Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words
DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A CITY STREET, THE SPARK PLUG AND COIL SHOT OUT FROM THE #2 CYLINDER. A LARGE PERCUSSION BANGING SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHICH WAS THE DETECTABLE EVIDENCE SOMETHING HAD JUST GONE DESPERATELY WRONG WITH THE ENGINE.
MY SPARK PLUG ON #2 CYLINDER JUST SHOT OUT OF MY TRUCK'S ENGINE... ARGH!!!! DESTROYED MY COIL PACK AND COULD HAVE BUSTED THE FUEL LINE. AND NOW I CANT PUT IN THE SPARK PLUG. WTF........??????? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AND LOW OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO AND A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT MERGED THE VEHICLE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND OBSERVED THAT THE OIL WAS FULL. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE OIL AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND SUDDENLY ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS INCLUDING THE "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF THEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLED . IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACTS DOME LIGHTS DID NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
I PURCHASED A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER ON 4/11/2011. AS I WAS DRIVING IT HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE SAME DAY, I NOTICED SOME BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT THE BACK OF THE CAR. THERE WERE NO MESSAGES THAT CAME UP IN THE MESSAGE CENTER WINDOW SO I HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. AS I LOOKED BACK UP FROM THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, I NOTICED A FIRST RESPONDERS TRUCK NEXT TO THE DRIVERS WINDOW WHO WAS YELLING " GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, ITS ON FIRE!" IMMEDIATELY I PULLED OVER AND MY MOTHER AND I HAD TO JUMP FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE ENGINE AREA WAS ENGULFED WITH FLAMES. I WAS INJURED WHILE I WAS FLEEING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND STATE TROOPERS WERE ENROUTE AND MY VEHICLE WAS HOSED DOWN AND TOWED. I ALMOST DIED IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GOING OUT ON IT. THIS VEHICLE TYPE HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART AND THEIR CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED! THIS CAR IS A FIRE HAZARD! IF I WOULD HAVE HAD MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN THEIR CAR SEATS I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM ALL OUT IN TIME. COMPENSATED!! *TR
2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS UNEXPECTED IGNITION MISFIRING CODES, CAUSING HARD IDLE. AND THIS IS CAUSING COSTLY DIAGNOSTIC SERVICING THAT CANT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. I HAD ASKED 25 OTHER OWNERS AND THE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...VIN # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NEW SHOWROOM 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED TWICE WITHOUT WARNING; NO OVERHEATING, NO DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATORS EITHER TIME. JULY 2004/ODOMETER READING 92213, THE MECHANICS AT THE FREEWAY LINCOLN MERCURY WERE BAFFLED. THEY ADVISED ME THAT ALL THE FLUIDS WERE IN THE VEHICLE. LATER (ONE WEEK) THEY FOUND A "HOLE" IN THE RADIATOR. I WAS TOLD I HAD A NEW ENGINE, WITH A NEW WARRANTY. 2ND TIME WAS JUNE 06, ODOMETER 166199,(NEW ENGINE 73986) NO WARNING, NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS, NO OVERHEATING. PER A DIFFERENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC NOT ONLY WAS THE ENGINE NOT NEW BUT IT HAD SEVERE CORROSION IN IT AND SHOWED SIGNS OF MULTIPLE OVERHEATING CONDITIONS. THEY TOLD ME OF AN "ALL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" DATED 1/21/02 FOR MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE REGARDING THE "ENGINE HEAD GASKET"---"SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHICLE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA DUE TO PARTICLE CONTAMINATION OR SCRATCHES AND DENTS TO BLOCK MATING SURFACES." ACTION: REFER TO THE FOLLOWING SERVICE INFORMATION FOR RECOMMENDED GASKET SEALING SURFACE PREPARATION PROCEDURES. IF THE ENGINE DIAGNOSIS POINTS TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET (LEAKS OIL, LEAKS COOLANT, OIL OR COOLANT CONTAMINATION, OR AIR IN COOLANT), THOROUGH CLEANING PROCEDURES ARE NECESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL HEAD GASKET REPAIR. DIAGNOSIS AND POST- REPAIR CONFIRMATION CAN BE DONE SUCCESSFULLY UTILIZING LEAK DETECTION METHODS SUCH AS A BLACK LIGHT DYE PROCESS. SERVICE PROCEDURE:TO SUM UP, A SUCCESSFUL LEAK REPAIR DEPENDS ON:ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS OF THE LEAK USING FORD-RECOMMENDED TEST EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES .SURFACE PREPARATION AND GASKET INSTALLATION USING THE APPROVED TOOLS, CLEANERS, AND METHODS.EXERCISING CARE AND CLEANLINESS DURING DISASSEMBLY/ASSEMBLY OF COMPONENTS USE OF GENUINE FORD OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS<USE OF A FORD REMANUFACTURER
DRIVING FROM DALLAS, TX, TO WEST LAFAYETTE, IN, IN JAN 2010, THE 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH 4.6L V8 ENGINE BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING US TO STOP IN A SMALL TOWN TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPAIRED. THIS WAS A FACTORY INSTALLED (NOT REPLACED) SPARK PLUG. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS IN THE FORD V8 ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD AROUND 86,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND WAS NOT DUE FOR A SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT UNTIL 100,000 MILES. THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD AS GASOLINE IS SPEWING OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD WITH AN ATTACHED AND STILL ARCING SPARK PLUG. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON I75, I HEARD A LOUD BANG THEN A CONSTANT POPPING SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. I FOUND THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE, WHICH ALLOWED FUEL TO ESCAPE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
JUST LEFT THE HIGHWAY AND ENDED UP AT A RED LIGHT TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND ONE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WENT TO DRIVE OFF AND A LOUD BOOM I COULD HEAR COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD, AS I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR A SEMI TRUCK STARTED HONKING ITS HORN AND SLAMMED TO MISS HITTING FROM BEHIND. I WENT TO PULL TO THE SIDE THE ROAD BUT TRUCK WAS JUMPING ALL OVER AND I HAD TO PULL IN FRONT OF CARS TURNING WHICH I SMELT A SMELL LIKE SOMETHING BURNING. THE SPARK PLUG HAD RIPPED FROM ITS SOCKET, IT HAD HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME 1 YEAR AGO NOW 2ND ONE, REPAIRMAN SAYS HE SEES THIS ALL THE TIME WITH MY VEHICLE, " FORD IS HELPING PUTTING MY KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE WITH THESE PROBLEMS FROM YOUR YEAR" WOW, I THOUGHT FORD GOT, PAID, REPAIRMEN GOT PAID, AND I'M THE ONLY ONE TAKEN FOR A RIDE OF A LIFETIME. NOT RIGHT IS IT. *TR
JUST LEFT THE HIGHWAY AND ENDED UP AT A RED LIGHT TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND ONE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WENT TO DRIVE OFF AND A LOUD BOOM I COULD HEAR COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD, AS I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR A SEMI TRUCK STARTED HONKING ITS HORN AND SLAMMED TO MISS HITTING FROM BEHIND. I WENT TO PULL TO THE SIDE THE ROAD BUT TRUCK WAS JUMPING ALL OVER AND I HAD TO PULL IN FRONT OF CARS TURNING WHICH I SMELT A SMELL LIKE SOMETHING BURNING. *TR
REAR PANEL UNDER WINDOW HAS RECENTLY CRACKED, THERE ARE NOW 2 VERTICAL CRACKS RUNNING DOWN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, HITCH TO REAR DOOR DOESN'T STAY UP. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD A NEW ENGINE PUT IT AND INJECTORS HAVE POPPED OUT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED AND IT HAS GIVEN ME MORE PROBLEMS THAN I COULD EVER EXPECT IN A VEHICLE. FORD NEEDS TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE OWNED SEVERAL FORD'S AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. IT IS A TRUE LEMON>>>> *TR
ADD TO YOUR LIST OF COMPLAINTS OF SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM THE ALUMINUM HEAD. THIS IS A FORD MOTOR COMPANY DESIGN FLAW THAT THEY REFUSE TO RESOLVE. TOTAL PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX = $3,372.50. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAINS ON HIS VEHICLE WERE LOOSE, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, HE HEARD A CLANKING SOUND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MERCURY DEALER TWICE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST FOR FREE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
ON LOCAL STREET AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH. #2 SPARKPLUG BLEW OUT FROM CYLINDER HEAD. IT SOUNDED LIKE A BLOWN EXHAUST GASKET. AFTER ARRIVING HOME HAVE FOUND THAT PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT BREAKING THE COIL AND EXPOSING THE ENG TO A POSSIBLE FIRE FROM THE ARCING. THIS WAS ORIGINAL SPARKPLUG INSTALLATION. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME IN MY 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER ON MONDAY EVENING IN LYNDHURST, NJ AROUND THE TIME OF 7 PM. I HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY SOME RATTLING WHICH SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAS OCCURRED. I WAS VERY NERVOUS BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO APPLY PRESSURE TO MY BREAK TO STOP WITHOUT THE TRUCK IDLING VERY ROUGH LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL. THE TRUCK LOST ALL POWER. I CAREFULLY PROCEEDED TO A LOCAL GAS STATION IN RUTHERFORD AND DROPPED MY CAR OFF FOR THE MACHINING TO LOOK AT IN THE MORNING. I RECEIVED A CALL THE FOLLOWING MORNING FROM (THE MECHANIC) WHO STATED THE #5 SPARK PLUG RIPPED OUT OF MY ALUMINUM ENGINE HEAD. FOR A COST OF $366.00 HE RE-THREADED THE SPARK PLUG, INSTALLED A NEW COIL AND DID A TUNE-UP. HE TOLD ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN V8 AND V10 FORD ENGINES. IT CAN OCCUR AGAIN, OR THE SAME PLUG MAY RIP OUT AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE TO GO ON TWO HIGHWAYS TO GET TO WORK EVERYDAY. THE SOUND WAS LIKE I WAS BEING FIRED ON BY NATO. IMAGINE LOSING POWER ON THE HIGHWAY WITH PEOPLE BEHIND YOU AT 65 MPH. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY COMPLIANTS BY FORD CUSTOMERS WHO HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES, CAUSING THEM TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. FORD DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY, SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE THEM REPLACE THESE DANGEROUS ENGINES. SPARK PLUGS JUST FIRE THE ENGINE, THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO SHOOT OUT OF THE ENGINE LIKE SMALL ROCKETS. WHAT IF MY HOOD WAS OPEN AND THIS HAPPENED? SOMEONE COULD HAVE GOTEN KILLED. IF THIS WERE A BABY SEAT, CRIB OR CHILD TOY IT WOULD BE RECALLED. WE CAN'T WAIT TILL THERE IS A DEATH FROM THIS PROBLEM. *AK
2002 MOUNTAINEER HEAD VALVE BROKE. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER AGREED TO A REBUILT ENGINE AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED ON DECEMBER 29, 2005. TWELVE DAYS AFTER HAVING THE REBUILD ENGINE INSTALLED, IT CEASED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A HOSE CLAMP CAME LOOSE. *JB
2002 MOUNTAINEER STALLS, TRANSMISSION CONTROL ASSEMBLY, MAIN CONTROL VALVE, AND GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE LIFT GATE WAS STICKING, AND WHILE CLOSING IT, THE GLASS SHATTERED, THE GLASS WAS RECALLED, AND WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN FIXED. THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE TRIM ON THE FRONT DOOR FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE RUST ON THE BRAKE COMPONETS, THE PARK BRAKE SHOES FELL APART DUE TO CORROSION, THE REAR WHEEL BEARING AND KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. *JB
I HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF MY 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 4.6L ENGINE. THE CAR HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT BUT THIS IS THE SECOND ENGINE. THE ORIGINAL ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN DEC 2003 WHEN IT HAD 49,000 MILES ON IT. THE ORIGINAL ENGINE SEIZED UP AFTER AN OIL PUMP FAILURE. *NM
SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD AND STRIPPED THREADS. MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 2002. *NM
1. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 4/05. 2. 8/26/05 WHILE DRIVING ON I-81 THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING AND MAKING A TAPPING NOISE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER, COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE. 3. 8/26/05 -CYLINDER HEAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT AND DAMAGED THE HEAD. EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT/REPAIR BECAUSE IT "WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MOVING LUBRICATED PART." VEHICLE WOULD BE READY BY FRIDAY, 9/2/05. 4. ORIGINAL TECHNICIAN AT SCHOOL, AND NEW TECHNICIAN WOULD BE ASSIGNED. NEW DATE FOR VEHICLE TO BE READY WEDNESDAY 9/7/05. 5. TURNED IN MY RENTAL CAR ON 9/7/05. AFTER TEST DRIVE BY DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO STILL HAVE A PROBLEM. GOT A RIDE HOME. RECEIVED A CALL ABOUT 5:30PM ADVISING THAT THE "TIMING CHAIN PULLEY" NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PART ORDERED AND VEHICLE MAY BE READY ON 9/8/05. NO DISCUSSION ON THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THIS ADDITIONAL REPAIR. 6. GO TO HTTP://CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_SPARK.HTML AND YOU WILL FIND THAT SINCE JUNE 2001 THIS SPARK PLUG DEFECT HAS BEEN REPORTED. 7. COSTS ARE EXTENSIVE FOR THE REPAIR IN EXCESS OF $3000, AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS AND DROVE IT ONLY 2 MONTHS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN AWAY WITH THE VIRGINIA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD. 8. NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS PROBLEM WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN SINCE FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THE VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOW CAN I GET MY MONEY BACK FOR THE REPAIR? I FEEL THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A LEMON AND I ALSO FEEL THAT THE DEALERSHIP KNEW MORE ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE THAN THEY REVEALED. I WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE EXCHANGED FOR ONE OF EQUAL VALUE. *JB
CONSUMER CALLED AND REQUESTS SEVERAL TIMES FOR CERTAIN PARTS. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS AND DEALER HAS NOT RESPONDED. CONSUMER WAS WAITING TO GET VEHICLE SERVICED.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. *MR THE ENGINE REMAINED SLIPPING, JUMPING, AND MAKING NOISES, THE REAR WINDOW DID NOT HOLD AND FELL ON THE CONSUMERS HEAD, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS, THE FUEL ENGINE READ EMPTY AND THE LIGHT WAS ON, THE INTERIOR COAT HOOKS HAD COME OUT OF THE WALLS, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS JUMPING, CLUNKING, AND SLIPPING. *SC DUP OF 10022342_PCO
THE SERVICE DEPT. STATES THAT THE WIRING IS BAD.AFTER REPLACING THE WIRING THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST.I'AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR IF THE WIRING IS BAD THERES A CHANCE THAT THE CAR WILL CATCH A FIRE.
WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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