RoadVitals

2002 Mercury Mountaineer Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jul 3, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 372 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 8 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.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 3, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID
10731914
Incident
Jun 27, 2015
Mileage
148,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 4, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE NOZZLE STOPPED AFTER THREE GALLONS AND GAS BEGAN SPILLING OUT. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE GAS TANK WAS EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED AN UNKNOWN REPAIR. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,140. UPDATED 04-07-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR AJAR CHIME GOES OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK FOR 5 MILES. UPDATED

NHTSA ID
10216918
Incident
Apr 1, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Oct 12, 2005
Crash reported

MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD RESULTING IN A CRASH WITH A METAL HAND RAIL AND TWO AIR CONDITIONING UNITS. NO DEFINITIVE CAUSE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED EXCEPT. A WITNESS SAYS SHE HEARD AN ENGINE REV UP JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH. *JB

NHTSA ID
10139426
Incident
Oct 12, 2005
Mileage
67,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 17, 2005

THIS IS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH A V8 ENGINE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WITH NO DRIVER INPUT FROM A STOP. IT LURCHES BOTH IN DRIVE AND IN REVERSE.

NHTSA ID
10129023
Incident
Jun 15, 2005
Mileage
38,000 mi
Body & structureEngineFuel system+3 more
Filed Jun 29, 2004
1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10081527
Incident
Nov 20, 2001
Mileage
883 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 18, 2002
Fire reported

WHILE PARKING NOTICED A FUEL SMELL COMING INSIDE OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE, AND NOTICED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
8005864
Incident
Feb 23, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Feb 2, 2002

UPON PURCHASE, A RAW GAS ODOR WAS NOTICEABLE--RETURNED TO DEALER--NO PROBLEM FOUND; RETURNED AT 4000 MILES WITH SAME PROBLEM--REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR; THIRD TIME MAJOR FUEL LEAK FROM RIGHT SIDE FUEL RAIL AT UPPER SEAL ON CYL 3 & 4 O-RING REPLACED--DEALER HAD US CALL TOW SERVICE AND THE DEALER TOOK CARE OF REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY--GREAT CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY DUE TO POSSIBLE OF A SERIOUS FIRE FROM FUEL LEAKAGE ONTO HOT ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
757665
Incident
Jan 30, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Oct 25, 2001

I PURCHASED 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER ON 08/31/01 AND IN LESS THAN A MONTH THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 09/26/01 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN PARKING THE ENGINE STARTED LEAKING FUEL AND EMPTYED THE TANK IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS THAT DAY AND O-RINGS WERE REPLACED. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 10/03/01 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, AND THIS TIME SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED ONE DAY LATER, AND THE REPAIRS MADE WERE TO REPLACE THE INJECTOR. THE THIRD INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 10/17/01 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION WAIT AT A SIGNAL LIGHT. THE SMELL OF FUEL CAME IN THERE THE A/C VENT AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS THAT DAY AND IS STILL IN FOR REPAIRS SINCE 10/17/01. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE MADE THAT KNOWN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTER. I HAVE REQUESTED A VEHICLE BUY BACK AND THE ONLY ANSWER I GET IS TO WAIT FOR MORE REPAIRS. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE BY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. THANK YOU VIRGIA RHYMES

NHTSA ID
753689
Incident
Oct 17, 2001

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .