2002 Mercury Mountaineer: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 372 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (32% of complaints); the 2000 and 2001 and 2003 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 372 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Aftermarket rack and pinion system re-manufactured by Detroit Axel began leaking fluid and caused a loss of power steering within 3 months of purchase. A second unit was installed and after about a year had the exact same failure as the first unit. Also resulting in the loss of power steering. It is my contention that Detroit Axel is not capable of re-manufacturing to a satisfactory safety standard. I believe they should be investigated and perhaps subject to a product recall. I pray nobody has yet been killed by their ineptitude!”Owner report · Steering · Jan 2023
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2019
“My power will stay on for long periods of time also I'm having an acceleration problem when I drive I have to wait for it to go to about 25 mi till 26 for it to pick up any speed it takes a very long time for it to pick up any speed in the 1st place.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2017
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“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated that the rear lift gate failed to latch securely on several occasions. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact stated on one occasion while driving the vehicle, the lift gate ajar warning light illuminated. The contact's son went to close the lift gate and glass shattered. The contact hired a glass repairmen to fix the window for $250.00. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact associated NHTSA campaign number: 01i010000 (visibility) with the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Jun 2017
“I purchased a vehicle on march 11, 2017 from a dealership named redefined auto sales in skokie, il. Since I have purchased this vehicle, I have spent over $1,500 in costs for repairs to this vehicle, beginning with I had to get an oil change on the same day that I purchased the vehicle because the change oil required light came on as soon as I exited the expressway in route from the dealership. Also, as I was en route from the dealership, on the expressway a motorist tried to cut me off and that is when I found out that the horn was not working. Things have just went downhill from there.”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Mar 2017
“When going 25-30 mph vehicle will not shift.it actually kicked the vehicle back. Od light started to flash then service engine soon light came on.been doing this since. Went to go get mountaineer read and of coarse..the transmission..something needs to be done otherwise this might eventually lead to a lawsuit after reading all of the complaints on the exact same thing.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Nov 2016
“I was driving on the highway & stopped at one of the service stations along the highway. When I returned to the vehicle I put my children in the car, turned it on, put the car in drive hit the gas & the vehicle did not move. I tried putting it in reverse & nothing happened. The car would rev up but would not move. It felt like I had the car on neutral. Tried several times & nothing happened. I then tried to put the car on d3 & that is when it moved slightly. Park & drive do not work!! Very dangerous had this happened while I was still driving on the highway, which is what would have probably happened. I was only out of my car for 10 minutes.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2016
“Started vehicle to go to work like every day tried to shift into r shifter broke of in my hand. Needs to be recalled. I am glad it happened in drive way. I live on highway and it could have broke after I was in highway shifting into d.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Apr 2016
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2016
“Driving at normal speed of approximately 40 mph on a city street, the spark plug and coil shot out from the #2 cylinder. A large percussion banging sound emitted from under the hood which was the detectable evidence something had just gone desperately wrong with the engine.”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 17 of these complaints and injuries in 38 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
Remedy: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MONTAINEER SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE BRACKETS CONNECTING THE LEFT CYLINDERS TO EACH SIDE OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS COULD ROTATE OUT OF POSITION IF EITHER THE URETHANE BOND OR TORQUE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
Remedy: FORD DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR THE POSITION OF BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT LIFTGATGE GLASS LIFT CYLINDER BRACKETS. IF THE BRACKETS ARE IN THE PROPER POSITION, THE BRACKET RETAINERS WILL BE TIGHTENED TO A HIGHER TORQUE. IN CASES WHERE THE BRACKET IS NOT PROPERLY POSITION, THE BRACKET MUST BE RE-ALIGNED.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2002 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Mountaineer by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer reliable?
NHTSA has 372 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. The most complained-about area is power train (32% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2002 Mercury Mountaineer problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 75,003 miles or less.
Does the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning vehicle speed control. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.