2001 Mercury Mountaineer Complaint Log

I OPENED THE REAR GLASS AND WHILE THE GLASS WAS BEING RAISED BY THE PISTONS, I HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE GLASS SUDDENLY SHATTERED ALL OVER ME AND THE BACK OF THE MOUNTAINEER. I GOT GLASS IN MY FACE AND ARMS AND FEET. I HAD LACERATIONS TO MY ARMS FROM THE GLASS AND GLASS SPLINTERS IN MY FEET WHERE THE GLASS GOT INTO MY SHOES. THE GLASS DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AS WAS ONLY PART OF THE WAY UP WHEN IT SHATTERED. I DID NOT OPEN THE FULL REAR GATE, JUST THE GLASS PANEL WHICH IS UNLOCKED WITH A PUSH BUTTON TO THE RIGHT OF THE REAR GATE HANDLE LATCH. THE DAY WAS HOT AND I HAD THE AC RUNNING SO THERE WAS TEMPERATURE GRADIENT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AS I WAS INJURED AND OTHER COULD BE MORE SEVERELY INJURED BY THIS DEFECT.

THE FRAME IN BACK IS RUSTING THROUGH. THE BACK CROSS MEMBER AT THE REAR BUMPER IS RUSTED BAD. IT RATTLES ALL THE TIME.BACK SWAY BARS ARE RUSTED BAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER ON MY 2001 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 5.0 SUV. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NO LONGER WORKS. CANNOT MOVE IT, ADJUST IT, ETC. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS BUT THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND WHEN THE CONTACTS DAUGHTER, SEATED IN THE PASSENGERS SEAT SECURED THE SAFETY SEAT BELT.AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG OCCURRED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS WHICH THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE OCTOBER 9, 2009 DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. THE CONTACT CONTINUES TO WAIT FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY COMPLAINT BUT RATHER ABOUT SERVICE RECEIVED ON RECALL OF SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FOR A 2001 MOUNTAINEER, 05S28. WE RECEIVED NOTICE IN SEP 2007 & CALLED AND SETUP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE PART REPLACE ON OCT 11 2007. UPON ARRIVAL WE WERE TOLD THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE BUT THEY WOULD DISCONNECT CRUISE CONTROL. WE WAITED OVER AN HOUR TO HAVE THIS DONE WHICH WAS FRUSTRATING. PLUS FORD SHOULD HAVE BEEN UPFRONT AND TOLD US WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE TWO TRIPS TO HAVE PROBLEM CORRECTED. WE TRAVELED 90 MILES ROUND TRIP. ON FEB 24TH, I SENT THE DEALERSHIP AN EMAIL CONCERNING THE STATUS OF REPLACEMENT PARTS SINCE IT HAD BEEN NEARLY 6 MONTHS SINCE THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN DISABLED. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALERSHIP CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT THE PARTS HAD COME IN FRIDAY, FEB 22 AND SET UP A 2:00PM APPOINTMENT TO INSTALL NEW PARTS. WHEN WE GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE MOUNTAINEER WERE NOT IN. ANOTHER 90 MILES FOR NOTHING. IN ADDITION, THEY CANNOT TELL US WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE IN! *TR

LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE SUV WAS SQUEAKING. JUST WITHIN A WEEK, IT BECAME EXTREMELY LOUD AND EMBARRASSING TO DRIVE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT'S THE BALL JOINTS WHICH IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *TR

I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM FORD IN AUGUST 2007 AND THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE A PART AVAILABLE FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DISCOVERER H/T, SIZE P235/75/R15 TIRES. THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE WAS UNAVAILABLE IN THE DROP DOWN MENU AT THE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TREAD SEPARATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND FOUND TO HAVE DIMPLES ON THE SIDEWALLS AT ONLY 33,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD EXPLODED OFF THE TIRE AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE PLACE WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED STATED THAT THEY HAVE SOLD HUNDREDS OF THESE TIRES AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY FAILURES. THEY OFFERED TO GIVE HIM NEW TIRES AT $20.00 OFF SINCE HE HAD A RANDOM SET OF DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE CONTACT DID NOT ACCEPT THEIR OFFER. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AS SCHEDULED AND HE JUST HAD THE TIRES ROTATED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,000.

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED15 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT INTO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE HIT A PHONE BOOTH. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THERE WERE LIGHT FLURRIES FALLING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BRAKE SERVICE WORK DONE IN DECEMBER 2006. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 70000.*AK

DEALER INSTALLED FORD TOWING HITCH AND WIRING ASSEMBLY. I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE PASSENGER'S REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE WRITER INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER'S REAR LEAF SPRING WAS SAGGING , AND THAT THIS WAS COMMON FOR THIS ERA OF EXPLORERS/MOUNTAINEERS. HE INDICATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO TOW AS-IS AND THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE SPRING. WHEN AT A BODY SHOP THIS WEEK I SHOWED IT TO THE MANAGER WHO SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON TO EXPLORERS/MOUNTAINEERS OF THE ERA AND HE RECOMMENDED HAVING FORD REPLACE THE SPRING UNDER RECALL OR CUSTOMER SERVICE/TECHNICAL BULLETIN, IF THERE WAS ONE. I CALLED FORD 800 NUMBER. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT OR RECALL ISSUE.*AK

THIS WAS AT MIDNIGHT, FRIDAY THE 23RD OF JULY. AFTER I WENT INSIDE MY RESIDENCE, I LOOK OUTSIDE THE WINDOW TO SEE IF THE MIRROR LIGHTS WERE OFF. AFTER A PERIOD OF 15-20 MINUTES, THE LIGHTS DIMMED OFF. AT 3 AM, I WENT OUT AGAIN TO THE CAR, TO RUN AN ERRAND, AND USING THE KEYFOB UNLOCK THE DOORS, AND GOT IN MY CAR. STARTING THE IGNITION, THE DOOR AJAR MESSAGE APPEARRED ON THE CONSOLE. ALSO I NOTICE THE DOME LIGHT WAS ON. WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE VEHICLE IN PARK, I GOT OUT THE CAR AND WALKED AROUND TO OPEN/CLOSE THE OTHER THREE DOORS, NOT THE GATE. BEING SATISFIED THAT THE OTHER DOORS WERE CLOSE, WENT BACK TO THE DRIVER SIDE GOT IN AND CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DOOR AJAR WARNING WAS STILL LIT, AS WELL AS, THE DOME LIGHT. THINKING THAT A SHORT HAD OCCURRED IN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, IT WAS MINIMAL. AFTER PULLING OFF AND GOING A DISTANCE OF 50 FEET IN THE COMPLEX RESIDENCE, I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND GOT OUT TO CHECK THE DOORS ONCE MORE, THIS TIME INCLUDING THE LIFTGATE. I UNLATCH THE LIFTGATE AND PULLED DOWN TO CLOSE IT. I NOTICE THE LEFT LIFTGEAR ARM JUTTING OUT BENEATH THE WINDOW. I NEVER REALIZED THAT THE LIFTGLASS ASSEMBLY IS SEPARTE FROM THE GATE. I PULLED THE LIFTGLASS UP AND SAW THAT THE LEFT LIFTARM WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE BRACKET AS WAS THE RIGHT LIFTARM. I TRIED TO DETERMINE IF THE ARM HAD BROKEN OFF THE BRACKET, BUT THERE WERE NO INDICATION OR SIGNS(SHEARED OR JAGGED EDGES, ONLY MINIMAL RUSTING) OF THIS HAPPENING. I CHECKED THE RIGHT LIFTARM ASSEMBLY TO SEE IF IT WAS ATTACHED TO ITS BRACKET, AND IT WAS. I PULLED THE GLASS DOWN, TO SHUT IT CLOSE. AT THIS POINT THE GLASS SHATTERED/EXPLODED, WITH THE ELECTRONIC/HYDRAULIC HOSE KEEPING THE GATE ASSEMBLY FROM FALLING OUT COMPLETELY. I TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MY DEARLERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MONDAY JULY 26, TO HAVE THEM TO ORDER THE FULL LIFTGATE ASSEMBLY, BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. *AK

REAR SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WILL NOT WORK . REAR SIDE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE WILL NOT OPEN. I HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER 5 PLUS TIMES. EACH TIME THE DOORS HAVE BEEN SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, ONLY TO FAIL WEEKS AND MONTHS LATER. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03-V-281-000 CONCERNING DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BOLT. DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL.*AK

THE INTERNAL DOOR LOCK MECHANISM LOCATED IN THE REAR DOORS BROKE. THE HANDLE TO THE LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL USE AND COULD BE A PROBLEM IN FUTURE MOUNTAINEERS. *PH

LEFT REAR TIRE FELT WOBBLY WHILE DRIVING UP HILL, THEN EXPLODED, SEPARATING TREAD FROM SIDEWALLS. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY IMMEDIATELY. TIRES WERE INSPECTED DURING OIL CHANGE ABOUT 2 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. POLICE RESPONDED WHILE I WAS CHANGING TIRE, BUT NO REPORT FILED (BY ME, ANYWAY). REPORTED INCIDENT TO FIRESTONE AND MERCURY CUST. SRVC. FIRESTONE DECLINED TO HELP IN ANY WAY TO REPLACE TIRES. MERCURY HELPED EXPEDITE REPLACEMENT, WHICH WAS DONE W/IN 2 DAYS. I AM HAPPY WITH THE NEW TIRES, FROM BF GOODRICH. (TIRESIZE: P23575R15)

PROBLEMS WITH RADIO, PAINT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER.*MR THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE ENGINE AREA, WHEN THE NOISE STOPPED, A CLOUD OF BLACK EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. *TS THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL, BECAUSE THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE HAD ACTIVATED FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE WEATHER STRIPPING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER TRAIN. *JB

WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL, THE REAR END WENT INTO A SPIN, THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER TO PUT SOME HEAVY ITEMS IN THE TRUNK TO WAY IT DOWN. *JB

VEHICLE'S REAR END "KICKED OUT" COUNTER CLOCKWISE ON STEEP DOWNHILL GRADES. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SPIN OUT ACCIDENT WHERE THE REAR END SPUN OUT CLOCKWISE ON A STEEP DOWNHILL GRADE OF SNOW. THE CONSUMER FOUND THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR SMALL FRAMED PEOPLE APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET 2 INCHES OF HEIGHT. THE SEAT BELT HAD COME OFF THE CENTER/STERNUM AND SLIPPED UNDER HER ARM PIT, AND DID NOT LOCK DOWN ON THE LAP. THE SEAT BELT CUT INTO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE NECK AND DURING THE ACCIDENT THE BELT SLIPPED OFF THE CONSUMER'S CHEST TO HER ARM PIT. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER USE A CLIP. *SCC *JB

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED AND DESTROYED BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHAKE WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH. NOISE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE GETS LOUD. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A LOUD NOISE OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *AK THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. *NLM

SPARE TIRE MOUNTED UNDER THE REAR UNDERCARRIAGE FELL OFF. *AK