, 2008 I WENT TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF MY MOUNTAINEER ONLY TO FIND BEFORE OPENING IT THAT THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK IN THE LIFTGATE. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IF THIS EFFECTS THE INTEGRITY OF THE GLASS BACK WINDOW, BUT I'M SURE WITH TIME IT WILL SPREAD.....THEN WHAT! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BEGAN TO RUMBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND FLAMES BEGAN TO ERUPT UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT NOT INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000.

LIFTGATE CRACKED. NO DAMAGE DONE TO VEHICLE. NOTICE CRACK STARTING BELOW WINDOW GOING DOWN THROUGH THE MERCURY EMBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, BUT DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE CONTACT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE FORD DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE CONTINUOUS FAILURES OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE IS CRACKED. A VALID VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 64,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

REAR MIDDLE HATCHBACK HAS CRACK IN MOLDING FROM BOTTOM OF WINDOW ALL THE WAY DOWN. POSSIBLY DUE TO COLD WEATHER. *NM

2003 MERCURY MOUTAINEER'S CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH**CC FORD WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO COVER ANY REPAIR EXPENSES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 50000 MILES ON IT. *NM

PLEASE SEE THE ISSUE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION NOT GOING INTO PARK PROPERLY. VERY DANGEROUS.... MR. MARK FIELDS, PRESIDENT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY RE: VIN#[XXX] I OWN A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, WITH 28000 MILES ON IT, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW FROM LAKEWOOD FORD IN NOV. 2003. IN 2005, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN WITH A FEW MINOR PROBLEMS, AT WHICH TIME I EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE TECH THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO PARK PROPERLY AND WAS STICKING. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A DAY, THEY RETURNED IT TO ME SAYING THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. YESTERDAY, MY WIFE TOOK AN ENTIRE DAY AND RENTED A CAR, SO THAT WE COULD BRING IT INTO FREEWAY FORD TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. THE SERVICE MANAGER OLEY SEEMED NICE ENOUGH IN HANDLING THE MATTER BUT THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY REPORTED BACK TO US THE FOLLOWING; 1)THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A SHIFT LOCK OUT AND IT WOULD COST US $265 DOLLARS TO REPLACE AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I WOULD LIKE YOUR TEAM TO RECONSIDER. FIRST, IT IS INDEED PART OF THE POWER TRAIN AND IT IS UNFATHOMABLE TO ME THAT ANY COURT OF LAW WOULD CONSIDER IT OTHERWISE. SECOND, I'D THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL, AND SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN WHERE THE CAR SLIPS OUT OF PARK AND KILLS SOMEONE, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE NHTSA WOULD FIND NO FAULT UPON YOUR COMPANY. I FRANKLY WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED AT THE RESPONSE I GOT FROM THE DEALER. I'VE OWNED MANY BRANDS OF NEW CARS, AND NO ONE HAS EVER CLAIMED SOMETHING AS OBVIOUS AS THIS (WITH DOCUMENTED HISTORY!) AS NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY. I CONSIDER MYSELF A PRETTY FAIR PERSON AND I'M NOT ONE TO MAKE A BIG ISSUE OUT OF SOMETHING BUT THIS IS JUST WRONG! IF THIS IS YOUR POLICY, IT'S NOW VERY CLEAR WHY FORD IS A FAILING COMPANY. THIS IS THE TYPE THING THAT WILL SHOW UP ON U-TUBE AND JUST CONTINUE LOSS OF CUSTOMER LOYALTY. *NM *JS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED "ON 8/23/04, THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW OF MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VIOLENTLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SENT GLASS FLYING INTO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR 9 DAYS BEFORE FORD SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO VIEW THE DAMAGE. AGAINST SEVERAL OPINIONS, FORD DENIED RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THERE WERE DOG CRATES IN THE BACK. THESE CRATES HAD BEEN IN MY MOUNTAINEERS FOR YEARS & DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE WINDOW. I FOUND DOZENS OF IDIOPATHIC EXPLODING LIFTGATE INCIDENTS ON THE NHTSA SITE FOR THE FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER - AT THE TIME, NHTSA ADVISED THAT FORD WAS ABOUT TO ISSUE A VOLUNTARY RECALL. I DID GET THE RECALL WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT MY ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD FOR REPAIR OF THIS DEFECTIVE LIFTGATE GLASS FOR MYSELF AND MY INSURER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. MY COMPLAINT MADE IT TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF FORD, BUT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO ME BECAUSE MY INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT SUBROGATING - THE CLAIM WAS JUST TOO SMALL FOR MY INSURER TO PURSUE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A PRINCIPLE INVOLVED, AND I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED BY INSURANCE AFTER I PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE, AND THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE RECALL WORK FOR THE LIFTGATE WAS DONE BY MY DEALER. RECENTLY, I NOTICED THAT THE NEW LIFTGATE HAS AN EVER ENLARGING CRACK DOWN THE CENTER OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS FRAME - MY DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT STRUCTURAL AND NOT TO WORRY, BUT DUE TO THE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE, I FEAR THAT ANOTHER EXPLOSION IS IMMINENT. I WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST EXPLOSION, AND IT WAS SCARY. I HAVE HAD A WARNING MAGNETIC SIGN PLACED ON THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE TO WARN PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE IN CASE OF ANOTHER EXPLOSION, AND MY DOG CRATES ARE NOW SHIELDED WITH A SUN BLANKET TO PROTECT FROM FLYING GLASS. FORD HAS CREATED SUCH BAD WILL WITH ME THAT THIS LIKELY WILL BE THE LAST FORD PRODUCT I OWN."

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED "ON 8/23/04, THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW OF MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VIOLENTLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SENT GLASS FLYING INTO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR 9 DAYS BEFORE FORD SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO VIEW THE DAMAGE. AGAINST SEVERAL OPINIONS, FORD DENIED RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THERE WERE DOG CRATES IN THE BACK. THESE CRATES HAD BEEN IN MY MOUNTAINEERS FOR YEARS & DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE WINDOW. I FOUND DOZENS OF IDIOPATHIC EXPLODING LIFTGATE INCIDENTS ON THE NHTSA SITE FOR THE FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER - AT THE TIME, NHTSA ADVISED THAT FORD WAS ABOUT TO ISSUE A VOLUNTARY RECALL. I DID GET THE RECALL WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT MY ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD FOR REPAIR OF THIS DEFECTIVE LIFTGATE GLASS FOR MYSELF AND MY INSURER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. MY COMPLAINT MADE IT TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF FORD, BUT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO ME BECAUSE MY INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT SUBROGATING - THE CLAIM WAS JUST TOO SMALL FOR MY INSURER TO PURSUE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A PRINCIPLE INVOLVED, AND I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED BY INSURANCE AFTER I PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE, AND THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE RECALL WORK FOR THE LIFTGATE WAS DONE BY MY DEALER. RECENTLY, I NOTICED THAT THE NEW LIFTGATE HAS AN EVER ENLARGING CRACK DOWN THE CENTER OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS FRAME - MY DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT STRUCTURAL AND NOT TO WORRY, BUT DUE TO THE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE, I FEAR THAT ANOTHER EXPLOSION IS IMMINENT. I WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST EXPLOSION, AND IT WAS SCARY. I HAVE HAD A WARNING MAGNETIC SIGN PLACED ON THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE TO WARN PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE IN CASE OF ANOTHER EXPLOSION, AND MY DOG CRATES ARE NOW SHIELDED WITH A SUN BLANKET TO PROTECT FROM FLYING GLASS. FORD HAS CREATED SUCH BAD WILL WITH ME THAT THIS LIKELY WILL BE THE LAST FORD PRODUCT I OWN." UPDATED. *JB

THE HATCH BACK DOOR ON MY MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SPLIT IN HALF FROM THE BASE OF THE WINDOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HATCH DOOR. I BELIEVE THE PLACEMENT OF THE MERCURY SYMBO LINER THE TOP CENTER OF THE HATCH WEAKENS THE HATCH CAUSING IT TO SPLIT WITH USE AND / OR WITH A SUDDEN CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - *NM

WE BOUGHT OUR MOUNTAINEER NEW IN 2003. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, BUT THE WORST HAS BEEN WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY TAKEN OUR VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIPS FOR SERVICE, BUT ARE CONTINUALLY TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT "REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME". THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS SHIFTED HARD, BUT DEALERSHIPS SIMPLY TELL US IT JUST SHIFTS HARD. IN JANUARY OF 2006 THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT WENT ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US WE HAD TO HAVE THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED AS THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN. WE PAID OVER $1300 BELIEVING THIS WOULD SOLVE THE SHIFTING PROBLEM, IT DID NOT. AT THE END OF JUNE I TOOK IT INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TRIP INSPECTION. I MENTIONED AGAIN THAT IT SHIFTS HARD. THEIR TECH LOOKED AT IT, FOUND METAL IN THE PAN AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AT LESS THAN 55,000). APPARENTLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER FORD SENT TO THE FIRST DEALERSHIP WAS FAULTY, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEED REPLACEMENT. FORD DID PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, GIVING US ABOUT A 45 DAY WARRANTY (AS THE WARRANTY STARTED FROM THE DAY THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FIRST REPLACED). WE THOUGHT SURELY THAT WOULD FIX THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS. NO...STILL SHIFTS HARD. IF WE COULD SELL THIS THING FOR ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT WE OWE...IT WOULD BE GONE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ELASTIC STRAPS CONNECTED TO THE CLOTH COVER OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WHICH WRAPPED AROUND THE SEAT CAN BE REMOVED EASILY. THE CONTACT'S CHILD WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE STRAPS, AND WRAP THE STRAPS AROUND THE NECK. THE CHILD WAS NOT INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED, BUT THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THEM SOON. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS DOREL JUVENILE GROUP. MODEL COSCO CONVERTIBLE FORWARD FACING; MODEL NUMBER IS: 22-100-TTD. THE MANUFACTURER DATE WAS 2-15-05.*AK

LIFTGATE CRACKED. PART WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED OR POSSIBILITY OF WINDOW FALLING OUT. WAS TOLD BY MY MERCURY DEALER THAT THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT IN VEHICLE BUT SINCE IT HAPPENS BETWEEN 40,000 AND 50,000 MILES IT IS NO LONGER FORD/MERCURY'S RESPONSIBILITY SINCE CARS ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

ON 9/2/06, I USED MY VEHICLE TO GO TO STORE AND WHILE AT THE STORE, I HAD DIFFICULTY PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND NEEDED TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF TO FINALLY LOCK IT INTO PARK. I THEN RETURNED HOME WITH THE VEHICLE AND PARKED IT IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO MY HOUSE AND STRUCK MY 8 MONTH OLD SON 'S STROLLER. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY HOUSE AND VEHICLE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD, FRONT BUMPER, HOOD AND GRILL. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT ON 9/11/06. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE , THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK SWITCH SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND TO STICK AND BE FAULTY IN OTHER MOUNTAINEERS. I WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD, IT WAS NOT A RECALL AND NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. I WAS ORDERED TO PAY $298.67 FOR THE REPAIR AND TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS TO MY HOUSE AND THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE HANDLED BY ME. I DON'T KNOW HOW SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS THIS IS NOT A RECALL BUT IT IS A KNOWN SAFELY DEFECT BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I FEEL THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE DAMAGE AND THE PAYMENT FOR THE REPAIRS AND THAT THEY ARE LUCKY THAT NO PERSONS, ONLY PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED THAT DAY. *B

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNKING SOUND, SLID BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. A/C BLOWER MOTOR MADE A HUMMING SOUND. WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR WOULD MISFIRE. *KB WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASH LIGHT WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY TURNING THE LIGHTING SWITCH. WHEN THE SWITCH WAS TURNED THE DASH LIGHT CAME ON BUT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER'S INDICATED THAT THEY SOMETIMES HEAR POPPING SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING, WHICH SEEMS TO BE OF AN ELECTRICAL NATURE.

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AWD 4.0L. WE PURCHASED OUR MOUNTAINEER IN JUNE OF 2004, WITH 22,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES INTO OUR OWNERSHIP, WE EXPERIENCED A FRONT BEARING WINE. DEALERSHIP COVERED DEFECT UNDER 3 YEAR / 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. OTHER DEFECTS COVERED...REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR SPEED SENSOR AT 23,454 MILES. A 2ND ABS PROBLEM REQUIRED A NEW ACTUATOR SPEED CONTROL SWITCH ASSEMBLY AT 28,419 MILES. TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOID REPLACED AT 32,075 MILES. DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR REPLACED AT 33,443 MILES. RECALL ON REAR GLASS HATCH LIFT STRUTS AT 27,379 MILES. JANUARY 23, 2006 OUR MOUNTAINEER NOW HAS 42,777 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WE NOTICED A LOW PITCH NOISE STARTING AT 25-30 MPH AND BECOMING HIGHER IN PITCH AT HIGHER SPEEDS. OUR LOCAL LINCOLN / MERCURY DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISOR DETERMINED WE HAD A FAULTY REAR AXLE RING & PINION GEAR SET. THEY REBUILT OUR REAR AXLE USING THE VIN # TO DETERMINE ACTUAL BILL OF SALES DATE, WHICH WAS JUNE OF 2003. THIS GAVE US A WARRANTY UNTIL JUNE OF 2006 THUS NEARING THE END OF OUR 36 MONTHS WARRANTY. WE REGRETFULLY ADMIT PAYING A $200.00 DEDUCTIBLE THE DEALERSHIP ASKED FOR. WE DROVE OFF WITH OUR NEWLY REBUILT AXLE IN OUR MOUNTAINEER. OUR NOISY AXLE NEVER WENT AWAY. THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED THIS DUE TO WORN AND NOISY TIRES. WE REPLACED THESE TIRES AT 47,500 MILES OR 4,500 MILES AFTER THE ORIGINAL AXLE NOISE COMPLAINT WITH NO REAL APPARENT CHANGE TO OUR NOISY PROBLEM. OUR MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WENT BACK INTO THE SHOP AT 48,300 MILES WITH A NOISE STILL DISTINCTIVE FROM THE REAR. AGAIN OUR LOCAL MERCURY DEALERSHIP TOOK A LOOK AT THE SUV WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. HIS COMMENT... SOUNDS LIKE AN ON-GOING REAR AXLE ISSUE. HE WOULD CHECK WITH HIS DISTRICT MANAGER ABOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE AXLE ASSEMBLY THIS TIME AROUND. THEY CONTACTED US BY PHONE THE NEXT DAY. THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS THE AXLE, BUT ONE OF THE REAR OUTER HUB WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES. IT WOULD COST US $270.00. *JB

VEHICLE IS 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AWD/ THE VEHICLE KEEPS ON LOSING THE POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION AND YOU JUST SIT THERE WATCHING THE RPM RACE WITH NO POWER HAPPINESS AT ALL SPEEDS WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED MANY CRASHES RE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING . ON GOING PROBLEM X 2 YEARS AND IS AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW RE I FEEL I'M GOING TO GET KILLED IN THIS VEHICLE. *NM

2003 MOUNTAINEER TRANSAXLE HOUSING BROKE IN HALF. THE OIL FROM THE TRANSAXLE LEAKED ON THE EXHAUST CAUSING A SMALL FIRE. *TS THE DRIVER INDICATED THAT SHE MAY HAVE HIT AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT SEATBELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A MODIFIED REPAIR KIT AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. ALSO, THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT READING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL GAUGE, BUT THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT HAS BECOME INOPERABLE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE MOON ROOF WAS BEING OPENED, IT BUCKLED. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED.

AT 34,500 MILES, TRANSMISSION BEGAN A NOTICEABLE DELAY IN MAKING THE SHIFT INTO REVERSE GEAR. GAVE A LIST OF GRIPES TO CHAMPION MERCURY DEALERSHIP, WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, TO BE FIXED BEFORE THE 36K WARRANTY RAN OUT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INCLUDE THIS TRANSMISSION GRIPE IN THE LIST THEY INPUT INTO THEIR COMPUTERS. VISITED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AT 39K MILES, WITH THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM GETTING WORSE, AND THE DEALERSHIP DENIED HAVING THAT GRIPE AIRED WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. SO NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. NOW, AT 43K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BANGS INTO REVERSE GEAR AFTER A LARGE DELAY, AND THE SHIFTS FROM 2-3 AND 3-4 INCLUDE A HEAVY SHUDDER, CONSISTENTLY. *JB

DT: THE AUTOMATIC TIRE WARNING SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED SINCE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. EVERY TIME HE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTER EVERY 3,000 MILES, BUT THIS HAS NOT IMPROVED THE CONDITION. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEY TELL HIM TO TAKE IT TO THE TIRE DEALER. THE TIRE DEALER REFERRED HIM BACK TO FORD BECAUSE IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE ITSELF. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE COMPUTER DID NOT WARN HIM IF THERE WAS A LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN ANY OF THE TIRES. THIS OCCURRED FIRST IN 12-2003, AND HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN A TRIP IN 5-2004, AND IT KEPT RECURRING. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - *NM

WHEN USING THE RECLINE SEAT HANDLE, THE SEAT WOULD LURCH FORWARD, THIS CAUSED A MINOR HEAD INJURY. *JB WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS LOWERING THE MIDDLE BACK SECOND ROW SEAT SHE BENT OVER THE SEAT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE RELEASE LEVER. THIS ACTION POSITIONED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CONSUMER'S FACE LEVEL WITH THE SHOULDER HARNESS ASSEMBLY. WHEN THE LEVER WAS RELEASED THE SEAT SPRUNG FORWARD WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CRUSH THE CONSUMER'S RIGHT EYE. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER HAS VISION IN HER RIGHT EYE. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SHE WAS TURNING AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKES THE PEDAL FELL OFF. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE REASON THIS HAPPENED WAS BECAUSE THE BRACKET BROKE. *AK THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL OFF WHEN PRESSED BECAUSE A SELF LOCKING BOLT WAS NEVER INSTALLED DURING ASSEMBLY. *NM

I READ AN ARTICLE FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE TITLED "STICKY THROTTLES." I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAPPENED TO ME ON JULY 13TH. I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AND JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO A COMPLETE STOP, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, IT TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN STOPPED. SO YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO LOOK A THE 2003 MODEL ALSO. THE ARTICLE I MENTIONED IS BELOW. STICKY THROTTLES CHICAGO (CHICAGO TRIBUNE)--THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION IS INVESTIGATING 690,000 2002 FORD EXPLORERS AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SPORT-UTILITY VEHICLES AFTER COMPLAINTS OF STICKING THROTTLES AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE AGENCY'S PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF VEHICLES WITH 4- LITER, 6-CYLINDER ENGINES WAS PROMPTED BY 15 COMPLAINTS. NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING 2003 AND 2004 FORD MUSTANG, MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE AND MUSTANG GTS AFTER COMPLAINTS OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE WITH THE CAR'S CARPET. THE PROBE INVOLVES ABOUT 20,000 MUSTANGS. NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS CAN LEAD TO VEHICLE RECALLS.

LAST DECEMBER THE ENGINE REVVED AND ACCELERATED VERY HIGH, AROUND 6,000 RPMS. AFTERWARDS, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED, ACCELERATION LOWERED AND THE TRANSMISSION CHANGED GEARS WHILE ENTERING A STREET IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE REVVED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. ATTEMPTED THIS 3 TIMES TO NO AVAIL. ON 4TH ATTEMPT THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE MOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE SOLENOID PACK AND AN OIL ADDITIVE THAT THEY BELIEVED WERE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN JUNE. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN IN JULY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND AGAIN THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOLENOID PACK AGAIN BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. THE MECHANIC SPOKE OF ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH FORD MOUNTAINEERS AND EXPLORERS. YESTERDAY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. CALLED FORD, WHO REFERRED ANOTHER DEALER STATING THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. CALLED DEALER AND THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

DT: AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR 16 MONTHS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THIS HAPPENED. *AK

THE ROTORS WERE PITTED AND RUSTED ON THE CONSUMERS 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. *JB THE BRAKES WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO WORK. THE FRONT PADS AND REAR PADS WERE WORN, REPLACED AND RESURFACED. *SC *JB

DT CONTACT STATES SHE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR. *NM

MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WOULD STUTTER AND HAVE A JERKING MOTION LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND IT WOULD DO THIS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. ON THE 13TH OF JANUARY I WAS TAKING MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AND MY CAR STARTED TO STUTTER AND THEN IT JUST STALLED ON ME I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STARTING THE CAR. I THEN TOOK HER TO SCHOOL AND I SHUT THE CAR OFF TO WALK HER TO HER CLASSROOM AND THEN GOT BACK INTO MY CAR AND WHEN I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TURNED THE KEY THERE WAS NO POWER MY CAR WAS DEAD I HAD TO CALL THE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND HAD TO WAIT AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HEAD AND IT WAS FIXED AND I WAS NOT GIVEN A RENTAL CAR AND I ONLY HAD THIS CAR 11 MONTHS. WELL TWO WEEKS LATER AS I WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION MY MOUNTAINEER STALLED ON ME ONCE AGAIN AND ALL I COULD DO WAS PRAY THAT IT WOULD START IT TOOK THREE TRIES TO GET IT STARTED AND I DROVE IT DOWN THE BLOCK TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AGAIN AND MADE THEM TAKE THE CAR. WELL THEY HAD MY CAR FOR ANOTHER FOUR DAYS AND I WAS TOLD ONCE AGAIN IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HEAD. THEN IN FEBRUARY OF 2005 THE FORD DEALERSHIP WANTED TO DO A RUN DOWN OF MY CAR TO MAKE SURE IT WAS FIXED BUT LOW AND BEHOLD I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR BACK ON APRIL 5, 2005 FOR THE SAME STUTTERING AND STALLING PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PERIODICALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A CHECK UP FOR THE THIRD TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BY ITSELF TOWARDS THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER ENCOUNTERED THIS UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, AND AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED. ONCE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE SEAT MOVED BACK TO THE POSITION IT WAS IN ON ITS OWN. THE SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN THE POSITION, EVEN WHEN SET MANUALLY. THE SEAT MOVED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, PRESSING THE CONSUMER INTO THE STEERING AND HIS KNEES INTO THE DASHBOARD. *AK

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 2003 FOR LIFTGATE HINGES, PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE RECALL REPAIR DONE, BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. *JB

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE PART FOR THE LIFTGATE . NHTSA LIFTGATE BRACKET RECALL 04V442000. *JB LIFTGATE REPAIRED ON 2/3/05. *TT

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO HAD UNINTENDED SHUT DOWNS OF VEHICLE DURING PREVIOUS WEEK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER STILL HAS VEHICLE. I ALMOST RAN OVER 2 PEDESTRIANS CROSSING THE STREET AT A NURSERY SCHOOL. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC MOLDING AROUND THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE CRACK MAY CAUSE THE GLASS TO FALL OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

RECALL REPAIR INEFFECTIVE AND AGGRAVATED INITIAL PROBLEM - "CURE WORSE THAN THE DISEASE." REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW SHATTERED. FOLLOWING DEALER REPAIR FOR RECALL 04S29, OUR REAR WINDOW SHATTERED EXPLOSIVELY WITHIN 48 HOURS. THIS WAS THE TYPE OF ISSUE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT. INCIDENT OCCURED IN GARAGE WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, SPREADING GLASS IN A 6 FOOR RADIUS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR LIFTGATE HAD NOT BEEN OPENED SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED.*AK

THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND CONCERN WITH STALLED VEHICLE, SERVICED AND PROBLEM STILL CONTINUE. *BF THESE PROBLEMS ELEVATED TO VEHICLE STALLING, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, THERE WERE CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCES OF THE BATTERY FAIL/CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT, VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A NEW LEASE AND OR EARLY TERMINATION OF THE LEASE. *SC

WHEN SHIFTING MY MOUNTAINEER INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE JERKS INTO GEAR. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE AND ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION GETS CONFUSED AND GOES TO THE WRONG GEAR. IT GIVES YOU A FEELING SIMILIAR TO A STANDARD SHIFT BEING PUT IN 4TH WHEN IT SHOULD BE IN 2ND BOGGING DOWN DRAMATICALLY.*AK

THE REAR LIFTBACK WINDOW ON MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VIOLENTLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AT MY SON'S FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGE. AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION, AROUND 6:30 P.M., I WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH MY DOGS, AND I WAS PARKED IN THE SHADE WITH THE REAR OF MY CAR BACKED UP UP TO A MINIVAN. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY - SINCE I WAS IN THE VEHICLE, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY SURVEY THE AREA TO MAKE SURE NO ONE WAS NEARBY PULLING A PRANK. THE DEAFENING EXPLOSION MADE SUCH A LOUD NOISE THAT I INVOLUNTARY DUCKED, AND PEOPLE CAME RUNNING FROM ACROSS THE FIELD TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. BROKEN GLASS WAS SCATTERED ALL OVER THE INSIDE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND ALL OVER THE GROUND ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY VEHICLE. HAD 3RD ROW PASSENGERS BEEN PRESENT OR HAD DOGS BEEN IN THEIR CRATES IN THE REAR, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BADLY CUT AND DAZED BY THE EXPLOSION. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION ACTUALLY BENT THE FRAME OF THE LIFTBACK, LIKE A SUITCASE STUFFED TOO FULL OF CLOTHES WOULD BEND AT THE SIDES. THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS WERE DANGLING AND ASKEW. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING, UPSETTING EXPERIENCE. AT PRESENT, MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WEEK, AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE FORD DISTRICT MANAGER TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALER HAS CAST DOUBT AS TO WHETHER FORD WILL CONSIDER THIS A WARRANTY ITEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE "NEVER SEEN A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE". FORD HAS YET TO STEP UP AND ACKNOWLEDGE AN APPARENT DESIGN FLAW IN THE BACK LIFTGATE AND REPAIR MY VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH SUDDENLY MADE A WINING LIKE SONG, THEN STOPPED ACCELERATING AND STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE TRUCK MEDIUM. THEN, IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. IT INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PLUGGED. DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE PLUGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER PART, BUT WAS HAVING DIFFICULTIES FINDING THE PART. *AK *NM

I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD INTO GEAR. AS SPEED INCREASED IT WOULD JERK INOT THE NEXT GEAR. I WENT TO THE FORD/MERCURY DEALERSHIP IN MONTGOMERY, AL. IN NOV 03.THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDED A COMPUTER UPGRADE THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS ON MY CAR. AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE JERKING STOPPED TEMPORARYILY. I BEGAN TO NOTICE IT AGAIN. WELL NOW THE WARRANTY IS GONE, I DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE TRUCK IS 13 MONTHS OLD AND MY SHIFT SOLENOID IS GONE. PER 2 ESTIMATES IT WILL BE COSTLY. BUT I AM ALSO TOLD AT THE AGE OF MY CAR AND MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING UNLESS IT IS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. ONE TRANSMISSION COMPANY HAS ADVISED ME THAT FIXING THE SHIFT SOLENOID WILL NOT WORK LONG UNTIL THE INNER PART OF THE TRANSMISSION IS FIXED OR REBUILT.

CONSUMER CANNOT OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL RECURRING.*AK

TO THIS DATE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS ARE PRESENT: GAS GAUGE STICKS, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR RATTLES AND KNOCKS, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW TAPS, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW GRINDS WHILE MOVING UP AND DOWN, CLOCK AND RADIO DO NOT LIGHT UP OR WORK WHEN START VEHICLE, SUN ROOF RATTLES AND KNOCKS, WIND GETS CAUGHT BETWEEN ROOF AND HEADLINER WHICH CREATES A LOUD VIBRATION, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ALSO RATTLES AND KNOCKS, THERE IS A LOUD RHYTHMIC CHIRP TOWARD REAR OF VEHICLE, HEATING AND COOLING CONTROLS SQUEAL WHEN TURNING ON OR SWITCHING VENT SETTINGS, DRIVER'S SEAT FEELS ROUGH WHEN MOVING ON SEAT TRACK, THE 3RD STEERING WHEEL STILL HAS DEFECT UNDER THE LEATHER WHICH PROTRUDES, DRIVER'S SIDE LEATHER SEAT WAS DAMAGED AFTER BEING AT THE DEALERSHIP, 2ND ROW MIDDLE SEAT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK IN FOLDED POSITION, FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL DOES NOT STAY WITHIN SETTING, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT A SLOW SPEED, THE THIRD ROW CUP HOLDER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT STAY DOWN IN THE FITTING, THERE IS A STRONG EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN WHEN ENGINE IS IN HARD ACCELERATION, ENGINE STARTS TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL WAS DEFECTIVE BY BEING MALFORMED CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE INEFFECTIVE. THE SECOND STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO ILL FITTED CAUSING SHARP PROTRUDING PARTS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: BODY WORK TO DEFECTIVE PAINT ON ROOF, FRONT HOOD, AND DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER. THE DEALERSHIP DAMAGED PAINT IN TWO AREAS AND ONLY PROVIDED TOUCH UP PAINT. REPLACED NOISY REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, REAR HATCH GLASS BECAUSE DEFROST WOULD NOT WORK, REAR HATCH HINGES, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TRACK. SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATION AND PITCHING. VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD UPON ACCELERATION. *LA

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT.*AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, SOMETIME THE DRIVERS FOOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL, AND CAUSED A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THE PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE AND ON THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLAIN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. *AK *SCC *JB

REFERENCE NO: 10026895 REPORTED JULY9,2003. LIFTGATE IS OPENING WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS. DEALER INSPECTED 2XS AND CANNOT DUPLICATE, BUT HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND SEPERATELY ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. ALSO THE REMOTE ON KEYRING SOMETIMES STICKS AND WON'T ALLOW ENTRY TO VEHICLE OR LOCK OR UNLOCK AND WILL NOT DEPRESS

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. *AK

THE LIFTGATE IS COMING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE TWICE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HAS A VERY DANGEROUS VIBRATION MOTION. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING LIT AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND KEY IS REMOVED. LIKELY THAT THIS FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN LIT WHILE DRIVING, RENDERING THE SIGNAL INEFFECTIVE. LIGHTS ACTUALLY STAYED ON TWO OCCASIONS CAUSING A DEAD BATTERY ONCE. LIGHTS WERE NOTICED THE SECOND TIME, AND WIGGLING THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTINGUISHED ALL THREE INDICATORS. DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH UNDER WARRANTY. *NLM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED