2003 Mercury Mountaineer

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

After disconnecting the battery for battery replacement original equipment 6 cd in dash player only shows CD Error. no error number. When investigating on the internet I found over 100 complaints with the same issue. I tried all the corrections suggested but nothing works. I own the car since new has very low mileage. I have 6 diskettes in the unit I cannot eject under any circumstance.

NHTSA ID

11459433

Incident

Mar 30, 2022

BIG O TECHS CONNED WIFE INTO BUYING 2 TIRES AND WE OWN AWD SUV THAT REQUIRES 4 AT THE SAME INTERVALS .I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THEM THAT THIS IS NOT SAFE AND WILL DAMAGE MY CAR THEY CONTINUED FOR OVER 2 MONTHS TO LIE TO ME ABOUT HAVING SOMEMONE COMTACT ME . I HAVE ALL THE COMMUNICATIONS I'VE HAD WITH THEM THROUGH MESSAGES. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THEY PUT THE TIRES ON AND REFUSED TO TAKE THEM OFF AND PUT MY OLD O ES BACK ON AND ISSUE A REFUND WELL MY TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE FAILED I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN THEY LIED TO ME ABOUT SOMEONE CONTACTING ME . I TOOK MY SUV TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WE MEASURED OVER 2 INCH CIRCUMFERENCE DIFFERENCE. I INFORMED BIG O THAT I HAVE A TSB ISSUED BY FORD MY EMPLOYER THAT DATES BACK TO 2011 ON TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE PROCEDURES FOR TIRE DEALERS TO FOLLOW . THE RESPONSE I GOT WAS THAT BIG O REFUSES TO REVIEW OR ACKNOWLEDGE TSBS . THAT'S ALARMING AS TSBS ARE ISSUED MY THE MANUFACTURERS FOR SAFETY . I HAD MY SUV FIXED FOR 3000+ $ OUT OF POCKET AND CONTACTED BIG O THE DAY I PICKED IT UP ABOUT THE TIRES STILL BEING ON THERE . I WARNED THEM THIS IS DANGEROUS AND CAN HURT MY NEW DRIVETRAIN THE VERY NEXT DAY FROM GETTING MY SUV OUT OF THE SHOP THE TIRES AGAIN CAUSED BINDING TO OCCUR BUT THIS TIME IT LED TO WHAT SHOULD'VE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT WHERE AS THE AWD SYSTEM DONE IT'S JOB BUT THE TIRES BEING OFF BY SO MUCH MADE THE SUV BIND A THREE IN INTO 3 360 DEGREE SPIN AND SLAMMED THE CONCRETE MEDIAN TOTALING MY VEHICLE AND INJURING MY WIFE. I'VE DOCUMENTED ALL MESSAGES WITH BIG O AND HAVE MUCH MORE EVIDENCE RELATED TO THIS CASE THAT I'M UNABLE TO ADD IN THIS DESCRIPTION BECAUSE I'M RUNNING OUT OF ALLOWED CHARACTERS REMAINING . I DID CONTACT BIG O AGAIN AND SENT PHOTOS OF MY CRASHED SUV AND SUDDENLY THEY NOW WON'T RESPOND BACK AT ALL . I THINK THIS JUSTIFIES A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THERE REFUSAL TO REVIEW TSBS AND FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL MY

NHTSA ID

11349674

Incident

Aug 12, 2020

Mileage

172,800 mi

I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO THERE ALWAYS A PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS

NHTSA ID

11231457

Incident

Apr 10, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

I HAVE A MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 2003 AND IT WAS STATIONED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BACK MIDDLE OF THE HATCH NOW THERE A HUGE CRACK AND MY WINDOW OF THE TRUNK CAME UNHINGED AND FELL OFF I SEE THIS PROBLEM IN ALL MOUNTAINEERS THEY ALL HAVE THE CRACK IN THE HATCH HOPE THEIRS DON'T FALL OFF I SEE IT IN ALMOST EVERYONE'S. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED IF I WAS DRIVING AND IT FELL OFF THIS IS NOT SAFE. PLEASE HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU!

NHTSA ID

11030250

Incident

Sep 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT. WHILE PARKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES AND HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10972300

Incident

Nov 15, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

1) FRONT WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY FAILURE RESULTING IN UNSAFE​ UNDRIVEABLE (THIS HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY​ REPORTED BY VEHICLE OWNERS REGARDLESS OF VEHICLES MILAGE) FAILURE ACCURED WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOPLIGHT AFTER EXITING A PARKING LOT OF A RESTAURANT 2) LIFT HATCH CRACKED CENTER OF HATCH ABOVE THE EMBLEM POTENTIALLY ALLOWING WATER INTO THE INTERIOR WORKING OF HATCH AND CAUSING UNTOLD AND UNSEEN WATER RELATED DAMAGES​(THIS IS AN ADMITTED FORD MANUFACTURING DEFECT ACROSS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE​ LINE SPENDING MULTIPLE YEARS PRODUCTION)

NHTSA ID

10969975

Incident

Feb 14, 2017

Mileage

148,677 mi

MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS A SOLID AIR BAG LIGHT ON. IT HAS A CODE OF 33, WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR ON, THE LIGHT GOES ON AND BLINKS 3 TIMES THEN 3 MORE TIMES. THIS INDICATES A CODE 33. FORD HAS A TECHNICAL LETTER ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE LETTER STATES THERE IS A KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM. 1L2Z-78610E22-AAA IS THE KIT FOR A MEDIUM DARK PARCHMENT KIT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. FORD WANTS TO CHARGE $281.00 FOR THE PART. OUTRAGEOUS. I WOULD BE FORCED TO PAY OR NOT GET MY STATE VEHICLE TEST PASSED. DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER SAFETY RECALL ! SEE INFORMATION : 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER BUILD DATE 09/02 VIN===[XXX] BELOW IS A COPY OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING YOUR CONCERN. YOU CAN BUY THE KITS THROUGH ANY FORD DEALER, THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY PLACE TO GET THEM. YOU'LL FIND THE BUILD DATE ON THE VIN TAG ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. FORD:2002-2003 EXPLORER MERCURY:2002-2003 MOUNTAINEER ISSUE: SOME 2002-2003 4DR EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) B2292 AND LIGHT FLASHING CODE (LFC) 33 (DRIVER SEAT PRETENSIONER FAULT), OR LFC 34 (PASSENGER SEAT PRETENSIONER FAULT). THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY INTERMITTENT PRETENSIONER CONNECTION AT EITHER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. ACTION: INSTALL PRETENSIONER KIT FOR AFFECTED SIDE(S) BY BUILD DATE/COLOR. REFER TO THE FOLLOWING SERVICE INFORMATION FOR DETAILS. SERVICE INFORMATION OBTAIN CORRECT SERVICE KIT AND REFER TO INSTRUCTION SHEET INCLUDED WITH KIT FOR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. 2002 MODEL YEAR THROUGH 3/3/02 BUILD DATES MEDIUM DARK PARCHMENT 1L2Z-78610E22-AAA 2002/2003 MODEL YEARS 3/4/02 THROUGH 1/17/03 MEDIUM DARK PARCHMENT 1L2Z-78610E22-BAA [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10925937

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER RECALLS I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, IGNITION COILS, I'M HAVING A GAS SMELLS NOW, TRANSMISSION THUMPS HARD WHEN GOING INTO FIRST GEAR, SOUNDS LIKE MY REAR END IS ABOUT TO FALL OUT, MY FRONT SEAT IS ELECTRIC AND DOESN'T MOVE, THE O/D LIGHT COMES ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BRAKE LIGHT ON, I KEEP TRYING TO FIX EVERYTHING THE MORE I FIX THE MORE PROBLEMS THAT COME UP, I HAVE CHECK THE RECALL LIST FOR 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER RECALL ON TRANSMISSION AND ALSO CALLED THE FORD CO THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORST AND AFRAID I WILL BE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN WHEN IT BREAKS. I'VE HAD TRANSMISSION LEVEL CHECKED SAID IT WAS FINE. GETTING READY TO DO A COMPLETE TUNE-UP ON IT TO SEE IF THAT WILL HELP WITH THE SMELL OF GAS AND MAKE IT RUN BETTER. IT IDLES HIGH. IT'S WORST WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

10907125

Incident

May 2, 2016

Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition

Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition

FORD: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT OIL SEPARATION FROM THE INTERNAL LUBE FOUND IN THE UNITIZED CARTRIDGE SEAL. OIL SEPARATION APPEARS TO BE AND IS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED, AS AN AXLE LUBE LEAK. *PE

SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE

LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION, OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS. *TT

LOW TIRE INDICATOR ON - TPMS SYSTEM SENSOR WAKE UP. *TT