Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | |||||
| 16304 | 10/01/2002 | 10013074 | Sun visor rattle / detroit area dealers contact request. *tt | 04/07/2005 | |
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||||
| 04251 | 12/27/2004 | 10014165 | Aluminum corrosion - service tip. *tt | 04/28/2005 | |
| 0485 | 01/01/2005 | 05242 | 10008546 | Liftgate glass applique damaged/cracked. service procedure. *tt | 08/04/2004 |
| 17276 | 10/01/2003 | 10004920 | A popping or creaking noise that appears to be coming from the front exterior of the vehicle. *tt | 01/20/2004 | |
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR | |||||
| 18215 | 10/01/2004 | 10010730 | Broken rear cargo storage door lift handle. various models including 2005 explorer/mountaineer. *tt | 12/07/2004 | |
| 16195 | 09/01/2002 | 10008597 | Contact st louis assembly plant/st louis vicinity only. *mj | 08/09/2004 | |
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE | |||||
| 03126 | 06/23/2003 | 10002687 | Liftgate glass applique damaged/cracked - service procedure. *tt | 09/10/2003 | |
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | |||||
| 17216 | 09/01/2003 | 10004078 | Breakage of a liftgate window hinge. *tt | 11/17/2003 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | |||
| 12/04/2009 | 95000 | 1 | |
| Liftgate panel above emblem (outside) has cracked completely top to bottom. when i took to ford service, they stated other side will crack and eventually panel could come off. my truck is only 6 years old. if panel comes off, odds are it will come off while driving. i do alot of highway miles and that could be serious. i was told there are recalls on same problem but for different year. this needs to be reviewed. *tr | |||
| 06/28/2008 | 92000 | 1 | |
| I also have a crack on my lift gate around the emblem and every mercury i see on the road also has it. i also believe they should do a recall on this issue. *tr | |||
| 03/10/2009 | 62230 | 1 | |
| The paint on the rear lid of my 2003 mountaineer is pealing. dealer and two auto body repair shops have verified that the problem is a factory defect. ford/mercury refuses to correct the problem. they have referred me to their warranty information. the problem is a defect caused by them during the manufacturing of the vehicle. *tr | |||
| 01/13/2009 | 85000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mercury mountaineer. the contact noticed a crack next to the emblem on the rear hatch door of the vehicle. the dealer speculated that cold weather conditions may have potentially caused the failure. the repair would cost $700 because the vehicle is over three years old. the vehicle has not been repaired and the manufacturer did not assist. the failure mileage was 85,000 and current mileage was 86,000. updated 04-20-09 *bf updated 04/24/09.*jb | |||
| 09/20/2008 | 1 | ||
| Crack in liftgate. *tr | |||
| 06/01/2008 | 59850 | 1 | |
| The failure is for a 2003 mercury mountaineer. the failure is a crack in the lift gate that occurs right alongside the mercury emblem or logo on the back of the tailgate or lift gate. this crack has been reported numerous times here and in online forums. to me seems like a deficiency or a defect in the material that makes up this panel that is a part of the lift gate glass and the tailgate as a unit | |||
| 11/06/2008 | 73000 | 1 | |
| I opened rear liftgate and removed some items as usual. upon trying to let the gate down 1/4 way down the glass shattered. the struts hung not allowing me to be able to close gate. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 01/01/2009 | 98000 | 1 | |
| I want ford to recall there mercury mountaineer as it has a major safety issue. all of there mercury from 2002 onward have a crack on there rear lift gate. i done google and almost net is full of complaints on this. *tr crack starts right below mercury logo and keep increasing and increasing. my car logo not came off, but few cars, this logo blown off. also now i learnt that car hinges holding this very rear hood came off.. i thought its mine, but again, almost web is full of complaints on this and knowing how risky this is, trying best to go to every look and corner so to ensure that ford does repair asap | |||
| 01/01/2009 | 98000 | ||
| I want ford to recall there mercury mountaineer as it has a major safety issue. all of there mercury from 2002 onward have a crack on there rear lift gate. i done google and almost net is full of complaints on this. crack starts right below mercury logo and keep increasing and increasing. my car logo not came off, but few cars, this logo blown off. also now i learnt that car hinges holding this very rear hood came off.. i thought its mine, but again, almost web is full of complaints on this and knowing how risky this is, trying best to go to every look and corner so to ensure that ford does repair asap | |||
| 11/16/2012 | 1 | ||
| The hasn't been an accident. i wanted to report that i have a cracked tailgate on my vehicle. the crack appeared one morning - i wasn't even driving the vehicle. the cracked begins at the top of the tailgate, around the emblem part of the lift gate, then down towards the tailgate lift handle. i called my local ford dealer, citrus ford, ontario, ca, but was informed there wasn't a recall and the issue had to deal with water leaking into the locking mechanism and cracking because its plastic and not metal. at least the dealership didn't accuse me of being in an accident, but no efforts were made to repair the cracked tailgate at no cost to me, the customer. can nhtsa push ford to recall this matter? *tr | |||
| 11/16/2012 | |||
| The hasn't been an accident. i wanted to report that i have a cracked tailgate on my vehicle. the crack appeared one morning - i wasn't even driving the vehicle. the cracked begins at the top of the tailgate, around the emblem part of the lift gate, then down towards the tailgate lift handle. i called my local ford dealer, citrus ford, ontario, ca, but was informed there wasn't a recall and the issue had to deal with water leaking into the locking mechanism and cracking because its plastic and not metal. at least the dealership didn't accuse me of being in an accident, but no efforts were made to repair the cracked tailgate at no cost to me, the customer. can nhtsa push ford to recall this matter? | |||
| 12/17/2009 | 98000 | 1 | |
| The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, around the side of the mercury emblem, all the way down. i've noticed the same cracking on almost every other mountaineer on the roads, and i see a huge number of the same complaint on the nhtsa website. obviously this is a defect and needs to be recalled. *tr | |||
| 09/19/2012 | 167000 | 1 | |
| Back hinges broke allowing the glass to fall. *tr | |||
| 09/19/2012 | 165000 | 1 | |
| When lifting up rear window section (top half of rear door) the hinges broke causing the window and it's frame to fall down. window frame was barely hanging by piston supports. *tr | |||
| 12/17/2009 | 98000 | ||
| The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, around the side of the mercury emblem, all the way down. i've noticed the same cracking on almost every other mountaineer on the roads, and i see a huge number of the same complaint on the nhtsa website. obviously this is a defect and needs to be recalled. | |||
| 09/19/2012 | 167000 | ||
| Back hinges broke allowing the glass to fall | |||
| 09/19/2012 | 165000 | ||
| When lifting up rear window section (top half of rear door) the hinges broke causing the window and it's frame to fall down. window frame was barely hanging by piston supports. | |||
| 12/17/2009 | 98000 | ||
| The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, around the side of the mercury emblem, all the way down. i've noticed the same cracking on almost every other mountaineer on the roads, and i see a huge number of the same complaint on the nhtsa website. obviously this is a defect and needs to be recalled. | |||
| 09/19/2012 | 167000 | ||
| Back hinges broke allowing the glass to fall | |||
| 09/19/2012 | 165000 | ||
| When lifting up rear window section (top half of rear door) the hinges broke causing the window and it's frame to fall down. window frame was barely hanging by piston supports. | |||
| 12/17/2009 | 98000 | ||
| The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, around the side of the mercury emblem, all the way down. i've noticed the same cracking on almost every other mountaineer on the roads, and i see a huge number of the same complaint on the nhtsa website. obviously this is a defect and needs to be recalled. | |||
| 09/19/2012 | 167000 | ||
| Back hinges broke allowing the glass to fall | |||
| 09/19/2012 | 165000 | ||
| When lifting up rear window section (top half of rear door) the hinges broke causing the window and it's frame to fall down. window frame was barely hanging by piston supports. | |||
| 12/17/2009 | 98000 | ||
| The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, around the side of the mercury emblem, all the way down. i've noticed the same cracking on almost every other mountaineer on the roads, and i see a huge number of the same complaint on the nhtsa website. obviously this is a defect and needs to be recalled. | |||
| 09/19/2012 | 167000 | ||
| Back hinges broke allowing the glass to fall | |||
| 09/19/2012 | 165000 | ||
| When lifting up rear window section (top half of rear door) the hinges broke causing the window and it's frame to fall down. window frame was barely hanging by piston supports. | |||
| 05/04/2012 | |||
| Ford has a tsb on their website for the problems i am having with my vehicle.i contacted tyem and i was told that i have to pay for the repairs.what i do not understand is if there are sooo many complaint from consumers on this vehicle for the same issues is that not the responsibility of the manufactor being it considered a defective product? i have to children and this is of extreme concern to me that these issues on my car can cause an accident. -back trunck door is cracked doen the latch. -the car doesnt shift correctly and tires seem loose -the overdrive light is blinking all the time and the transmission is signalling.. i have found so many websites with complaints about the same issues on 2003-2004 mercury montanieers. | |||
| 08/02/2010 | 65000 | ||
| There is a crack from the bottom of the rear window right by the mercury emblem, all the way down. i've seen nearly identical cracking on many other mountaineers and explorers. i see a rather large number of the same complaints on several websites. obviously this is a defect that could result in injuries and needs to be recalled for safety reasons. mercury/ford needs to stand behind der product. | |||
| 09/02/2011 | 134600 | ||
| 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 occured on factory tightened plugs. | |||
| 02/17/2011 | 92000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mercury mountaineer. the contact stated that the rear decklid panel was cracked due to the colder weather temperatures. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who advised that they were aware of the issue but the contact would be liable for the repairs. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who took a complaint but offered no further assistance. the current mileage was 92,489 and the failure mileage was approximately 92,000. | |||
| 02/17/2011 | 92100 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 mercury mountaineer. the contact stated that the rear decklid panel cracked when the weather became cold. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that they were aware of the issue but he would have to pay for the repair. the vehicle had not been repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who took a complaint but offered no further assistance. the current mileage was 92,489. the failure mileage was approximately 92,000-bk | |||
| 05/02/2005 | 42000 | ||
| The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, thru the mercury emblem, and all the way down. ive seen neraly identical cracking on many other mountaineers. i see arather llarge number of the same complaints on the nhtsa website. obviously this is a defect that could result in injuries and needs to be recalled. | |||
| 01/15/2007 | 52000 | ||
| 2003 mercury mountainer cracked panel on back lift gate from window around right side of round emblem to bottom. second time this has happened. first time vehicle was under warantee. 90% of these vehicles i see on road are cracked. ford /mercury needs to recall & fix | |||
| 05/02/2005 | 42000 | ||
| The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, thru the mercury emblem, and all the way down. ive seen neraly identical cracking on many other mountaineers. i see arather llarge number of the same complaints on the nhtsa website. obviously this is a defect that could result in injuries and needs to be recalled. | |||
| 01/15/2007 | 52000 | ||
| 2003 mercury mountainer cracked panel on back lift gate from window around right side of round emblem to bottom. second time this has happened. first time vehicle was under warantee. 90% of these vehicles i see on road are cracked. ford /mercury needs to recall & fix | |||
| 05/02/2005 | 42000 | ||
| The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, thru the mercury emblem, and all the way down. ive seen neraly identical cracking on many other mountaineers. i see arather llarge number of the same complaints on the nhtsa website. obviously this is a defect that could result in injuries and needs to be recalled. | |||
| 01/15/2007 | 52000 | ||
| 2003 mercury mountainer cracked panel on back lift gate from window around right side of round emblem to bottom. second time this has happened. first time vehicle was under warantee. 90% of these vehicles i see on road are cracked. ford /mercury needs to recall & fix | |||
| 05/02/2005 | 42000 | ||
| The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, thru the mercury emblem, and all the way down. ive seen neraly identical cracking on many other mountaineers. i see arather llarge number of the same complaints on the nhtsa website. obviously this is a defect that could result in injuries and needs to be recalled. | |||
| 01/15/2007 | 52000 | ||
| 2003 mercury mountainer cracked panel on back lift gate from window around right side of round emblem to bottom. second time this has happened. first time vehicle was under warantee. 90% of these vehicles i see on road are cracked. ford /mercury needs to recall & fix | |||
| 05/02/2005 | 42000 | ||
| The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, thru the mercury emblem, and all the way down. ive seen neraly identical cracking on many other mountaineers. i see arather llarge number of the same complaints on the nhtsa website. obviously this is a defect that could result in injuries and needs to be recalled. | |||
| 01/15/2007 | 52000 | ||
| 2003 mercury mountainer cracked panel on back lift gate from window around right side of round emblem to bottom. second time this has happened. first time vehicle was under warantee. 90% of these vehicles i see on road are cracked. ford /mercury needs to recall & fix | |||
| 08/01/2010 | 106000 | ||
| The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, around the left side of the mercury emblem, and all the way down. i've noticed the same cracking on almost every other mountaineer on the roads, and i see a huge number of the same complaint on the nhtsa website. obviously this is a defect and needs to be recalled. | |||
| 06/04/2009 | |||
| Most 2003 mercury mountaineers and ford explorers are experiencing cracked lift gates around the emblem. sometimes my lift gate opens on its own...don't know if this is happening due to the crack but this is a defect in manufacturing our vehicles. dealers know about it but won't repair it without charging the consumers. drive thru car wash personnel advise drivers before they drive through that the crack is preexisting (so they all know about it?) but the owners of these cars can't get this defective manufacturing issue repaired at no charge to all of us? | |||
| 12/08/2009 | 78898 | 1 | |
| Purchased the 2003 mercury mountaineer in 2007. we only drive the car locally for school and work and within 30 days of purchase, the car would not go into reverse. was told the transmission was slipping and made the dealership/warranty pay for $1600 repair. since then the check engine light comes on every 3 months. we get check fuel cap message, replaced that twice (last one from actual ford dealership) because they told us it wasn't the original from the car. car leaks water through the rear window/roof seal and now my light stays on when i lock the car and it tells me every time we get in the car that there is a door ajar no matter if we get out and reclose all 4 doors and back door. r&r wheel speed sensor and ball joints had to be replaced 8/29/08 for $555. just recently had my transmission go out again (12/8/09) and had to have complete rebuild of a mercury transmission which cost us another $4000. it still slightly vibrates going between 30 and 40 miles per hour. also the back hatch has cracked completely down through the logo. our ford dealer charges $200 just to look at the vehicle! *tr | |||
| 01/03/2010 | 60000 | 1 | |
| I have 2003 mercury mountaineer and i have had it since february 2007. i have had numerous problems with it and the last problems was the breaking point. i have three more years to pay for this vehicle and i want something to be done about the problems with this vehcile. ford should be held responsible for this vehicle and fixing the problems associated with it. i purchased this vehicle from community ford in new albany, ms in february 2007 with 45,000 miles on it. i couldn't get an extended warranty or any warranty with the vehicle i was told. after a year, i had to replace the front end and it was $500.00 at george's tire services. i took it in due to this noise coming from the front and i was advised that if i didn't have the work did it would lock up on me while i am driving and cause and accident. i noticed that my structure body:hatchback/tailgate has cracked completely. my seat belt on the driver side in the back don't work. my engine cooling system aircompressor has went out and i have electrical problems where my oil gauge is constantly saying it's low. i have my oil change every 3000 miles. i am hearing this noise in the rear of the vehicle and i don't know what it is and can't afford to get going to ford to see what it is. i have been smelling this burning coming from the under the hood and i don't know what it is either. my lastest problem is my transmission is going out and i have had this vehicle for two years and i have three more years of payment on this vehicle. my transmission cost me around $3500 and i don't have any warranty on it. this is a lemon i have purchased and i think something should be done about it. *tr | |||
| 05/15/2009 | 93000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2003 mercury mountaineer and it has a crack on the liftgate that starts at the top in the middle, goes around the mercury emblem and continues down to the bottom of the liftgate. i am worried that the glass will fall out or break one day when i hit a bump or close the tailgate. or will the glass shatter when i hit a bump or close it? *tr | |||
| 07/01/2009 | 112000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2003 mercury mountaineer and the liftgate has cracked around the mercury emblem. i have seen several other mountaineers with exact same cracking around emblem. this makes me wonder if panel could fail causing glass to fall out. since this problem has been reported in numerous websites , is there going to be a recall to fix this problem. it is obviously a defect or this problem would not be rampant. *tr | |||
| 08/01/2008 | 37000 | 1 | |
| I am having an issue with my hatchback. the emblem has a long and large crack on the left side of the emblem. i have noticed that there are several 2003 mountaineers with the same issue. i am afraid that the crack will cause the glass to break. i noticed when i bought the vehicle the dealership tried to repair the issue once therefore i felt that i should advise/complain about the failure to see if a recall or a bulletin would be placed on the vehicle to repair the issue with no recourse or recurring issue. i am not sure why this issue is occurring but i would like for this issue to be repaired at not cost to me because again i have found many mountaineers with the same issue and all have been 2003 so far. please investigate and assist ford/mercury to produce a solution to the issue. *tr | |||
| 06/01/2008 | 59850 | 1 | |
| The failure is for a 2003 mercury mountaineer. the failure is a crack in the lift gate that occurs right alongside the mercury emblem or logo on the back of the tailgate or lift gate. this crack has been reported numerous times here and in online forums. to me seems like a deficiency or a defect in the material that makes up this panel that is a part of the lift gate glass and the tailgate as a unit | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | |||
| 11/13/2002 | 1 | 11/13/2002 | |
| To this date the following problems are present: gas gauge sticks, air bag warning light comes on and off, driver's side door rattles and knocks, driver's side window taps, driver's side window grinds while moving up and down, clock and radio do not light up or work when start vehicle, sun roof rattles and knocks, wind gets caught between roof and headliner which creates a loud vibration, the passenger side window also rattles and knocks, there is a loud rhythmic chirp toward rear of vehicle, heating and cooling controls squeal when turning on or switching vent settings, driver's seat feels rough when moving on seat track, the 3rd steering wheel still has defect under the leather which protrudes, driver's side leather seat was damaged after being at the dealership, 2nd row middle seat is almost impossible to lock in folded position, front windshield wiper control does not stay within setting, the vehicle vibrates and the steering wheel shakes when turning the wheel at a slow speed, the third row cup holder on the driver's side does not stay down in the fitting, there is a strong exhaust smell in the cabin when engine is in hard acceleration, engine starts to stall while driving. steering wheel was defective by being malformed causing the airbag to be ineffective. the second steering wheel was also ill fitted causing sharp protruding parts on the steering wheel. the dealership has had to repair or replace the following: body work to defective paint on roof, front hood, and driver's side fender. the dealership damaged paint in two areas and only provided touch up paint. replaced noisy rear windshield wiper motor, rear hatch glass because defrost would not work, rear hatch hinges, driver's side seat track. suspension problems with vibration and pitching. vehicle lurches forward upon acceleration. *la | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE | |||
| 12/15/2009 | 80000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mercury mountaineer. the contact noticed that the rear lift gate windshield assembly was cracked. the manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in any recalls and any repairs would be at the expense of the owner. the failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 84,000. | |||
| 01/01/2009 | 86000 | 1 | |
| A cracked liftgate applique..it is cracked around the applique.. *tr | |||
| 03/18/2009 | 1 | ||
| While opening my hatch in the back of my car the hock came apart. one of the two hocks that hold the glass of the hatch broke. not sure why it broke, the car did not have anything leaning up against it. it's dangerous because i could have happen while i was driving and the glass could have fell on the care behind me. *tr | |||
| 03/02/2008 | 1 | ||
| Currently i have a crack in the left side of the back lift gate. i do not kow how it got there but then i noticed 6 other mountaineers with the ame issue. i think this may be a manufactors defect and wonder if thes will effect the back glass? *tr | |||
| 12/15/2007 | 60000 | 1 | |
| Crack in the rear liftgate to the left side of the mercury emblem. when we first noticed the crack, it was about 1/2 way down the plastic, then within a week it was all the way though. i'm not sure if there is any structural components that are effected by the crack or what may have caused the crack. i'm not sure if the glass is effected or not, but i'm concerned that whatever caused the plastic to crack will also effect the strength of the glass. *tr | |||
| 11/10/2007 | 39870 | 1 | 08/15/2003 |
| Liftgate cracked. no damage done to vehicle. notice crack starting below window going down through the mercury emblem. *tr | |||
| 01/20/2007 | 50000 | 1 | 08/22/2004 |
| Rear middle hatchback has crack in molding from bottom of window all the way down. possibly due to cold weather. *nm | |||
| 08/23/2004 | 1 | 08/01/2003 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated on 8/23/04, the rear liftgate window of my 2003 mercury mountaineer violently exploded while parked. the force of the explosion sent glass flying into the rear of my vehicle and into the parking lot. the dealer had my car for 9 days before ford sent a representative to view the damage. against several opinions, ford denied responsibility because there were dog crates in the back. these crates had been in my mountaineers for years & didn't even come close to the window. i found dozens of idiopathic exploding liftgate incidents on the nhtsa site for the ford explorer and mercury mountaineer - at the time, nhtsa advised that ford was about to issue a voluntary recall. i did get the recall weeks after the incident, but my attempts to obtain reimbursement from ford for repair of this defective liftgate glass for myself and my insurer were unsuccessful. my complaint made it to the executive offices of ford, but they would not even talk to me because my insurance company was not subrogating - the claim was just too small for my insurer to pursue. however, there is a principle involved, and i am completely disgusted with ford motor company. i had the car repaired by insurance after i paid the deductible, and then a couple months later, the recall work for the liftgate was done by my dealer. recently, i noticed that the new liftgate has an ever enlarging crack down the center of the liftgate glass frame - my dealer says it is not structural and not to worry, but due to the history of this vehicle, i fear that another explosion is imminent. i was in the car at the time of the first explosion, and it was scary. i have had a warning magnetic sign placed on the rear of my vehicle to warn people to stay away from the rear of my vehicle in case of another explosion, and my dog crates are now shielded with a sun blanket to protect from flying glass. ford has created such bad will with me that this likely will be the last ford product i own. | |||
| 08/23/2004 | 1 | ||
| Dt*: the contact stated on 8/23/04, the rear liftgate window of my 2003 mercury mountaineer violently exploded while parked. the force of the explosion sent glass flying into the rear of my vehicle and into the parking lot. the dealer had my car for 9 days before ford sent a representative to view the damage. against several opinions, ford denied responsibility because there were dog crates in the back. these crates had been in my mountaineers for years & didn't even come close to the window. i found dozens of idiopathic exploding liftgate incidents on the nhtsa site for the ford explorer and mercury mountaineer - at the time, nhtsa advised that ford was about to issue a voluntary recall. i did get the recall weeks after the incident, but my attempts to obtain reimbursement from ford for repair of this defective liftgate glass for myself and my insurer were unsuccessful. my complaint made it to the executive offices of ford, but they would not even talk to me because my insurance company was not subrogating - the claim was just too small for my insurer to pursue. however, there is a principle involved, and i am completely disgusted with ford motor company. i had the car repaired by insurance after i paid the deductible, and then a couple months later, the recall work for the liftgate was done by my dealer. recently, i noticed that the new liftgate has an ever enlarging crack down the center of the liftgate glass frame - my dealer says it is not structural and not to worry, but due to the history of this vehicle, i fear that another explosion is imminent. i was in the car at the time of the first explosion, and it was scary. i have had a warning magnetic sign placed on the rear of my vehicle to warn people to stay away from the rear of my vehicle in case of another explosion, and my dog crates are now shielded with a sun blanket to protect from flying glass. ford has created such bad will with me that this likely will be the last ford product i own. updated. *jb | |||
| 11/17/2006 | 59200 | 1 | 12/26/2003 |
| The hatch back door on my mercury mountaineer split in half from the base of the window to the bottom of the hatch door. i believe the placement of the mercury symbo liner the top center of the hatch weakens the hatch causing it to split with use and / or with a sudden change in temperature. *jb | |||
| 09/12/2006 | 38600 | 1 | 08/08/2003 |
| Liftgate cracked. part will need to be replaced or possibility of window falling out. was told by my mercury dealer that this is a known fault in vehicle but since it happens between 40,000 and 50,000 miles it is no longer ford/mercury's responsibility since cars are out of warranty. *jb | |||
| 12/31/2004 | 30000 | 1 | |
| Recall repair ineffective and aggravated initial problem - cure worse than the disease. rear liftgate window shattered. following dealer repair for recall 04s29, our rear window shattered explosively within 48 hours. this was the type of issue the recall repair was supposed to prevent. incident occured in garage while vehicle was stationary, spreading glass in a 6 foor radius inside and outside of the vehicle. the rear liftgate had not been opened since the recall repair was completed.*ak | |||
| 08/23/2004 | 1 | 08/20/2003 | |
| The rear liftback window on my 2003 mercury mountaineer violently exploded while parked in a parking lot at my son's football scrimmage. at the time of the explosion, around 6:30 p.m., i was sitting in the vehicle with my dogs, and i was parked in the shade with the rear of my car backed up up to a minivan. there was no evidence of foul play - since i was in the vehicle, i was able to quickly survey the area to make sure no one was nearby pulling a prank. the deafening explosion made such a loud noise that i involuntary ducked, and people came running from across the field to find out what had happened. broken glass was scattered all over the inside rear of my vehicle and all over the ground on the outside of my vehicle. had 3rd row passengers been present or had dogs been in their crates in the rear, they would have been badly cut and dazed by the explosion. the force of the explosion actually bent the frame of the liftback, like a suitcase stuffed too full of clothes would bend at the sides. the hydraulic lifters were dangling and askew. this was an extremely frightening, upsetting experience. at present, my car has been in the dealership for a week, and i am still waiting for the ford district manager to assess the situation. i have an extended warranty on the vehicle. the service person at the dealer has cast doubt as to whether ford will consider this a warranty item because they have never seen a problem like this before. ford has yet to step up and acknowledge an apparent design flaw in the back liftgate and repair my vehicle.*ak | |||
| 07/09/2003 | 2 | ||
| The liftgate is coming off while driving at any speed. dealer has inspected vehicle twice, and could not duplicate or correct the problem. *ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | |||
| 05/23/2007 | 74494 | 3 | 12/30/2002 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mercury mountaineer. the contact stated that the rear driver's side wheel bearing was replaced 3 times within 16 months. on october 1, 2008, while driving out of the driveway at an unknown speed, she heard a loud noise. the vehicle was towed to the repair shop and the mechanic stated that the rear driver's side wheel bearing failed. the contact stated that the vehicle was not driven on dirt roads, only in the city. she feels that either the wheel bearing is defective or the ford dealer did not properly correct the previous failures. the ford dealer stated that the vehicle is out of warranty and the wheel bearing is only good for 12,000 miles. the manufacturer took a report and stated that they will forward her information to the dealer. from there, the dealer will determine if the vehicle will be repaired. the failure mileage was 74,494 and current mileage was 104,000. updated 11/14/08 *cn the driver side visor was hanging down, the vehicle stalled on several occasions. the lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends were replaced. the rear hatch window cracked. the vehicle would crank, but it would not start. updated 11/18/08. *jb | |||
| 03/01/2005 | 1 | ||
| 'recall campaign' mercury mountaineer 2003 for liftgate hinges, parts not available. *bf the consumer has been unable to get the recall repair done, because the parts were unavailable. *jb | |||
| 10/11/2004 | 19000 | 1 | |
| The consumer has been unable to get the part for the liftgate . nhtsa liftgate bracket recall 04v442000. *jb liftgate repaired on 2/3/05. *tt | |||
| 12/15/2004 | 58000 | 1 | 03/08/2003 |
| Consumer states there is a crack in the plastic molding around the rear liftgate glass. consumer is concerned that the crack may cause the glass to fall out. the dealer was notified.*ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - SUPPORT DEVICE | |||
| 01/24/2008 | 50840 | 1 | |
| Crack in liftgate to the right of the mercury emblem. on january, 24, 2008 i went to put something in the back of my mountaineer only to find before opening it that there was a large crack in the liftgate. i'm not exactly sure if this effects the integrity of the glass back window, but i'm sure with time it will spread.....then what! *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HOOD | |||
| 11/13/2002 | 1 | 11/13/2002 | |
| To this date the following problems are present: gas gauge sticks, air bag warning light comes on and off, driver's side door rattles and knocks, driver's side window taps, driver's side window grinds while moving up and down, clock and radio do not light up or work when start vehicle, sun roof rattles and knocks, wind gets caught between roof and headliner which creates a loud vibration, the passenger side window also rattles and knocks, there is a loud rhythmic chirp toward rear of vehicle, heating and cooling controls squeal when turning on or switching vent settings, driver's seat feels rough when moving on seat track, the 3rd steering wheel still has defect under the leather which protrudes, driver's side leather seat was damaged after being at the dealership, 2nd row middle seat is almost impossible to lock in folded position, front windshield wiper control does not stay within setting, the vehicle vibrates and the steering wheel shakes when turning the wheel at a slow speed, the third row cup holder on the driver's side does not stay down in the fitting, there is a strong exhaust smell in the cabin when engine is in hard acceleration, engine starts to stall while driving. steering wheel was defective by being malformed causing the airbag to be ineffective. the second steering wheel was also ill fitted causing sharp protruding parts on the steering wheel. the dealership has had to repair or replace the following: body work to defective paint on roof, front hood, and driver's side fender. the dealership damaged paint in two areas and only provided touch up paint. replaced noisy rear windshield wiper motor, rear hatch glass because defrost would not work, rear hatch hinges, driver's side seat track. suspension problems with vibration and pitching. vehicle lurches forward upon acceleration. *la | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS | |||
| 11/13/2002 | 1 | 11/13/2002 | |
| To this date the following problems are present: gas gauge sticks, air bag warning light comes on and off, driver's side door rattles and knocks, driver's side window taps, driver's side window grinds while moving up and down, clock and radio do not light up or work when start vehicle, sun roof rattles and knocks, wind gets caught between roof and headliner which creates a loud vibration, the passenger side window also rattles and knocks, there is a loud rhythmic chirp toward rear of vehicle, heating and cooling controls squeal when turning on or switching vent settings, driver's seat feels rough when moving on seat track, the 3rd steering wheel still has defect under the leather which protrudes, driver's side leather seat was damaged after being at the dealership, 2nd row middle seat is almost impossible to lock in folded position, front windshield wiper control does not stay within setting, the vehicle vibrates and the steering wheel shakes when turning the wheel at a slow speed, the third row cup holder on the driver's side does not stay down in the fitting, there is a strong exhaust smell in the cabin when engine is in hard acceleration, engine starts to stall while driving. steering wheel was defective by being malformed causing the airbag to be ineffective. the second steering wheel was also ill fitted causing sharp protruding parts on the steering wheel. the dealership has had to repair or replace the following: body work to defective paint on roof, front hood, and driver's side fender. the dealership damaged paint in two areas and only provided touch up paint. replaced noisy rear windshield wiper motor, rear hatch glass because defrost would not work, rear hatch hinges, driver's side seat track. suspension problems with vibration and pitching. vehicle lurches forward upon acceleration. *la | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - TRUNK LID | |||
| 10/27/2008 | 47000 | 2 | 07/01/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mercury mountaineer. when the trunk lid under the window was opened, the contact noticed a crack in the trunk lid. the trunk lid was repaired two years ago by the dealer and now a crack has reappeared. the manufacturer was called after the contact took his vehicle to the dealer for a second repair. the repair would cost $85; however, the contact wants a free repair because it is a defect and will probably crack again. the failure mileage was 47,000. updated 02/05/09. *lj updated 02/10/09. *jb | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 07/07/2009 | 100000 | 1 | |
| On the tailgate of the mountaineer, due to heat/cold a crack started from the windshield and went down past the mercury emblem down to the next panel. *tr | |||