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2002 Mercury Mountaineer Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 372 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer, most often about the transmission (39% of complaints, typically around 77,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Mountaineer model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2002 Mercury Mountaineer problems
Transmission
144 complaints · 39%Half of these problems showed up before 77,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, axle assembly, manual transmission.
Traveling I-95 n between baltimore,md and wilmington de when transmission started slipping in 2002 merc mtnr. Transmission slipping when shifting into 3rd gear at toll both. Pulled off hwy at rest stop but did not turn off engine. Pulled back onto hwy, accelerated and check transmission indicator came on. O/d light…
Powertrain issue. At 79,700 miles, my 2002 Mercury Mountaineer required a transmission rebuild which cost me 2500.00. Apparently there is a bad solenoid and bands that totally busted inside the transmission. After seeing other reports on this, I wanted to add mine to the list.
Body and structure
70 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
- the contact stated while vehicle was parked and when she was closing her liftgate cylinder detached. Weather condition at the time of the incident was a rainy day and temperature around 50 degrees.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. While the contact was underneath the hood detailing her vehicle, the hood came down on her without warning. She was not injured. The contact called the manufacturer to report the failure and was informed that there was no recall. She was advised to report the failure to…
Suspension
36 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear, front.
During brake inspection mechanic discovered both rear coil springs were broken at the same location on each coil spring. I have never used this vehicle for towing, off-road use, or heavy hauling. I firmly believe this is not normal wear and tear.
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…
Engine
35 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
I had a spark plug blow out of my 2002 Mercury Mountaineer 4.6l engine. The car has 86,000 miles on it but this is the second engine. The original engine was replaced in dec 2003 when it had 49,000 miles on it. The original engine seized up after an oil pump failure.
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…
Visibility and wipers
33 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: glass, side/rear, power window devices and controls, sun/moon roof assembly, windshield wiper/washer.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. While the vehicle was parked, the window liftgate shattered when it was closed. The dealer stated that the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA campaign id numbers 04v442000 (structure:body: hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments), 01i010000 (visibility: glass…
Tl 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…
Steering
23 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 104,000 miles. Parts named most often: column, linkages, steering wheel/handle bar, gear box (other than rack and pinion).
I went to shift my car into reverse and the stick shift located next to steering wheel came off in my hand, went to dealer and the part was $800.00 for the whole steering column, the part that broke was a small piece holding the stick, but dealer said it had to replace all of it. Since I could not afford that amount I…
I went to go pick up my son from school, when I went to put it on drive the shifting handle broke off. I didnt even do it hard. I had to get my car towed to my house and had to pay to get it fixed. I looked it up and theres alot more people that have complaints about this and that it should go to recall its just not…
Brakes
23 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 49,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, pedals and linkages, antilock.
2002 Mountaineer stalls, transmission control assembly, main control valve, and gasket had to be replaced. The lift gate was sticking, and while closing it, the glass shattered, the glass was recalled, and was suppose to have been fixed. The oil light illuminated. The trim on the front door fell off while driving.…
I heard a scraping noise in the right rear brake when backing out of the garage, similar to the sound given when brake replacement was required. I took the 2002 Mountaineer to a certified mechanic for brake replacement. When the right rear rotor was pulled the front parking brake pad fell out. On inspection the metal…
Air bags
20 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 87,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
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…
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Mercury Mountaineer recalls
Speed control: vehicle speed control
Risk: A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Fix: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Wheels and tires: sidewall
Risk: Over time, the tire could fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tires and, if any slices are found, the cut tires will be replaced. Owner notification began june 7, 2001. 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: sport utility vehicles. The right side tires may have horizontal cuts on the edge of the tread that could have occurred during vehicle assembly.
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
Vehicle rollaway allegations
Summary
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.by the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (I.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during ea09-013, odi identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.the highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the automatic transmission parking system, was 4.4/100k.the next-highest failure rate was for the bsi system, at 3.4/100k.for all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent
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
Stuck engine throttle
Summary
On july 7, 2005, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate alleged stuck throttle complaints in certain model year (my) 2002 ford explorer and mercury mountaineer vehicles equipped with the standard available 4.0l sohc v6 engine.at that time, odi was aware of 15 complaints that alleged stuck engine throttle causing unwanted vehicle acceleration and 1 alleged crash as a result.six complainants reported that throttle control cable replacement remedied the alleged stuck throttle condition.additionally, odi was aware of a technical service bulletin issued by the manufacturer that referred to an accelerator cable design change.odi sent a letter to th
Rear liftgate glass assembly
Summary
Complaints report failure of the rear liftgate glass support while the operator is opening or closing the glass.the falling glass can strike the operator or bystander.the injuries reported are bruises to the head, neck or back, cuts to the face, arm or hand.on september 9, 2004, ford notified the agency that it will recall approximately 955,732 my 2002 and 2003 ford explorer and mercury mountaineer vehicles to replace the liftgate glass strut brackets and/or hinges.see NHTSA recall 04v442 for details. This investigation is closed.
Mis-assembled airbag clockspring
Summary
In july 2001, ford issued a special service message announcing that some air bagclockspring devices may produce noise when the steering wheel is turned full left or right.ford was aware that some clocksprings may have been improperly installed.the improper installation may also cause an open circuit and the air bag warning light to illuminate.starting with vehicles produced in september 2001, ford adding length to the clockspring wire to reduce the likelihood of damage from improper installation.odi's investigation revealed 32 comlaints (vehicle built prior to sept. 2001) of warning light but no crashes, injuries, lawsuits or claims.a safety defect has not been identified at this time and fu
Questions about the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (144 complaints, typically around 77,500 miles); body and structure (70 complaints, typically around 57,000 miles); suspension (36 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 13, 2009 (speed control). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Mercury Mountaineer?
- It is the most complained-about Mountaineer model year since 2000, with 372 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.