There are 20 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2002 Mercury Mountaineerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SLID ON ICE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD, CHEST, LOWER AND UPPER BACK, ABDOMINAL, AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD GOING 20-25 MPH, MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE/CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY STILL CONFUSED AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. THEY INFORMED ME TO CALL FORD AND REPORT IT AND CUT THE AIRBAG ENOUGH TO SEE. WITH NO LUCK ON GETTING HELP FROM FORD OR MY INSURANCE COMPANY, I'M NOW DEALING WITH FAILING INSPECTION DUE TO MY AIRBAG LIGHT. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AS I HAVEN'T MADE ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT BECAME TOO TIGHT TO BREATHE AND WOULD NOT LOOSEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING INTO A PARKING GARAGE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 70 MPH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. A POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,200.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-20 MPH, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID A DOG IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED DOWN AN INCLINE INTO SOME SMALL TREES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER BACK AND STRUCK HER MOUTH AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.
MY WIFE AND MOTHER-IN-LAW WERE INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH ON 2/12/2008. THE AIR BAGS ON THE 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED / WILL NOT GO OUT. / THIS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH CHRONIC ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR / SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS / SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY MERCURY AND NOT THE OWNER / COSTLY REPAIR / NORMAL DRIVING AND WEAR / THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED ON MY VEHICLE NEEDS REPAIR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS AT THE DEALER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WHEN SHE NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE TECHNICIANS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE OF THE REPAIRS MADE. AFTER THE REPAIRERS WERE MADE, THE CONTACT WAS PARKED WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE AIR BAG AND THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THEY WOULD HAVE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. ON APRIL 15, 2007, THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HER DAUGHTER SUFFERED A MILD CONCUSSION AND RECEIVED HEADACHE MEDICATION FROM HER DOCTOR. THE VEHICLE'S HOOD AND FENDER WERE DAMAGED. THE DEALER CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,246 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,246. UPDATED 02/01/08.* LJ
THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL FLASH, THEN CONTINUOUSLY STAY ON. HAD TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND/OR REPAIRED ON 3-15-06. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL VEHICLE SERVICE CONTRACT, IT WILL NOT COVER ANY SAFETY DEVICES AFTER 50,000 MILES. THE SERVICE ADVISOR THEN GAVE US AN ESTIMATE ON THE PARTS AND LABOR WHICH ARE APPROX. $232.00. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT THE RIGHT HAND BUCKLE PRETENSIONER NEEDS REPLACED. IF IT DOES NOT GET REPAIRED AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON, THEN IF WE (MEANING, MY HUSBAND, SON, DAUGHTER AND MYSELF) ARE IN AN ACCIDENT REQUIRING OUR AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, THERE IS A HIGH POSSIBILITY THAT THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY, WHICH COULD BE FATAL (GOD FORBID), FOR MY FAMILY AND/OR ANY OTHER FAMILY THAT MAY HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR VEHICLE. I PERSONALLY FEEL THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL MADE ON EVERY VEHICLE. I HAD CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER TO SPEAK TO A REPRESENTATIVE THROUGH OUR VEHICLE SERVICE CONTRACT, IN HOPES TO GET SOME SATISFACTION THAT THEY WOULD PAY THIS, BUT TO NO PREVAIL I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 50,000 MILES IT COVERS NO, AND I REPEAT NO SAFETY EQUIPMENT, SO THEREFORE THEY PAY 0 DOLLARS TOWARDS ANY SAFETY MALFUNCTIONS/FAILURES WITH YOUR VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HAVE MADE A COMPLAINT CONCERNING THIS MATTER. I JUST HOPE THAT SOME JUSTICE CAN BE MADE TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER WITH OUR VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY OTHERS AS WELL. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A TREE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS ONE INJURY REPORTED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THEY REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE DELIVERED TO THEM FOR ANALYSIS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK UPDATED 12/19/05. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE TWO FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED. TWO MONTHS LATER, HE DROVE OVER A BUMP AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT DISPLAYS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE. FORD HAS A REPAIR BULLETIN THAT STATES THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FROM THE MAIN HARNESS TO THE DETONATOR IS NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS CURRENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,245 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,520.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN TWO ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IN THE FIRST ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED IN JULY 2005, THE VEHICLE WAS STOLEN WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SECOND ACCIDENT IN OCTOBER 2006, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AT 50 MPH WHEN IT IMPACT THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS IMMOBILE. THE OTHER VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND THERE WERE THREE INJURIES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO, DURING OR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE SERVICE DEALER AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT WHO DETERMINED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER AFTER THE SECOND ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. *AK
THE SIDE AIR BAGS IN MY 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR AT THE TIME, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS SITUATION. FORD'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN LESS THAN SATISFACTORY. DESPITE THE FACT THAT I PROMPLTLY NOTIFIED FORD OF THE INCIDENT, NO ONE AT FORD'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HAS CONTACTED ME TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM AS PROMISED. IN FACT, WHEN I CALLED FORD ON MARCH 1, 2003 TO FOLLOW-UP, A TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT FORD'S COMPUTER RECORDS SHOW THAT A CONSUMER AFFAIRS AGENT HAD CONTACTED ME ON FEBRUARY 27, 2003. I RECEIVED NO SUCH CALL AND I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM AN AGENT FROM THAT DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, FORD DID NOT AUTHORIZE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALERSHIP TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE UNTIL FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2003. *JB
WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT OF SEAT BELT FOR MORE ROOM SEAT BELT BOLTS SNAPPED, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO HANG. CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE SEAT BELT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
WHILE COMING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT A VERY LOW SPEED AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HITTING THE CONSUMER. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THERE WAS A WATER POT HOLE IN STREET. ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN STOP AND CONSUMERS SON HIT VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF.CONSUMERS SON HYDROPLANED HITTING OTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON THEN OVER TO THE RIGHT LEFT SIDE. *JG
WHILE MAKE A RIGHT TURN ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM THE SIDE. UPON IMPACT, SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026