2003 Mercury Mountaineer Engine Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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