2002 Ford Mountaineer Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Mountaineer, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Transmission426.7%
- Driver assistance213.3%
- Visibility213.3%
- Other / unspecified16.7%
- Brakes16.7%
- Steering16.7%
- Suspension16.7%
- Powertrain (other)16.7%
- Engine16.7%
- Fuel system16.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHUDDER WHEN SHIFTING, HAD DEALER POWER FLUSH AND FILL TRANSMISSION AND REPROGRAM PCM THIS FIXED PROBLEM FOR 3 DAYS, THEN PROBLEM RETURNED. HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TRANSMISSION CAN GO OUT ANYTIME SO REPAIRS HAVE TO BE DONE AT A COST OF $3600.00 AT DEALER. *JB
I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER REBUILT THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD IT COST ME $1400 FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO HAVE IT REBUILT I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN MARCH 2003 I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THEIR TRANSMISSIONS.I KEEP GETTING THE SAME OLD SOUND AND DANCE FROM THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE MECHANIC WHO REBUILD MY TRANSMISSION TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISLOTED INCIDENT. HE SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEN WITH FORD CARS AND TRUCKS ESPECIALY MOUNTAINEERS AND THE FORD EXPLORER.SO I TOLD THIS TO MERCURY DO THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS THEY SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TTHEY HEARD OF THIS. THIS TRUCK IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD TRANSMISSIONS JUST DONT GO BAD IN 5 YEARS I HAVE 2 OYTHER VEHICLES I ONLY USE THIS VEHICLE TO AND FROM WORK THERE IS NO REASON FOR MY TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD IN 5 YEARS. I TRIED TO BE COMPANSATED FOR THE RRRPEPAIRS THEY JUST IGNORE ME. WHAT CAN I DO. THANK YOU: ROBERT JOHN 3-16-2007
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION/MAIN COMPUTER, NOW THE CRUISE CONTROL IS INOPERATIVE. *NLM
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 FORD/MERCURY MOUNTAINEER I HAD TO HAVE MY RIGHT FRONT WINDOW FIXED. I LET IT DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT COME BACK UP SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL BODY SHOP AND HE SAID THIS IT THE 6TH ONE HE HAS HAD TO FIX IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS PART. IT COST ME OVER $200.00 TO HAVE A GASKET/SEAL PUT ON THE WINDOW. IT WAS NOT THE MOTOR BUT A PART THAT ATTACHES TO THE WINDOW. *NM
RE: 2002 MOUNTAINER , SAFETY RECALL, REAR GLASS BROKEN OUT, REPLACE DEFECTIVE WINDOW MOTOR. *BF CONSUMER SHUT THE BACK WINDOW AND THE GLASS BLEW OUT THROWING GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. TOP PART OF THE BACK DOOR FELL ON THE CONSUMER. *TC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 FORD/MERCURY MOUNTAINEER I HAD TO HAVE MY RIGHT FRONT WINDOW FIXED. I LET IT DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT COME BACK UP SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL BODY SHOP AND HE SAID THIS IT THE 6TH ONE HE HAS HAD TO FIX IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS PART. IT COST ME OVER $200.00 TO HAVE A GASKET/SEAL PUT ON THE WINDOW. IT WAS NOT THE MOTOR BUT A PART THAT ATTACHES TO THE WINDOW. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERMITTENTLY STEERING WHEEL DID NOT MOVE. THE GEAR SHIFT DID NOT MOVE FROM PARK, AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND NEITHER COULD LOCATE THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERMITTENTLY STEERING WHEEL DID NOT MOVE. THE GEAR SHIFT DID NOT MOVE FROM PARK, AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND NEITHER COULD LOCATE THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HAVE SEEN WHERE MANY OTHERS ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO WITH THE EXACT SAME MODEL SUV HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR BEARINGS AS WELL. TO ME IT SEEMS IF EVERYONE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THESE BEARING THAT THERE WOULD BE A RECALL. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPLACE THESE PARTS. IT IS NOT ONLY A EXPENSIVE PART IT IS ALSO A SAFETY RISK. I AMONG OTHERS DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE ALL THOSE PARTS. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS TRUCK EVERYDAY AND I FEEL THAT IT IS A RISK TO DRIVE IT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT LEVER ON THE COLUMN WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HAS REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE RESET BUTTON WAS PRESSED, IT TRIGGERED THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURES. THE VIN WAS INVALID AND THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,708 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FEUL GAUGE BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING AND I TOOK THE VECHILE TO COUNTRY LINCOLN MERCURY WEST (676 WEST MERRICK ROAD VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580 PHONE: (516) 285-0505 FAX: (516) 285-5565 ). THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, THERE WAS A SSM ON THE FUEL GAUGE. I THEN NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE EVERY TIME I CAME OUT OF THE VECHILE. WITHIN A WEEK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I RETURNED THE VICHELE TO THE SAME DEALER ON JUNE 21, 2005 ONLY TO FIND OUT THE GAS TANK WAS NOT SEALING PROPERELY. I AM BEING TOLD FORD DON'T HAVE ANY GAS TANK AVAILABLE UNTIL THE THIRD WEEK IN JULY 2005.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .