mercury mountaineer 2005 Complaints

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

2005 - mercury mountaineer. this vehicle has what i believe is a braking design flaw. i have bee complaining about this brake in this vehicle form day one as we first thought that the brake rotors had tire dressing on them. this was not the case. it now appears that the brake pedal is designed for the shorter persons, around 5 ft, 2 in. the brake pedal with a person of this size would simply push the brake pedal almost straight down downward towards the ground. a person over 6 ft like myself (6 ft, 6in), cannot push this brake pedal downward in the same fashion as the shorter person. the taller person like myself pushes the brake pedal towards the firewall. this braking energy is not translated properly to the brake pedal, causing following: the vehicle’s brakes will not to stop the vehicle in a timely manner. the vehicle’s brakes appear drive as if the brake rotates are glazed. the driver of the vehicle leg while driving in city traffic will fatigue quite easily. this makes it even hard to stop the vehicle after you have driven it for a time. please note that i have contacted my deal where i purchased the vehicle and motor company. they are all agree, that there is a difference between drive sizes in this vehicle. this is not in dispute; the fix or corrective action is in dispute. ford and the dealer want for me for me to pay over $3,000.00 in order to upgrade the same vehicle except this one would has the $120.00 adjustable pedal option. it appears that is option it really needed to be standard in all vehicles of this type. note per ford booklets, this adjustable pedal is designed for shorter folks and not taller folks. i am trying to work this out with the dealer as ford had become deaf to my issue. note there take is will not assist in any way. what a great car company.

Reported in: DOYLESTOWN PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K55U

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

purchased a new 2005 mercury mountaineer in 7/31/2005 the first time the car accelerated when the brakes were applied and the car had to be put in neutral to stop. the dealer reported that there were no known fixes for this problem at this time. the second time while pulling into my driveway when the brakes were applied the car accelerated and crash into my garage door. this time the dealer blamed my wife and said she must have pressed the gas and brake peddles at the same time. the car sustained front end body damage and my garage door needs to be replaced. the car has been at the dealer since the accident happened and we are still waiting to find out what is ford's determination of this issue and what they will do to get us out of this car and into something else. *nm

Reported in: BAY SHORE NY || Crash: Y || VIN #: 4M2DU86W95Z

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

had warped rotors within first 2,000 miles. ford would only ground rotors but dealer replaced them at no charge. i have also experienced a loud, thumping noise when i am making a sharp turn to left or right at a very low speed. also, often when putting car in reverse many times there is a large thump and vehicle appears to shift hard. finally, when stopped on a steep hill, after removing foot from brake, vehicle rolls backwards many times. *jb

Reported in: GRANBY CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86W25Z

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

had warped rotors within first 2,000 miles. ford would only ground rotors but dealer replaced them at no charge. i have also experienced a loud, thumping noise when i am making a sharp turn to left or right at a very low speed. also, often when putting car in reverse many times there is a large thump and vehicle appears to shift hard. finally, when stopped on a steep hill, after removing foot from brake, vehicle rolls backwards many times. *jb

Reported in: GRANBY CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86W25Z

STEERING

had warped rotors within first 2,000 miles. ford would only ground rotors but dealer replaced them at no charge. i have also experienced a loud, thumping noise when i am making a sharp turn to left or right at a very low speed. also, often when putting car in reverse many times there is a large thump and vehicle appears to shift hard. finally, when stopped on a steep hill, after removing foot from brake, vehicle rolls backwards many times. *jb

Reported in: GRANBY CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86W25Z

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

had warped rotors within first 2,000 miles. ford would only ground rotors but dealer replaced them at no charge. i have also experienced a loud, thumping noise when i am making a sharp turn to left or right at a very low speed. also, often when putting car in reverse many times there is a large thump and vehicle appears to shift hard. finally, when stopped on a steep hill, after removing foot from brake, vehicle rolls backwards many times. *jb

Reported in: GRANBY CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86W25Z

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2005 mercury mountaineer v6 with awd was placed in "park" , engine turned off and key removed from ignition. the car slipped into reverse and rolled down driveway striking mailboxes across street. *jb

Reported in: SOUTHFIELD MI || Crash: Y || VIN #: 4M2DU86K55U

SUSPENSION:AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL (ASC)

dt*: the contact stated while driving 25 mph, a noise was heard and the automatic stability control light illuminated on the dash and the vehicle pulled to the right. it was maneuvered off the road and restarted however, the dash light continued to illuminate. the vehicle was driven to the dealer who could not identify the problem.

Reported in: MANY LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU66KX5U

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER

tl* - the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. on 11/20/06 the contact's heater on/off switch wouldn't allow her to turn the heater off. the contact had to drive with the windows rolled down. the contact also attempted to turn the vehicle off and restart and the failure continued to occur. while driving on 12/18/06 at 35mph the engine stalled and the vehicle shut off. the warning indicator light read check engine, low pressure prior to the failure. the failure also occurred on 1/19/07. each time the failure occurred the contact was using the cruise control. the vehicle has been diagnosed and found the vehicle to be operating normally. the mechanic has also driven the vehicle to diagnose it since the last failure and has experienced no failures. she was advised that the service manager would contact her re: the failure and after the initial contact, she hasn't received any calls from him. after 15 to 20 minutes, the vehicle will restart. the most recent incident almost caused a collision with a heavy duty truck. the mechanic also stated to have the vehicle towed if this reoccurs. the contact does not want to drive the vehicle due to the safety risk involved. the current and failure mileage was 13,000. the mechanic also asked if a light was present on the windshield at the time of the failure.

Reported in: NORWALK OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W65Z

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

tl* - the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. on 11/20/06 the contact's heater on/off switch wouldn't allow her to turn the heater off. the contact had to drive with the windows rolled down. the contact also attempted to turn the vehicle off and restart and the failure continued to occur. while driving on 12/18/06 at 35mph the engine stalled and the vehicle shut off. the warning indicator light read check engine, low pressure prior to the failure. the failure also occurred on 1/19/07. each time the failure occurred the contact was using the cruise control. the vehicle has been diagnosed and found the vehicle to be operating normally. the mechanic has also driven the vehicle to diagnose it since the last failure and has experienced no failures. she was advised that the service manager would contact her re: the failure and after the initial contact, she hasn't received any calls from him. after 15 to 20 minutes, the vehicle will restart. the most recent incident almost caused a collision with a heavy duty truck. the mechanic also stated to have the vehicle towed if this reoccurs. the contact does not want to drive the vehicle due to the safety risk involved. the current and failure mileage was 13,000. the mechanic also asked if a light was present on the windshield at the time of the failure.

Reported in: NORWALK OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W65Z

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. while pulling into a parking spot at 5 mph, the vehicle automatically accelerated to an unknown speed. the contact was depressing the brake pedal at the time of failure. the vin and engine size were unknown. the current and failure mileages were 23,000.

Reported in: SAN DIEGO CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

this is the second complaint. the 2005 mercury mountaineer spontaneously accelerated on the freeway. i was driving at 70 mph and it accelerated to over 80 mph. the gas pedal was pulling itself down.*ak

Reported in: SAN DIEGO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W55Z

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

rear differential needs replaced. mechanic said can be dangerous. i see that these ford/mercury's have this problem all the time. cost too much to fix, yet i have wife and kids in that car.

Reported in: MANTON MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. while driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled and the engine shut off. this has occurred three times since 2006. the failure is most common while driving down an incline and when the cruise control was activated. the check engine light was illuminated and the power steering does not operate normally. the vehicle restarted after ten to fifteen minutes. the failures occurred on december 18, 2006, january 19, 2007, and december 4, 2007. on each date, the dealer diagnosed the failure for thirty days and stated that they were unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. the dealer advised her to deactivate the cruise control and make sure there is enough fuel in the tank. the mechanic stated that if the failure recurred, the vehicle should be towed to the dealer before attempting a restart. the manufacturer has not offered any assistance. this is the second complaint filed with nhtsa. the failure mileage was 12,327 and current mileage was 27,000. updated 01/24/08 *bf updated 01/24/08

Reported in: NORWALK OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W65Z

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

the paint on the roof of my 2005 mountaineer is cracking and flaking off in chunks. when i noticed, it was 3 weeks out of warranty. ford admitted it was defective paint, but will only repaint the roof. this would be fine, but the cost will be $980 and they want me to pay $200 of it. while this may not seem like a bad deal, the point is that the vehicle was barely out of warranty, i paid for an extended warranty (does not cover paint), the paint was defective on ford's part, and this problem did not just happen within the three weeks after the warranty expired. it was a pre-existing problem, but since i'm short, i did not notice the roof of my vehicle. what happens when the rest of the paint flakes off? ford said it would handle that if it happens. so, i guess i just keep paying for a defective paint job out of my own pocket because ford will not correct its mistakes. keep in mind, this vehicle is only 3 years old and is stored in a garage both at home and at work. this is ridiculous and very poor customer support!

Reported in: LAKE IN THE HILLS IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

accelerator: speed control car lurched out of control in reverse and forward intermittently.

Reported in: GERMANSVILLE PA || Crash: Y || VIN #: 4M2DU86W45Z

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

minimal events lead up to transmission failure. odd shifting when accelerating occurred the day of the failure and possibly several times overt the tow years, but very infrequently. failure occurred at 74,000 miles of primarily highway driving with perhaps two reverses a day resulting at most 2,000 reverses for the life of the car. the same day as shifting problems occurred several times on the way home reverse gear would not engage and after several attempts would stay in gear for only a few seconds before going back into neutral. never would go into reverse again. failure required replacement of the solenoid shifters and valve bodies. this is the same failure that was a cause for a recall of several previous year's, including 2004.

Reported in: BENSON AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU66W25Z

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

minimal events lead up to transmission failure. odd shifting when accelerating occurred the day of the failure and possibly several times overt the tow years, but very infrequently. failure occurred at 74,000 miles of primarily highway driving with perhaps two reverses a day resulting at most 2,000 reverses for the life of the car. the same day as shifting problems occurred several times on the way home reverse gear would not engage and after several attempts would stay in gear for only a few seconds before going back into neutral. never would go into reverse again. failure required replacement of the solenoid shifters and valve bodies. this is the same failure that was a cause for a recall of several previous year's, including 2004.

Reported in: BENSON AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU66W25Z

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

there is a transmission issue with the mountaineer or something that has to do with the car changing gears. my car is only a week old (2005) and it jerks when placed in reverse. only has 61,000 miles. other mountaineer owners have complained of having the same problem with their transmission system.

Reported in: DETROIT MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86K15Z

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. on the day the vehicle was purchased, the contact noticed fluid leaking onto her garage floor. she returned to the dealer and was informed that the pinion seal needed to be replaced, and repairs were made. while traveling 45 mph, the contact attempted to set the cruise control and the vehicle shut off in the middle of the road. she was able to pull over to the shoulder and restart the vehicle to drive home. after work one evening, she was unable to start the vehicle. after 20 minutes, her father arrived and was able to forcefully start the vehicle. the contact returned to the dealer the following day, but they could not duplicate the failure with the cruise control or the stalling. on june 16, 2008, she took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced a fuse. upon further inspection, they identified a bushing that needed to be replaced as well. all of these failures occurred within four months of purchasing the vehicle and with less then 4,000 miles placed on the vehicle by the contact. the failure mileage was 34,177 and current mileage was 37,600. updated 07/15/08 *bf when the consumer started the vehicle, the power seats and power locks failed to work. the consumer returned to the dealer and they replaced the driver side motor. the sway bar bushings were replaced. updated 07/15/08

Reported in: SAXONDURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K35Z

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. on the day the vehicle was purchased, the contact noticed fluid leaking onto her garage floor. she returned to the dealer and was informed that the pinion seal needed to be replaced, and repairs were made. while traveling 45 mph, the contact attempted to set the cruise control and the vehicle shut off in the middle of the road. she was able to pull over to the shoulder and restart the vehicle to drive home. after work one evening, she was unable to start the vehicle. after 20 minutes, her father arrived and was able to forcefully start the vehicle. the contact returned to the dealer the following day, but they could not duplicate the failure with the cruise control or the stalling. on june 16, 2008, she took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced a fuse. upon further inspection, they identified a bushing that needed to be replaced as well. all of these failures occurred within four months of purchasing the vehicle and with less then 4,000 miles placed on the vehicle by the contact. the failure mileage was 34,177 and current mileage was 37,600. updated 07/15/08 *bf when the consumer started the vehicle, the power seats and power locks failed to work. the consumer returned to the dealer and they replaced the driver side motor. the sway bar bushings were replaced. updated 07/15/08

Reported in: SAXONDURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K35Z

SUSPENSION

tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. on the day the vehicle was purchased, the contact noticed fluid leaking onto her garage floor. she returned to the dealer and was informed that the pinion seal needed to be replaced, and repairs were made. while traveling 45 mph, the contact attempted to set the cruise control and the vehicle shut off in the middle of the road. she was able to pull over to the shoulder and restart the vehicle to drive home. after work one evening, she was unable to start the vehicle. after 20 minutes, her father arrived and was able to forcefully start the vehicle. the contact returned to the dealer the following day, but they could not duplicate the failure with the cruise control or the stalling. on june 16, 2008, she took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced a fuse. upon further inspection, they identified a bushing that needed to be replaced as well. all of these failures occurred within four months of purchasing the vehicle and with less then 4,000 miles placed on the vehicle by the contact. the failure mileage was 34,177 and current mileage was 37,600. updated 07/15/08 *bf when the consumer started the vehicle, the power seats and power locks failed to work. the consumer returned to the dealer and they replaced the driver side motor. the sway bar bushings were replaced. updated 07/15/08

Reported in: SAXONDURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K35Z

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. on the day the vehicle was purchased, the contact noticed fluid leaking onto her garage floor. she returned to the dealer and was informed that the pinion seal needed to be replaced, and repairs were made. while traveling 45 mph, the contact attempted to set the cruise control and the vehicle shut off in the middle of the road. she was able to pull over to the shoulder and restart the vehicle to drive home. after work one evening, she was unable to start the vehicle. after 20 minutes, her father arrived and was able to forcefully start the vehicle. the contact returned to the dealer the following day, but they could not duplicate the failure with the cruise control or the stalling. on june 16, 2008, she took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced a fuse. upon further inspection, they identified a bushing that needed to be replaced as well. all of these failures occurred within four months of purchasing the vehicle and with less then 4,000 miles placed on the vehicle by the contact. the failure mileage was 34,177 and current mileage was 37,600. updated 07/15/08 *bf when the consumer started the vehicle, the power seats and power locks failed to work. the consumer returned to the dealer and they replaced the driver side motor. the sway bar bushings were replaced. updated 07/15/08

Reported in: SAXONDURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K35Z

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. on the day the vehicle was purchased, the contact noticed fluid leaking onto her garage floor. she returned to the dealer and was informed that the pinion seal needed to be replaced, and repairs were made. while traveling 45 mph, the contact attempted to set the cruise control and the vehicle shut off in the middle of the road. she was able to pull over to the shoulder and restart the vehicle to drive home. after work one evening, she was unable to start the vehicle. after 20 minutes, her father arrived and was able to forcefully start the vehicle. the contact returned to the dealer the following day, but they could not duplicate the failure with the cruise control or the stalling. on june 16, 2008, she took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced a fuse. upon further inspection, they identified a bushing that needed to be replaced as well. all of these failures occurred within four months of purchasing the vehicle and with less then 4,000 miles placed on the vehicle by the contact. the failure mileage was 34,177 and current mileage was 37,600. updated 07/15/08 *bf when the consumer started the vehicle, the power seats and power locks failed to work. the consumer returned to the dealer and they replaced the driver side motor. the sway bar bushings were replaced. updated 07/15/08

Reported in: SAXONDURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K35Z

SEATS

tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. on the day the vehicle was purchased, the contact noticed fluid leaking onto her garage floor. she returned to the dealer and was informed that the pinion seal needed to be replaced, and repairs were made. while traveling 45 mph, the contact attempted to set the cruise control and the vehicle shut off in the middle of the road. she was able to pull over to the shoulder and restart the vehicle to drive home. after work one evening, she was unable to start the vehicle. after 20 minutes, her father arrived and was able to forcefully start the vehicle. the contact returned to the dealer the following day, but they could not duplicate the failure with the cruise control or the stalling. on june 16, 2008, she took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced a fuse. upon further inspection, they identified a bushing that needed to be replaced as well. all of these failures occurred within four months of purchasing the vehicle and with less then 4,000 miles placed on the vehicle by the contact. the failure mileage was 34,177 and current mileage was 37,600. updated 07/15/08 *bf when the consumer started the vehicle, the power seats and power locks failed to work. the consumer returned to the dealer and they replaced the driver side motor. the sway bar bushings were replaced. updated 07/15/08

Reported in: SAXONDURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K35Z

STRUCTURE:BODY

i have a 2005 mercury mountaineer the suv has 66,000 miles on it and the roof has paint peeling on it and a large rust spot. i took to the mercury dealer and they said it was not rusted through the body. i said not now but it will the service manager replied yes but hopefully it will be out of warranty by then ( he was so helpful ) the ford rep came today and rejected the claim do to her buying the suv used even through she brought it from this dealer. i will try to appeal it with ford lets see what happens ?????

Reported in: WOODBRIDGE VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

leaking evaporative emission fuel tube, that runs across the top of the gas tank, vehicle could have caught fire.

Reported in: HENDERSONVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86E15Z

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

vehicle paint peeling from front hood. mercury dealer (northgate lincoln mercury, tampa, florida) at first said a rock hit it. another service person said its a defect. they only want to cover half the cost of getting hood painted. vehicle bought new from the dealer. tsb issued by ford concerning the issue. dealer overestimated estimate to repaint hood ($1000 dollars) wants me to pay a lost $500 dollars for a defect they know about.

Reported in: TAMPA FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU66W55U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

cruise control disengages after driving for an extended period of time, usual a trip over 90 minutes in length. it works fine until you have to apply brake for a construction zone, or of ramp, etc. when you push resume nothing happens. turning it off and trying to turn it back on still does not resolve the problem. after turning the car on and off a few times it will start working again, but that isn't really useful while on a long trip. it first happened two and a half years ago and continues to happen. the dealership says they can't duplicate the problem but has only test driven for 20 minutes.

Reported in: CHAMPAIGN IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K05U

STRUCTURE:BODY

the back liftgate has a crack around the circular mercury emblem. i noticed it on mine, and have seen the same thing on other mercury suv's. the vehicle has not been wrecked, or had anything hit the back liftgate. problem with the structural integrity of the plastic used in the liftgate?

Reported in: PENSACOLA FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

STRUCTURE

i have a 2005 mercury mountaineer which has been garage kept and only 20,000 miles. i noticed the paint peeling from the roof of this vehicle and returned it to the dealer who referred me to the ford customer care, who refused to help me with this problem because it was over the 36 month warranty. i took it to my local auto shop who told me this is a major issue and he told me the entire cars paint can peel because of the faulty way it was painted. he showed me the undercoat was not prepared properly and the paint is just not adhering to the undercoat. i did a search on the internet and now find that this was a known issue and an expensive fix as it means removing the paint and undercoat and redoing the entire vehicle. what can i do short of seeking legal remedies?

Reported in: HAZLET NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86W95U

STEERING

i have a 2005 mercury mountaineer, and i turned the key and went to move from r to drive and the handle (gear shaft) just snapped off.

Reported in: CAPE MAY NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1 4M2ZU66E7

POWER TRAIN

i was in the park position. i turned my engine on and placed my foot on the brake and take my car out of park, when then gear shaft/stick broke in half. i contacted the dealer and i had them come get the car, they contacted me, and stated "that they have never seen something like this before", that came from the service manager bill amadei, and another person bill in the service department. i have taken a picture of what it looks like. if i was not already in the park position and i went to place my car from the drive to park and this happened, my car could have went right into my house. when i stated this to the dealer, his comment was "yes, i guess that could have happened."

Reported in: CAPE MAY NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU66E75U

POWER TRAIN

mercury mountaineer 05 with less then 60,000 miles, i was told that there was wearing in the valve case from automatic transmission which causes transmission to skip and shift hard and pop forward, i need to have it repaired , transmission place states this is a known problem which has a technical advisory about it....what's my recourse.

Reported in: MERRICK NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

mercury mountaineer 05 with less then 60,000 miles, i was told that there was wearing in the valve case from automatic transmission which causes transmission to skip and shift hard and pop forward, i need to have it repaired , transmission place states this is a known problem which has a technical advisory about it....what's my recourse.

Reported in: MERRICK NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

STRUCTURE:BODY

my 2005 mercury mountaineer developed a crack in the rear lift gate right around the mercury emblem. i have seen many more with the same problem, both ford explorers and the mercury mountaineer. when i took it to the dealer they were like too bad so sad it is out of warranty even though i bought a extended warranty from ford. i have been looking around now and i see lots of them with the same problem. i have heard that ford is fixing the explorers if it is under 5 years and under 75,000 miles but that just seems to be a dealer thing, i have not seen any official account of this.

Reported in: BURLINGTON IA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86W05Z

STRUCTURE

my 2005 mercury mountaineer developed a crack in the rear lift gate right around the mercury emblem. i have seen many more with the same problem, both ford explorers and the mercury mountaineer. when i took it to the dealer they were like too bad so sad it is out of warranty even though i bought a extended warranty from ford. i have been looking around now and i see lots of them with the same problem. i have heard that ford is fixing the explorers if it is under 5 years and under 75,000 miles but that just seems to be a dealer thing, i have not seen any official account of this.

Reported in: BURLINGTON IA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86W05Z

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission slipping on a hill causing the vehicle to drift backwards almost causing an accident with the car behind me.

Reported in: PITTSBURGH PA || Crash: N || VIN #:

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

without warning of any kind the engine quits under 35 mph, sometimes with cruise control on. after car rolls to a stop, it can restart right away. loss of power steering and brakes. dealer says no codes to back up complaint. this has as happened at least 3x spread over 35,000 odometer miles.

Reported in: STAFFORD TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU66W45U

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

without warning of any kind the engine quits under 35 mph, sometimes with cruise control on. after car rolls to a stop, it can restart right away. loss of power steering and brakes. dealer says no codes to back up complaint. this has as happened at least 3x spread over 35,000 odometer miles.

Reported in: STAFFORD TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU66W45U

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. while examining the vehicle, the contact noticed a crack extending from the bottom of the rear glass to the bottom of the vehicle. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the current and failure mileages were 31,000.

Reported in: BRADENTON FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU66K85U

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. while examining the vehicle, the contact noticed a crack extending from the bottom of the rear glass to the bottom of the vehicle. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the current and failure mileages were 31,000.

Reported in: BRADENTON FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU66K85U

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

extremely hard shifting into reverse. slipping in 3rd gear when transmission is running for 15 minutes. over drive light flashes and transmission fails to work while on highway. i have to shift into neutral turn the car off then back on (while at 65mph) then it works fine the rest of the day.

Reported in: MERIDEN CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86W25Z

STRUCTURE:BODY

upper section of rear hatch body cracks. made of plastic. changed on next year models to all metal. this the second occurrence of the defect. ford refuses to repair free of charge.

Reported in: CHERRY HILL NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86E75U

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

on december of 2007, i drove into my garage at a slow speed. i applied the brakes to be able to park the suv. the car would not stop until it hit the inner wall of the house. the air bag did not go off after the impact.. took the car in after repair to front of car was done. the dealer's service department could not find anything wrong. 01/10/08 on june 17, 2008, my husband was parking the car to let me out to go to the doctor's office, the suv would not stop until my husband put the suv in park and shut the engine off.

Reported in: LOWELL IN || Crash: Y || VIN #: 4M2DU86W45U

AIR BAGS

on december of 2007, i drove into my garage at a slow speed. i applied the brakes to be able to park the suv. the car would not stop until it hit the inner wall of the house. the air bag did not go off after the impact.. took the car in after repair to front of car was done. the dealer's service department could not find anything wrong. 01/10/08 on june 17, 2008, my husband was parking the car to let me out to go to the doctor's office, the suv would not stop until my husband put the suv in park and shut the engine off.

Reported in: LOWELL IN || Crash: Y || VIN #: 4M2DU86W45U

STEERING

tl*the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. while driving 40 mph, the contact noticed that the vehicle began to sway back and forth in the rear. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop but the mechanic could not duplicate or diagnose the failure. the contact replaced all of the tires and brakes; however, the failure continued to occur. the failure mileage was approximately 80,000. the current mileage was approximately 102,000.

Reported in: MAPLE LAKE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86E45Z

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission lever binds when attempting to shift into park, slipping into reverse instead. problem has occurred sporadically from 2007 to date. usually the miss-shift is noticed because it just doesn't feel right, but not always. it can be most dangerous if you don't turn off the engine immediately (after attempting to shift into park) and take your foot off the brake. that has happened to me about 5 times over 5 years. it happened twice at a gas station, once at a car wash, once in a shopping center, and once in front of my house as a child walked behind the car. in each case the car only moved 1 or 2 feet before i realized it, and was able to step on the brake. these days i don't need to worry about it as much because (at 52,000 miles) the transmission takes 5 - 10 seconds to engage the reverse gear and then it bangs into gear, loudly alerting me that it didn't go into park.. the transmission is defective, and ford knows it.

Reported in: HILLSBOROUGH NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W55U

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

my mountaineer stalls without warning while going about 35 mph but after a few minutes can restart. it has done this 4 times over the last 3 or so months. in addition twice it would not start (it had been about 30 minutes since i drove it) and it had to be jumped. i replaced the battery thinking that was the problem but it persists. i brought it to a regular garage once, who kept it for a day and found nothing wrong. i then brought it to a mercury dealer who kept it for 2 days but found no codes or problems. it just stalled again two nights ago while i was driving 35 mph without and restarted a few minutes later. the dealer had it for a day but again found no codes or problems. so far i just put in a new battery and they changed the oil and filter.

Reported in: DUXBURY MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W55U

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2005 mercury mountaineer transmission jerks random intervals and causes driver to loose control of vehicle momentarily. passengers inside car experience neck pain after several occurrences.

Reported in: SAN FRANCISCO CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

my 2005 mercury mountaineer loses power for no reason. this is the fourth time this has happened. it was been to the dealer multiple times and they cannot find a problem. there is nothing to foresee when it happens, the only consistency has been that luckily i have been on local roads doing no more than 35 miles per hour or so. first battery light and service engine comes on as the engine stops, then low oil. the car does not seize up, i can steer to the side of the road. if i put it back in park. turn the ignition off, and then restart it is fine. there is considerable length of time between occurrences (months if not close to a year this time.)

Reported in: WYCKOFF NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W85U

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2005 mercury mountaineer cruise control emergency while driving my wife¿s 2005 mercury mountaineer at approximately 50 mph and using the cruise control the engine shut off. (dangerous and scary) i immediately placed the engine in neutral and restarted it with no trouble. fortunately we were on a straight road. the engine shut down appeared to occur because the cruise control de-accelerated the engine while coasting down hill (using the cruise control) to below 400 rpm¿s. below 400 rpm¿s the engine stops. the car speed, length of the downward coast, and hill slope appeared to affect the stoppage. if the speed control signals an increase prior to bottoming the rpm¿s the engine will continue to run, if not it will shut off loosing oil pressure, power steering, and power brakes. my wife doesn¿t normally use the cruise control, which is fortunate for her. i¿m sure if she were driving when this occurred she would have coast to a stop of worse if it happened while going around a curve. i was able to duplicate this problem four times by picking a hill with the right conditions and setting the speed at around 45 to 50 mph. i called the dealer where she bought the car new and was told there are no recalls on her car, however; while searching the internet we found that the same problem has occurred numerous times on ford explorers and mercury mountaineer¿s. we've set and appointment at the dealer for a diagnosis.

Reported in: NORTH WALES PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W25U

POWER TRAIN

automatic transmission- this transmission is horrible a few times i noticed the severe noise and jerk when i went to reverse. i thought perhaps it was me. on christmas eve i went to pull away from stop light and car started to accelerate then slowed down i gave it a little gas and it jerked me so hard it hurt my neck (which is still bothering me today). the od light came on and check transmission. repair cost $2,7000, basically everything went bad. after hearing from numerous people this is a problem that ford is aware of. they even went so far as to correct it for future models but has yet to perform a recall on 2005 mountaineers and explorers. as ford was aware of this problem corrected it for future models they should be liable and a recall notice should be forthcoming. anyone who has experienced this should get full refund of monies paid. now to address the cracking around the mercury emblem on the lift gate. ford is aware of this problem and has changed it for future models, but instead of stepping up and correcting pass models they sweep it under the rug. a full investigation into both of these concerns as with transmissions someone could easily be fatally injured.

Reported in: ROYAL OAK MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K05Z

STRUCTURE:BODY

automatic transmission- this transmission is horrible a few times i noticed the severe noise and jerk when i went to reverse. i thought perhaps it was me. on christmas eve i went to pull away from stop light and car started to accelerate then slowed down i gave it a little gas and it jerked me so hard it hurt my neck (which is still bothering me today). the od light came on and check transmission. repair cost $2,7000, basically everything went bad. after hearing from numerous people this is a problem that ford is aware of. they even went so far as to correct it for future models but has yet to perform a recall on 2005 mountaineers and explorers. as ford was aware of this problem corrected it for future models they should be liable and a recall notice should be forthcoming. anyone who has experienced this should get full refund of monies paid. now to address the cracking around the mercury emblem on the lift gate. ford is aware of this problem and has changed it for future models, but instead of stepping up and correcting pass models they sweep it under the rug. a full investigation into both of these concerns as with transmissions someone could easily be fatally injured.

Reported in: ROYAL OAK MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K05Z

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

started out as a good car. at about 48000 miles it started to intermittently refuse to go into forward or reverse when placed in gear. made sure it was in gear and also would move the shift lever out of gear and back again. stepping on the gas just revved up the engine. sometimes it would catch and the car would jump forward or backward. it is presently in a transmission shop and appears it needs to be rebuilt. large metal chips were found in the oil pan. i was told by the dealer that i didn't have a drive train warranty, they weren't available for the 2005, i only had the 3year 36,000 mile warrant. the transmission shop showed me large chips in the oil pan. also when disassembled they couldn't fine what was called a needle pin, which runs through the middle of the transmission. with that gone the transmission was gone. this wasn't a normal occurrence. so selves, washers/spacers, gears etc. slowly were being destroyed. overhaul kit torque convertor, planetary assy, solenoid assy., servo case repair kit, and transmission fluid. and all of the latest parts from fords 6th upgrade on this transmission were installed. ford should have a recall on this transmission. reimbursement for costs would be nice. but then i'm a dreamer, and believe cars are being built better than they are. after a week or so of driving and the shifting still not smooth and parts being switched out. i was told it would be okay to out of state. i got about 70 miles when the transmission dumped the transmission fluid on the highway. after a $200 tow back to the garage and another week of searching for the problem it was decided it was the valve block. the only thing that was not changed. seemed the valve block was warped. it was replaced and the car is back to normal. this should not be happening to a car with 48500 miles on it. ford should be ashamed of them selves for producing a car vehicle that has so many transmission problems. i understand ford is now on the 7th upgrade.

Reported in: BARNSTABLE MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W25Z

AIR BAGS

own a 2005 mercury mountaineer. since i've purchased it i've had issues with the airbag light staying on, the seatbelts not registered as being undone and the gas not registering (i fill it up and it says the last amount and will not say it's full until sometimes 2-3 days). i'm most concerned about the airbags and the seatbelts. i seen that earlier models and 2006 have issues with the airbag not deploying. the dealership has replaced the sensor 3 times for the airbag and put in a new seat belt system about 15 mos. ago. the dealership will not cover it again and says i need to pay for it. this has been an ongoing problem and from the web research, it's not problems that mercury/ford is unaware. these are safety issues.

Reported in: SAN DIEGO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU66E55Z

STRUCTURE:BODY

i have a 2005 mountaineer that has a crack in the plastic below the rear window that goes around the mercury emblem. this was noticed in january of 2011. this vehicle was not involved in an accident. since then i have noticed four other mercury mountaineers with the same crack.

Reported in: HOUSTON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K15U

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

i own a 2005 mercury mountaineer premier suv. last summer i noticed that one of the bolts on liftgate is broken. i went back to the dealer where i purchased the truck and although this is a common problem with this truck it was not recalled for the 2005 year. they wanted to charge me $600 for repair.i found that to be an unacceptable response considering ford has been aware that the bolts are inferior. i researched to find that many consumers have the same complaint.add to it that this week the "crack" appeared beneath the glass on the liftgate near the emblem(evidently another flaw with this truck widely reported by other vehicle owners). at this point it is evident to me that the liftgate needs to be replaced by ford at their expense.i chose this truck for safety for my five children and now feel it is unsafe to transport them with this liftgate falling apart. the repsonse from ford customer service stated this year was not recalled for the faulty liftgate problem and the expense to replace is mine.slowly the liftgate bolts and the liftgate are breaking rendering me unable to utilize it. how do i know the glass is safe even if i hit a bump? please advise.

Reported in: WARREN RI || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86E45U

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. the contact stated that there was a crack in the rear lift-gate, right down the middle and around the manufacturers emblem. the crack stretched from the top to the bottom of the lift-gate. due to the crack being located near the windshield wiper motor, it would freeze and cause abrasions to the hands whenever the lift-gate was opened. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer at least three times, but the contact was informed that he would have to pay for the repair expenses. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 44,000. updated 09/28/11*lj the consumer also stated ice formed in the cracked area causing bubbling of rear gate and freezing windshield, which caused the rear wiper to not work. updated 10/07/11

Reported in: SUMMIT NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K15Z

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. the contact stated that there was a crack in the rear lift-gate, right down the middle and around the manufacturers emblem. the crack stretched from the top to the bottom of the lift-gate. due to the crack being located near the windshield wiper motor, it would freeze and cause abrasions to the hands whenever the lift-gate was opened. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer at least three times, but the contact was informed that he would have to pay for the repair expenses. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 44,000. updated 09/28/11*lj the consumer also stated ice formed in the cracked area causing bubbling of rear gate and freezing windshield, which caused the rear wiper to not work. updated 10/07/11

Reported in: SUMMIT NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86K15Z

STRUCTURE

tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. the contact stated the overhead console that controls the air conditioning, the dome lights in the rear of the vehicle, and the bracket had separated from the vehicle. the dealer nor manufacturer were notified of the failure. the failure had not been repaired. the failure mileage was 38,995 and the current mileage was 39,000.

Reported in: MENIFEE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W65Z

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission jerking and jumping into gear, and reverse, roll forward in park on a hill. liftgate has a crack around and under the symbol. *kb

Reported in: NATCHZ MS || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU66K05U

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

transmission jerking and jumping into gear, and reverse, roll forward in park on a hill. liftgate has a crack around and under the symbol. *kb

Reported in: NATCHZ MS || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU66K05U

STRUCTURE:BODY

transmission jerking and jumping into gear, and reverse, roll forward in park on a hill. liftgate has a crack around and under the symbol. *kb

Reported in: NATCHZ MS || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU66K05U

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. the contact stated that the lift gate panel was cracked. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 72,000. the vin was not available.

Reported in: TAMPA FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

speed control shut off while driving on highway @65 mph. scarey.

Reported in: WETHERSFIELD CT || Crash: N || VIN #:

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. the contact stated that the rear lift gate exhibited a quarter inch crack from the bottom of the rear window and down to the bottom of the rear hatchback door. as a result, water was entering the vehicle through the crack. the contact stated that the rear of the vehicle had strong odor of mold. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 74,848.

Reported in: LAKE TAHOE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86E75U

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

brake pedal went to floor, then lifted pedal, then i had brakes, i shouldn't have to pump my brakes to stop my vehicle, service center replaced front rotors, pads, and rear rotors and pads, bleed the system, this lasted all but 3 days and it happened again, what gives with ford, mercury brake issues......?

Reported in: PORTAGE MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STRUCTURE:BODY

i bought this suv cash from a dealership and was told no damages! i have all the original paperwork stating no damages to the vehicle. i paid 14300.00 cash. i went to trade in my suv to downsize and was told there were title issues and the frame was cracked. i then looked over all my paperwork front and back to see if i missed anything-to see if any damages were noted. i contacted the dealership and they said it is not there fault that the dealership that i was trying to trade the suv in was just telling me that to buy my trade in for a less value. i obtained the report from auto check and it clearly states the suv was a lease. it was in an accident on 12/06/07 then sold for auction. new england auction reported clearly: auction announced as frame damage. was sold to the dealership on 12/28/07 then sold to me on 01/09/08. again no damages reported to me. now i am driving a vehicle with a damaged frame which is unsafe to drive. and no one will take the suv because of the frame damage. the dealership wants "proof". i have been unable to find the original dealer or auction group. i only have this report to go on. please help me! i would have never bought this vehicle if i knew it had frame damages to it. can you please help in anyway! i would like to be refunded or given a car of equal value that is safe to drive. i don't know what to do. please contact me. thank you. *js

Reported in: ORLANDO FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W65Z

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. the contact stated that there was a crack in the lift gate. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. the failure mileage was 100,000. the vin was unavailable.

Reported in: BLOOMINGDALE GA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STRUCTURE

two problems...first whenever i shift into reverse there is a hesitation and it takes longer than it should to reverse. im also experiencing a jerk before i come to a complete stop. second ..the back of my lift has a crack from the bottom of the window to the mercury symbol and then it continues down under the symbol. i've done some research and there re lots of others with these same issues. i only have about 70000 miles on it.

Reported in: PHILA PA || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

two problems...first whenever i shift into reverse there is a hesitation and it takes longer than it should to reverse. im also experiencing a jerk before i come to a complete stop. second ..the back of my lift has a crack from the bottom of the window to the mercury symbol and then it continues down under the symbol. i've done some research and there re lots of others with these same issues. i only have about 70000 miles on it.

Reported in: PHILA PA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. the contact stated that there was a heating failure and an abnormal noise emitted from the heating unit when activated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the heat temperature actuator was replaced however, the failure recurred. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not further repaired. the failure mileage was 66,105 and the current mileage was 98,000. updated 3/5/14*cn

Reported in: ROXBURY MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2ZU86E15U

STRUCTURE:BODY

there is a crack in the lift gate which occurred over time for no apparent reason as there was no accident or collision of any kind with my mountaineer. i understand that there have been other complaints on this. the mercury dealership where i purchased and serviced my mountaineer are out of business.

Reported in: RIVERSIDE IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 4M2DU86W55Z

ENGINE

the engine has shut off twice while driving using cruise control. the first time i was able to get to the side of road and restart it.. the second time i put it in neutral and restarted it while moving. i am afraid to use the cruise control now - if there had been oncoming traffic we would've had a head-on collision as i was on a corner and went into the other lane. when the engine shuts off, the power steering is gone leaving it very difficult to turn.

Reported in: FEDERAL WAY WA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

the engine has shut off twice while driving using cruise control. the first time i was able to get to the side of road and restart it.. the second time i put it in neutral and restarted it while moving. i am afraid to use the cruise control now - if there had been oncoming traffic we would've had a head-on collision as i was on a corner and went into the other lane. when the engine shuts off, the power steering is gone leaving it very difficult to turn.

Reported in: FEDERAL WAY WA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury mountaineer. while driving 45 mph, the power steering failed without warning. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was unknown.

Reported in: STATESVILLE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 2MRDA23285B