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2000 Mercury Mountaineer Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 123 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Mercury Mountaineer, most often about the speed control (23% of complaints, typically around 102,000 miles). It is 4th of 11 Mountaineer model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2000 Mercury Mountaineer problems
Speed control
28 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 102,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
2000 Mercury Mountaineer 2wd. Caught fire in a parking lot within a few minutes of turning off the ignition. Sparks fell from under the engine compartment and then caught fire. Fire dept. Responded to fire.
Dt: 4/28/05 brake lights stopped working, fuses were checked by technician, cruise control/brkake fuse was blown. Fuse was replaced by technician, after technician parked vehickle, smoke was noticed coming from underneath the dash. Technician disconnected cruise control from master cylinder and smoke stopped.…
Wheels and tires
23 complaints · 19%Parts named most often: tread/belt, sidewall, rim.
My 2000 Mountaineer had 17,000 when purchased. I had noticed the dealer had just put new 235/75r15 goodyear wrangler r/ts on it. I was not suspicious but should have been. Ever since purchased I have had a vibration in the front end and my front tires have worn on the inside al the way down to a unsafe tread depth…
Tl contact owns a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. The vehicle has goodyear wrangler rts tires, size p/235/75/r15. The contact noticed that the front passenger side tire would spontaneously lose tire pressure. He took the tires to a tire repair shop and a technician stated that the inner sidewall was separating on all four…
Electrical
19 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 118,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
The contact owns a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. While driving approximately 35 MPH attempting to make a left turn, the contact noticed smoke emitting from the hazard warning switch housing. The failure occurred twice. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000. ..updated…
The contact owned a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and shut off for approximately forty-five minutes when the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department appeared on the scene to extinguish the fire. The fire department also informed the contact that the fire originated on the…
Transmission
15 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
2000 Mercury Mountaineer transmission failure vehicle has only 64,000 miles, transmission has been power flushed by our local ford dealership with no correction, we were told the problem was shift flare, with the o/d light flashing is common with all 5r55e transmissions with 4.0l v6 engines. We were told it would be…
Consumer noticed an extreme amount of fluid in the driveway which did not appear to be oil. After taking the vehicle to the dealer it was discovered that head gasket blew out. Consumer had the repairs done. Less than two months later, while driving , the gears would not connect properly. Consumer had to have the…
Air bags
9 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: frontal.
We were rear ended and both seats broke, flinging US into the back seat. We then went into the oncoming lane (because my wife could no longer reach the steering wheel or the brakes) and were hit head on. Complaint #1 - the seats should not have broken. Complaint #2 - the airbags never deployed.
Dt: air bags did not deploy going at 35-40mph.states he did have an accident which totaled his front end, but neither air bag (l or r) deployed.
Engine
9 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 160,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that smoke emitted from under the hood area. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed black smoke and flames in the engine area. The fire department was contacted to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to the contact's insurance company for…
The contact owns a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. While parked, the vehicle erupted into flames without warning. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle remained at the contact's residence where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Brakes
8 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 37,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
While driving at 25 MPH the brakes were applied but they didn't hold. The dealership indicated that this was caused by the brake calipers freezing up and getting hot which resulted in the seals failing. Rotors, pads and shoes were replaced.
When I attempted to stop on a dry day going approximately 20 MPH my brakes did not operate properly. They grabbed and then released with a forward motion. I continued to apply pressure with both feet and the brakes still reacted in the same fashion. Subsequently I hit the car in front of me. I had the car towed to the…
Seats
7 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: front assembly.
We were rear ended and both seats broke, flinging US into the back seat. We then went into the oncoming lane (because my wife could no longer reach the steering wheel or the brakes) and were hit head on. Complaint #1 - the seats should not have broken. Complaint #2 - the airbags never deployed.
Drivers seat leather is torn. When taken to the dealer was informed that it's a manufacturing defect "overstitched" but that it is not covered under the extended warranty. Contacted ford motor company and received a phone call informing me that "they would have to side with the dealership, not to fix the seat"
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 Mercury Mountaineer recalls
Speed control: vehicle speed control
Risk: This could result in an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Full defect summary
On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Seats: recliner
Risk: The driver could potentially lose contact with the steering wheel or foot pedals during such an event, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver seat upper bolt with a metal spacer and bolt. In addition, seats with tubular back frames will have the fully threaded lower recliner bolt replaced with a partially threaded bolt. Owner notification began on august 29, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with high back seats, the upper bolt on the driver's side high back seat, that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame, could fracture. If the bolt fractures and does not jam in the seat back frame, the seat back may recline until it makes contact with an object behind the seat, such as the second row seat cushion.
Speed control: cables
Risk: The throttle return spring force may not be sufficient to overcome the binding condition when the speed control is disengaged. Braking function would be maintained though stopping distances may be increased.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the speed control cable and, if necessary, replace it. Owner notification began august 29, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control and 4.0l sohc engines, if the strand cover on the speed control cable becomes flared at the end, the speed control cable may bind when the speed control is activated.
Seat belts
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began october 26, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Air bags: side/window
Risk: Inadvertent side air bag deployment could cause personal injury to the seat occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the side crash sensors with a revised design that will reduce the likelihood of an unexpected side air bag deployment.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: 4-door sport utility vehicles equipped with side air bags. The subject vehicles have a revised level side crash sensor that could deploy the side air bag if the ignition key is in the "run" position and the seatbelt webbing is forcibly extracted from a locked retractor with a jerking motion.
Electrical: fuses and circuit breakers
Risk: An inoperative windshield wiper system could affect driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a resistor in the gem circuit.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles equipped with 4.0l engines and all-time 4-wheel drive (a4wd) powertrains. The generic electronic module (gem) could experience a condition referred to as "lock-up" in which the gem controlled electronic functions (e.g., front windshield wipers, interior lights, 4x4 system, etc.) could not be turned on or, in some cases if the function is on, could not be turned off.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Summary
On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehi
Front seat back recliner attachment
Summary
By letter dated august 4, 2003, ford notified the agency that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 03v281) involving certain model year (my) 1998-2001 ford explorer / mercury mountaineer 4-door, my 1998-2000 ford explorer 2-door and my 2001-2002 ford explorer sport and sport trac vehicles equipped with high back seats.complaints allege that the driver's seat back reclined without warning.a bolt between the upper seat recliner attachment and the seat back frame may fracture.ford will replace the bolt that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame on the driver side seat.based on ford's safety recall action, this investigation is closed.
Questions about the 2000 Mercury Mountaineer
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 Mercury Mountaineer?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: speed control (28 complaints, typically around 102,000 miles); wheels and tires (23 complaints); electrical (19 complaints, typically around 118,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2000 Mercury Mountaineer have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 3, 2007 (speed control). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the Mercury Mountaineer?
- It is 4th of 11 Mountaineer model years by number of complaints, with 123 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.