2002 Mercury Mountaineer Complaint Log

2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS UNEXPECTED IGNITION MISFIRING CODES, CAUSING HARD IDLE. AND THIS IS CAUSING COSTLY DIAGNOSTIC SERVICING THAT CANT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. I HAD ASKED 25 OTHER OWNERS AND THE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...VIN # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DROVE TO GROCERY STORE AND ATTEMPTED TO PLACE CAR IN PARK AND UNABLE TO GET IT INTO PARK. IT WILL GO IN EVERY OTHER GEAR BUT WILL NOT GO INTO PARK. ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE GEAR SHIFT AFTER THE GEAR SHIFT ARM BROKE OFF IN MY HAND WHILE TRYING TO GET IT OUT OF PARK A FEW MONTHS AGO. NOW LOOKING AT MORE MONEY ON THIS PIECE OF JUNK CAR. NOW MUST LEAVE CAR IN GEAR AND LEAVE KEYS IN THE CAR. THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AROUND. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER ON 4/11/2011. AS I WAS DRIVING IT HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE SAME DAY, I NOTICED SOME BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT THE BACK OF THE CAR. THERE WERE NO MESSAGES THAT CAME UP IN THE MESSAGE CENTER WINDOW SO I HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. AS I LOOKED BACK UP FROM THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, I NOTICED A FIRST RESPONDERS TRUCK NEXT TO THE DRIVERS WINDOW WHO WAS YELLING " GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, ITS ON FIRE!" IMMEDIATELY I PULLED OVER AND MY MOTHER AND I HAD TO JUMP FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE ENGINE AREA WAS ENGULFED WITH FLAMES. I WAS INJURED WHILE I WAS FLEEING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND STATE TROOPERS WERE ENROUTE AND MY VEHICLE WAS HOSED DOWN AND TOWED. I ALMOST DIED IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GOING OUT ON IT. THIS VEHICLE TYPE HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART AND THEIR CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED! THIS CAR IS A FIRE HAZARD! IF I WOULD HAVE HAD MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN THEIR CAR SEATS I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM ALL OUT IN TIME. COMPENSATED!! *TR

THE CAR WOULD HAVE A WARNING DISPLAY THAT A DOOR WAS AJAR AND WE WOULD CHECK ALL THE DOORS AND RE-CLOSE THEM ALL AND THE WARNING WOULD STILL APPEAR. THEN WE WOULD CHECK THE LIFT GATE WINDOW ON THE BACK AND RE-CLOSE IT AND THE DISPLAY WOULD GO AWAY, BUT THE LIFT GATE WAS CLOSED THE WHOLE TIME BEFORE. IT CONSTANTLY DOES THIS AND NOW THE LIFT GATE HAS A CRACK IN IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW AND THE HINGE FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE WINDOW FELL ONTO THE CONTACT AND ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL RESULTING IN TWO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,596.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A VERY HARD SHIFT FOR A FEW MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED AND WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER RECENTLY STATED THERE WAS A BLOW HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE HOLE EXPANDED WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THERE WAS A REPAIR KIT THAT COULD BE USED, BUT NOT UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 10/18/11*LJ UPDATED 3/22/12 *CN UPDATED 8/11/12

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. 70000 MILES NO TOWING JUST STREET DRIVING. HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. SEEMS TO BE COMMON ISSUE FOR FORD ON 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS AND FORD EXPLORERS. *TR

HIT THE REMOTE CONTROL BUTTON TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH FOR THE 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE REAR HATCH OPENED ONLY HALFWAY AUTOMATICALLY, AS IT IS SUPPOSE TO OPEN FURTHER I PUSHED IT UP, WITHOUT UNUSUAL FORCE AND THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED, AND THE ENCASEMENT THAT HELD IT HIT ME IN THE HEAD RATHER HARD. IT IS NOW WITHOUT A WINDOW. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDOW REPLACEMENT. THE FIRST REAR WINDOW WAS REPLACED IN 2004 WHEN, DURING A COLD SNAP HERE IN NY IT SPIDERED INTO A CRACK BUT DID NOT SHATTER. WHEN MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEY ARGUED AT FIRST, BUT THEN THE PHONE STARTED TO RING AND THEY DECIDED IT WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND DESIGN "FLAW". *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A 19 MONTH OLD TODDLER SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE WITHOUT THE KEYS BEING IN THE IGNITION. THE REAR DOOR WAS OPEN AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GATE AND ROLLED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE REAR DOOR AND THE GATE WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,929.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPENING THE HATCH ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, IT FRACTURED AND THE GLASS FELL OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER THAT INFORMED HER THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 01I010000 (VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 127,462.

2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER - DROVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AND PARKED THE CAR. CAME BACK A FEW MINUTES LATER TO GO HOME. STARTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE SUV WAS STUCK IN PARK. TRIED TO PUSH BREAK AND PULL BACK GEAR SHIFT TO PLACE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE IN HAND. CURRENTLY AT SHOP. TOLD CAR WILL NEED ENTIRE NEW STEERING COLUMN. ALSO SUV HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING. MAJOR DELAY WHEN PLACED INTO GEAR UNTIL IT ACTUALLY GOES IN GEAR. THERE IS USUALLY A PAUSE AND THEN CAR WILL JERK INTO PLACE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE BROKE OFF WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 166,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE AS IF WERE "FLOATING". THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND UPON EXAMINATION; THE CONTACT COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. HE RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND AS HE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SWAY BAR WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE SWAY BAR WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ UPDATED 03/28/11

WIFE DRIVING TO WORK WHEN CAR STOPPED MOVING. PULLED OFF STREET (NEAR A CAR SHOP), PAID $100 FOR THEM TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND THEY SAID THAT GEARS AND BELT BLEW OUT AND THAT HE USED TO WORK WITH FORD AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN EARLIER 2000'S SUVS (EXPLORER AND MOUNTAINEERS). ~$3000 TO FIX BY THEM. RESEARCHED ON LINE AND SAW ALL OF THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE HAVING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

MY HUSBAND HAS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER & WE WERE DROPPING HIS NIECE OFF AT HOME, PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, PUT THE CAR IN PARK & SHE GOT OUT. WHEN HE TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, WE HEARD A SNAP, & THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS HANGING DOWN. HE PULLED THE RUBBER COVERING OFF & FOUND THAT A METAL PIECE RIGHT INSIDE THE GEARS SHIFT ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY BROKE OFF. WE HAD NO WAY OF PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR SO WE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW US HOME & THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS. WE HAVE HAD TO RENT A CAR WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO GET IT REPAIRED & JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT FORD WANTS US TO BUY A WHOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY FOR $1,300! SO ON TOP OF THE RENTAL CAR FEE WE ARE PAYING, WE NEED TO FIND ANOTHER $1,300 TO FIX HIS CAR. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, & THE FORUMS I'VE COME ACROSS HAVE ALL HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, & THE PICTURES ARE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR CAR ALSO! I THINK THIS IS A DEFECT FOR THE FORD/MERCURY VEHICLES THAT NEED TO BE INSPECTED. SEEMS THE METAL USED IN THAT PARTICULAR PART IS EITHER TOO WEAK OR MAYBE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED IN SOME WAY. I DON'T KNOW! *TR

2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HEATER BLEND DOOR FAILURE NO DEFROSTER HEAT COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE OF BLEND DOORS BROKEN HAD TO REPAIR MYSELF BECAUSE OF EXTREMELY HIGH COST FOR DEALER REPAIRS. THIS IS A FAILURE THAT WILL HAPPEN DO TO POOR DESIGN OF PLASTIC PARTS AND WILL HAPPEN TO ALL VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR AND TYPE BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF PLASTIC LIMIT PIN BREAKAGE POOR DESIGN BECAUSE. *TR

PURCHASED 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER FROM FORD DEALERSHIP IN 2007. TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, TOOK IN TWO DAYS LATER AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND INFORMED NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN. IN AUGUST 2010, VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT START, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION WAS ONCE AGAIN DEFECTIVE AND SENSORS AS WELL AS CPU UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. RESEARCHED ON LINE ON WWW.AUTOBEEF.COM AND NOTED MANY OTHER DEFECTS ON SIMILAR MAKE, MODEL AND YEARS WITH VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS. APPROXIMATE COST TO FIX $2,400 DOLLARS. *TR

MY MOTHER WAS AT HER PARENTS' HOUSE AND OPENED THE REAR GLASS PORTION OF THE LIFT GATE. UPON DOING SO, ONE OF THE LIFT GATE CYLINDERS DETACHED FROM THE GLASS. SHE WENT INSIDE TO GET HER FATHER TO COME OUTSIDE AND SEE IF HE COULD FIX THE ISSUE. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO LIFT THE GLASS, IT SHATTERED INSTANTLY LEAVING CUTS ALL OVER HIS BODY. I CALLED FORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE RECALL THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01I010000). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO ACCELERATE. THE OVERDRIVE OFF WARNING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. FOLLOWING REPAIRS, THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHIFT FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL INVOLUNTARILY. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER COLUMN WAS BENT AND THE SHIFT LINKAGE CABLE POSSIBLY WAS ABNORMALLY STRETCHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER ON VACATION IN FLORIDA 1400 MILES FROM HOME WITH MY KIDS, I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE 75 ON ALLIGATOR ALLEY WHEN I WAS COMING UP ON TWO SEMI TRUCKS, I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND INSTEAD OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUTTING OFF IT SPED UP FAST SENDING ME TOWARDS THE SEMI TRAILERS GOING ABOUT 85 MPH, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND VEERED OFF THE INTERSTATE ONTO THE SHOULDER AND GRABBED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER TO DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW IT DOWN AND THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE OF IN MY HAND, I GOT THE SUV HOME AND CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR FAILURE BUT THAT I HAVE TO PAY AROUND 1 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE SHIFTER ARM THAT BROKE OFF WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL DEFECT CAUSED ALL OF THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THE SHIFTER ARM SHOULD BE A RECALL ALSO AS THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF INSTANCES OF SHIFTER ARMS BREAKING ON THESE MODELS. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR THAN ARE COUNTABLE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLOWLY BEEN SLIPPING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE WITHIN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, AND NOW MY CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND OD OFF LIGHT IS ON. MECHANICS NOW SAY I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE LOOKED AT NUMEROUS REVIEW ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL CARS AND ALL HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, AND THOSE WHO SAID THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND IT WAS A WASTE OF MONEY. I AM JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO THESE PRICES IS GETTING VERY COSTLY FOR A CAR THAT SEEMS LIKE CANNOT BE REPAIRED. *TR

I HAD DRIVEN MY 2002 MOUNTAINEER TO WORK, I GENTLY PULLED BACK ON THE GEAR SHIFT, TO PUT IT INTO PARK, AND IT BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. I HAD TO LEAVE IT IN DRIVE AND ALSO HAD TO LEAVE MY KEYS IN THE CAR. I DIDN'T REALLY WORRY ABOUT IT BEING STOLEN BECAUSE IT WON'T GO ANYWHERE. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE PUT A RECALL ON THIS MODEL OF MOUNTAINEER, DO TO SO MANY PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSIONS, AUTO WINDOWS, GEAR SHIFTS, WHEEL WELDS, AND NOW A FIRE MAY START IN THE CAR EVEN IF IT'S NOT RUNNING. REALLY, I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT TILL ONE OF THEM BLOWS UP, KILLING SOMEONE, BEFORE FORD WILL LISTEN. *TR

2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AWD V8 - APPROXIMATELY JANUARY AND MAY 2009 BOTH REAR HUB BEARINGS WENT BAD AT 87,000 AND 90,000 MILES , BOTH SETS OF EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES WERE DISINTEGRATED WHEN TAKEN OFF . REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN . FRONT DIFFERENTIAL BOX HAS LEAKED FOR SOME TIME NOW . REAR END AXLE SEAL HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME NOW . GOING ON 4TH SET OF BRAKES ON FRONT . JUNE 2010 AT 109,000 MILES TRANSMISSION FINALLY WENT OUT - AFTER ACTING UP FROM TIME OF PURCHASE AT 37,000 MILES - IT WOULD SLIP WHEN PUT IN DRIVE AT FIRST MORNING STARTUP AND WOULD JERK ERRATICALLY AT LOW SPEEDS - WE HAVE NEVER PULLED ANYTHING WITH VEHICLE . *TR

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES. I JUST REPLACED THE SAME WHEEL BEARING AT 100,000 MILES. THE TWO REAR BEARINGS HAVE ALSO BEEN DIAGNOSED AS FAILING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE FIRST VEHICLE I HAVE HAD WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS ON. *TR

I OWN A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE TAILGATE DEVELOPED A CRACK BETWEEN THE EMBLEM AND THE REAR GLASS LIFT. IT WAS FIXED ONCE ALREADY AND HAS SINCE CRACKED AGAIN. SINCE THIS CRACK HAS DEVELOPED, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT HAS COME ON. I HAVE NOTICED THE SAME CRACK IN ALMOST EVERY FORD EXPLORER AND MOUNTAINEER THAT I SEE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ONLY COVER THE REPAIR ONCE. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I THEN CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. KEEP IN MIND, I HAVE ALSO HAD NUMEROUS VISITS FOR MY TRANSMISSION HAVING ISSUES FROM THE BEGINNING AND I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL WHERE IT SUDDENLY "TAKES OFF" AND GOES REALLY FAST. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BY IT'S VEHICLES AND FIX THEM WHEN THERE ARE OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECTS! *TR

GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. TOTALLY BROKEN METAL PIECE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER.WHILE PARKING, THE GEAR SHAFT SUDDENLY BROKE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.

THE PROBLEM WAS NOT NOTICEABLE AT FIRST. THE SUV FELT HEAVY WHEN ACCELERATING, IT WILL JERK EVERY NOW AND THEN IT WAS LIKE THIS FOR A PERIOD OF TWO DAYS THEN THE O/D LIGHT FLASHED RAPIDLY AND ON THE MESSAGE CENTER IT DISPLAYED CHECK TRANSMISSION< THE TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPS ON EVERY GEAR IT REVS WITHOUT ACCELERATING AND WHEN UNEXPECTED IT CATCHES ITSELF AND LUNGES JERKS FORWARD. IT ALSO MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS GEARS. THIS IS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS IN USE. I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTAION . I TOOK IT TO GET DIAGNOSTICS CHECKED AND THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY THAT THERE HAD BEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS IN MY AREA DEALING WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR. I HAVE NOT TRIED TO CORRECT THE FAULTY TRANNY . I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF IT CUSTOMERS /CONSUMERS AND SHOULD HAVE A NATIONWIDE RECALL TO REPAIR SUCH FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE BEEN MORE CLOSE TO CRASHING THIS YEAR THAN ALL MY YEARS OF DRIVING. THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSSION IS DANGEROUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE WINDSHIELD ON THE REAR LIFT GATE AND IT SHATTERED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA RECALL # 01I010000, VISIBILITY GLASS, SIDE/REAR HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED ON THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE THE CONTACT HAD THE REAR WINDSHIELD REPAIRED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THREE YEARS AGO THE WINDSHIELD RECALL REPAIR WAS SATISFIED. THE MOST RECENT REPAIR WAS MADE IN APRIL OF 2007. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS RECALL CAMPAIGN (04V442000) ISSUED FOR THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACK GOING FROM THE GLASS ALL THE WAY DOWN PAST THE MOUNTAINEER EMBLEM ON THE BACK HATCH OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS HEARD OF REAR WINDOWS EXPLODING ON THE FORD VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THINKS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52489 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53000.

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE EARLY MODEL 2002'S GO BAD EARLY. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED MANY MANY COMPLAINTS. I FOUND A FEW THAT SAID THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, BUT WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

OUR 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER'S TRANSMISSION BLEW AFTER 116,000 MILES. WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS TO GET AN ESTIMATE TO FIX IT AND THEY ALL TOLD US THE MOUNTAINEER IS FAMOUS FOR THIS DEFECT AND NO ONE, INCLUDING NHTSA HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT IS GROSSLY UNJUST THAT A CAR'S TRANSMISSION FAILS AFTER ONLY 90-100,000 MILES AND IT'S SO COMMON THAT IT IS APPARENTLY ACCEPTED. THIS IS WRONG. I AM CERTAIN IF YOU INVESTIGATE THE SHEER NUMBER OF MOUNTAINEERS WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT IT WILL PROMPT A RECALL AND AT LEAST A FIX AT NO COST TO THE UNSUSPECTING OWNER WHO HAS FAITHFULLY MAINTAINED THEIR VEHICLE IN EVERY WAY, ONLY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. *TR

MY MERCURY MOUNTAINEER IS HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I HAVE READ THROUGH EVERYTHING I COULD FIND AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORDS YET THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WITH MY 7 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DECIDE TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND LUCKILY I WAS IN THE SLOW LANE AND ABLE TO GET ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE WITHOUT GETTING HIT BECAUSE I WAS NO LONGER ACCELERATING OD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING RIGHT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I TALKED TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT FORDS TRANSMISSION IN 2002 WAS BAD AND HE REBUILD/REPLACES MORE ON THAT VEHICLE THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE AND THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. I CALLED FOR AND THEY SAID IN SHORT ITS MY PROBLEM. NOW I AM LOOKING AT A 2000 DOLLAR REPAIR BECAUSE OF FORD NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THERE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

REAR COIL SPRING FAILURE - COMPLETELY BROKEN IN TWO POSES A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

GEAR STUCK IN PARK. UPON RELEASE GEAR SHIFT BROKE FROM STEERING COLUMN. $2000 IN REPAIR/DAMAGE. UNABLE TO FIND USED PART AS IT IS SELLS QUICKLY DUE TO THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM.

O/D LIGHT BLINKING - HESITATION WHEN SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING OCCURRING EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING - TOOK IT TO TRANSMISSION EXPERT WHO FIXED FOR 2000 BECAUSE DEALER QUOTED 3500! TRANS GUY ASKED IF IT WAS 2002 OR 2003 AS SOON AS HE HEARD THE MAKE AND MODEL. CRACKED LIFTGATE THAT WAS FIXED IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE BUT SECOND TIME IT CRACKED THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT AND QUOTED $700 FORD WOULD NOT FIX EITHER. AN OBVIOUS DEFECT! *TR

DRIVING FROM DALLAS, TX, TO WEST LAFAYETTE, IN, IN JAN 2010, THE 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH 4.6L V8 ENGINE BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING US TO STOP IN A SMALL TOWN TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPAIRED. THIS WAS A FACTORY INSTALLED (NOT REPLACED) SPARK PLUG. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS IN THE FORD V8 ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD AROUND 86,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND WAS NOT DUE FOR A SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT UNTIL 100,000 MILES. THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD AS GASOLINE IS SPEWING OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD WITH AN ATTACHED AND STILL ARCING SPARK PLUG. *TR

ON COLD MORNINGS, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD FOGS/FROSTS UP. TURNING HEAT ON AND SELECTING DEFROST PROVIDES LITTLE TO NO AIR TO WINDSHIELD. DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED IT AS A BROKEN VENT SELECT DOOR, REQUIRING DASHBOARD TO BE REMOVED AND PART REPLACED, $1100 FIX. IN DOING RESEARCH ON THE VENT SELECT DOOR - CARS ARE DESIGNED THAT IF THE SELECTOR BREAKS THAT THE AIR SHOULD DEFAULT TO THE FRONT DEFROST SO THAT WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT FOG/FROST AND CAUSE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. MULTIPLE TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, ALL ALONG BELIEVING THAT THE FOGGING UP WAS DUE TO SNOW BUILD UP ON OUTSIDE VENTS. THE FACT THAT THE VENT BROKE AND DID NOT PUSH AIR TO THE WINDSHIELD IS WHY I'M LOGGING THIS COMPLAINT AS IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. IN READING THE OTHER ENTRIES, NOTING THAT I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR COIL SPRINGS REPLACED AND HAD BACK LIFTGATE REPLACED AFTER CRACKING. *TR

SHIFTING GEARS FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHEN GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF IN MY HAND LEAVING CAR STUCK IN REVERSE WITH NO WAY OF CHANGING GEARS. HAD TO HAVE COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED BECAUSE COLUMN IS NOT DESIGNED TO LET YOU REPLACE THE BROKEN PART ONLY. HAD TO SEARCH FOR THE PART IN JUNK YARDS AND ALL THE COLUMNS THAT COULD BE FOUND IN JUNKYARDS HAD THE SAME TROUBLE BROKEN OFF SHIFTER. HAD TO ORDER A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND I DO HAVE THE OLD COLUMN AND RECEIPTS. *TR

I WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT MY BABYSITTER'S HOME. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND THE ENTIRE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FELL OFF IN MY HAND. I HAD NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING AND WAS VERY MUCH SHOCKED THAT I COULD BREAK IN TWO A METAL OBJECT IN A CAR THAT SHOULD LAST FOR MANY MANY YEARS. AT THE TIME THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES ON IT. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING AGAIN, EVEN AFTER HAVING THE PART REPLACED BY GARY CROSSLEY FORD IN LIBERTY, MO. I AM MUCH MORE AWARE NOW OF THE PROBLEMS THAT CAN HAPPEN AND AM NOTICING WEAR ON THE RUBBER CASING AROUND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER. I DO NOT WANT THIS PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN TO ANY ONE. IT WAS VERY DISTRESSING TO HAVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FALL OFF! *TR

2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER V6 AWD 130,000MILES! TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS O/D LIGHT FLASHING ONE DAY CAUSING TRANSMISSION NOT TO SHIFT CORRECTLY. TEN MINUTES LATER START THE VEHICLE AND LIGHT NOT ON AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FINE. HAPPENS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. SEVERAL WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE REPORTED SAME PROBLEMS! ALSO HAS WHEEL BEARING ISSUES! *TR

2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. IN THE PAST 4 YEARS WE HAVE REPLACED THE REAR BEARINGS 5 TIMES AND NOW FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. EACH TIME THE BEARINGS LAST BETWEEN 4 AND 6 MONTHS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON I75, I HEARD A LOUD BANG THEN A CONSTANT POPPING SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. I FOUND THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE, WHICH ALLOWED FUEL TO ESCAPE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION, A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE TWO REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE FRACTURED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. HE THEN ADDED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR THIS MODEL TYPE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT AN EXPENSE OF $600.00. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 10/26/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/09*JB

HELLO AND GOOD DAY, WHEN I 1ST PURCHASED MY MOUNTAINEER (PURCHASED USED WITH APPROX 119,000 MILES) I TOOK IT TO GET IT WASHED. WHEN I WAS GETTING IT WASHED THE REAR HATCH PANEL (THE RECTANGULAR PANEL UNDER THE GLASS WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL NAME) CRACKED AND BROKE APART. I TRIED TO CONTACT FORD AND MERCURY CONCERNING THIS TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW PART OF THE CAR LITERALLY FELL OFF. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECALL THIS BUT THAT I COULD TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY COULD FIX IT FOR $750! I DID RESEARCH TO FIND, LITERALLY, THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. PEOPLE'S REAR HATCH PANELS ARE FALLING OFF WHILE DRIVING ALL THE TIME, I SEE IT ON THE ROAD ALOT. SINCE THE PANEL FELL OFF, THE RETAINING METAL PIECE THAT HOLDS THE REATCH HATCH CLASP IN PLACE TO THE DOOR, IT RUSTING OFF. THIS IS BECAUSE THE PANEL IS BROKEN OFF AND WATER/ICE HAS RUSTED THE AREA, WHERE USUALLY WATER AND ICE COULD NOT REACH IT. THIS SMALL PROBLEM IS NOT CAUSING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. I AM CONCERNED THAT MORE OF MY REAR PANEL WILL FLY OFF WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT I AM CONCERNED THAT MY REAR HATCH PANEL WILL COME OPEN WHILE DRIVING (THE CLASP COULD RUST OFF ANYTIME) AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR IT WILL FLY OPEN AND STUFF WILL FLY OUT OF MY CAR AND THEN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT I AM CONCERNED THAT MY PANEL WILL OPEN WHILE PARKED AND MY CAR /POSSESSIONS WILL BE STOLEN I AM CONCERNED THAT THE DOOR CLASP WILL CAUSE MY CAR ALARM (FACTORY) TO GO OFF AND RUN MY BATTER DOWN AND/OR SHORT OUT MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. BELOW IS A LINK TO ONE FORUM WITH OVER #450 PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.TOPCLASSACTIONS.COM/LAWSUIT-SETTLEMENTS/LAWSUIT-NEWS/1223-FORD-CRACKED-TAILGATE-CLASS-ACTION-LAWSUIT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR. THIS CAUSE MY CAR TO "BUCK" AND COME TO ALMOST COMPLETE STOP. THANKFULLY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND ABLE TO GET OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER. MY CAR THEN WOULD ONLY GO INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT TO 3RD. I TOOK IT TO A SERVICE CENTER (ACTUALLY 3 OF THEM) WHO TOLD ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION OCCURRING WITH THESE CARS. THERE WERE NOT TELL TAIL SIGNS. IT WAS NOT SLIPPING OR RATTLING PREVIOUS TO THIS. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET ON GOOGLE I FIND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH MERCURY OR FORD 2000-2003 VEHICLES. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS PART. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. EVENTUALLY SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST ME APPROX. $3000. IN ADDITION TO THIS ONE OF MY SEAT BELTS STOPPED WORKING. WHEN BUCKLED IT COMES UNDONE WHEN I AM DRIVING. THIS IS A REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WHERE MY CHILD SITS. HE CAN NOT REFASTEN IT BY HIMSELF. I NO LONGER SEAT HIM IN THAT PARTICULAR SEAT. BUT HOW LONG BEFORE THE OTHER STOP WORKING AS WELL. FOR SOME REASON YOUR WEBSITE WILL NOT TAKE THIS NUMBER. I JUST CALLED FORD AND THEY VERIFIED THE #. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JUMP AND VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED TWICE IN EIGHT MONTHS AND A LOCAL MECHANIC ALSO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE DRIVE SHAFT BECAUSE IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STAY IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE CONSISTENTLY WHICH WAS WHY THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN UNEVEN RIDE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE NEEDED FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IN THE WINTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118000.

2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, TRANSMISSION IS BUCKING, OVER DRIVE LIGHT FLASHING, CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT ON. ALSO ROTATED TIRES, CHANGED BRAKES, AND HAD ROTORS CUT YET THERE STILL IS A PULSATING FELLING IN FRONT END WHEN STOPPING. *TR

JUST LEFT THE HIGHWAY AND ENDED UP AT A RED LIGHT TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND ONE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WENT TO DRIVE OFF AND A LOUD BOOM I COULD HEAR COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD, AS I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR A SEMI TRUCK STARTED HONKING ITS HORN AND SLAMMED TO MISS HITTING FROM BEHIND. I WENT TO PULL TO THE SIDE THE ROAD BUT TRUCK WAS JUMPING ALL OVER AND I HAD TO PULL IN FRONT OF CARS TURNING WHICH I SMELT A SMELL LIKE SOMETHING BURNING. THE SPARK PLUG HAD RIPPED FROM ITS SOCKET, IT HAD HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME 1 YEAR AGO NOW 2ND ONE, REPAIRMAN SAYS HE SEES THIS ALL THE TIME WITH MY VEHICLE, " FORD IS HELPING PUTTING MY KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE WITH THESE PROBLEMS FROM YOUR YEAR" WOW, I THOUGHT FORD GOT, PAID, REPAIRMEN GOT PAID, AND I'M THE ONLY ONE TAKEN FOR A RIDE OF A LIFETIME. NOT RIGHT IS IT. *TR