RoadVitals

2003 Mercury Mountaineer Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
59
Latest Sep 27, 2017
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.
39%
of 152 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 59 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 body or structure

The 25 most recent of 59, in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Sep 27, 2017

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
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 2, 2017

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
Body & structure
Filed May 4, 2016

JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER MOUNTAINEER OR EXPLORER OF THIS ERA THE LIFT GATE HAS CRACKED AROUND THE VEHICLE LOGO. THIS HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS INCLUDING CORROSION, RUST, AND LOCKING MECHANISM FAILURE ON THE LIFTGATE. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE SEEN ON EVERY SINGLE MOUNTAINEER OR EXPLORER OF THIS ERA. IT'S PRETTY RIDICULOUS THAT FORD HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE OR DONE IT VOLUNTARILY. IT IS CLEARLY AN ENGINEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10863138
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 3, 2015

SEE WHERE SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2003 MOUNTAINEER. THE REAR GATE IS CRACKING AROUND THE EMBLEM. I'VE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO FORD AND THEY TELL ME I CAN PAY TO FIX IT AND IF THERE IS RECALL THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME. IN ADDITION I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMING ON WHEN ALL ARE SHUT AND SECURE. I HAVE CONTACT FORD AND SEVERAL LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. THE DEALERSHIP ALL TELL ME THEIR HANDS ARE TIED UNTIL FORD MAKES A DECISION AND THAT I AM NOT ALONE. FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY DON'T CARE. WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS WHY ISN'T THIS AGENCY DOING SOMETHING?

NHTSA ID
10787886
Incident
Nov 1, 2007
Mileage
55,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 10, 2015

NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. A 1 1/2 INCH VERTICAL CRACK HAS APPEARED IN THE BODY BETWEEN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK LIFT DOOR UNDER THE WINDOW EXTENDING TO THE ROUND MERCURY SYMBOL BETWEEN THE LETTERS, R AND THE C. DID NOT NOTICE UNTIL TAKING IT THROUGH A CAR WASH WHERE I WAS WARNED IT HAD TO BE COVERED.

NHTSA ID
10781238
Incident
Oct 2, 2015
Mileage
78,784 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Sep 9, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE AND WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,500.

NHTSA ID
10631981
Incident
Sep 6, 2014
Mileage
111,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 24, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIBERGLASS ON THE TAILGATE CRACKED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10584589
Incident
Oct 14, 2013
Mileage
120,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Aug 7, 2013

I'VE BEEN REVIEW THIS SITE AND SEE WHERE SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2003 MOUNTAINEER. THE REAR GATE IS CRACKING AROUND THE EMBLEM. I'VE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO FORD AND THEY TELL ME I CAN PAY TO FIX IT AND IF THERE IS RECALL THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME. IN ADDITION I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMING ON WHEN ALL ARE SHUT AND SECURE. I HAVE CONTACT FORD AND SEVERAL LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. THE DEALERSHIP ALL TELL ME THEIR HANDS ARE TIED UNTIL FORD MAKES A DECISION AND THAT I AM NOT ALONE. FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY DON'T CARE. WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS WHY ISN'T THIS AGENCY DOING SOMETHING? *TR

NHTSA ID
10534061
Incident
Aug 7, 2013
Mileage
92,123 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 12, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO THE CLOSE THE REAR LIFTGATE, THE RIGHT SIDE SUPPORT HINGE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 9/4/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE RAISED THE LIFTGATE, IT CAME DOWN AND THE EMBLEM CRACKED. THE RIGHT HINGE BROKE AND THE RIGHT ROD FROZE.

NHTSA ID
10524567
Incident
Jun 6, 2013
Mileage
90,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 17, 2013

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

NHTSA ID
10493325
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Mileage
98,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 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? *TR

NHTSA ID
10484934
Incident
Nov 16, 2012
Body & structure
Filed Oct 8, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10479251
Incident
Dec 17, 2009
Mileage
98,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 8, 2012

BACK HINGES BROKE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10479249
Incident
Sep 19, 2012
Mileage
167,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 8, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10479248
Incident
Sep 19, 2012
Mileage
165,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 13, 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 MANUFACTURE 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 TRUNK DOOR IS CRACKED DOWN THE LATCH. -THE CAR DOESN'T SHIFT CORRECTLY AND TIRES SEEM LOOSE -THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT IS BLINKING ALL THE TIME AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SIGNALING.. I HAVE FOUND SO MANY WEBSITES WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES ON 2003-2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10461435
Incident
May 4, 2012
Body & structure
Filed May 17, 2012

MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS A CRACK RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR DOOR, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY MOUNTAINEER BUT I SEE EVERY MOUNTAINEER OF MY MAKE AND MODEL HAS THAT SAME CRACK,WHY IS THAT, IT HAS TO BE A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY BECAUSE EVERYBODY WITH A MOUNTAINEER OF THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL CAN'T BE RELATED. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS CRACK HAS HAPPENED ON THESE MOUNTAINEER IS THERE A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE DEFINITE A STRUCTURE PROBLEM ANDITS DAMAGE TO MY I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE CRACK ITS DAMAGE TO MY CAR I DIDN'T CAUSE AND MERCURY SHOULD FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10458826
Incident
May 17, 2012
Body & structure
Filed Apr 10, 2012

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 THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10454775
Incident
Aug 2, 2010
Mileage
65,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Sep 4, 2011

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 OCCURRED ON FACTORY TIGHTENED PLUGS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10423238
Incident
Sep 2, 2011
Mileage
134,600 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 18, 2011

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.

NHTSA ID
10392156
Incident
Feb 17, 2011
Mileage
92,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 10, 2011

THE BACK LIFT GATE IS CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW, "THRU" THE MERCURY EMBLEM, AND ALL THE WAY DOWN. I'VE SEEN NEARLY IDENTICAL CRACKING ON MANY OTHER MOUNTAINEERS. I SEE A RATHER LARGE NUMBER OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURIES AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10375435
Incident
May 2, 2005
Mileage
42,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 10, 2011

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 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 WARRANTY. 90% OF THESE VEHICLES I SEE ON ROAD ARE CRACKED. FORD /MERCURY NEEDS TO RECALL & FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10375390
Incident
Jan 15, 2007
Mileage
52,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 3, 2011

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10374032
Incident
Aug 1, 2010
Mileage
106,000 mi
Body & structureSteeringTransmission
Filed Aug 3, 2010

REAR BACK HATCH CRACKED WHEN PURCHASED, PROMISED TO BE FIXED BY DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY NEVER HONORED THEIR PROMISE. I HAVE SINCE SEEN SEVERAL MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE REAR BACK HATCH CRACKED AS WELL, WONDERING WHY THEIR WASN'T A RECALL?? ALSO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ALREADY REPLACED TRANSFER CASE AND NOW POWER STEERING IS LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10347101
Incident
Jun 5, 2008
Mileage
88,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 14, 2010

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

NHTSA ID
10343348
Incident
Apr 19, 2006
Mileage
36,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 23, 2010

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.

NHTSA ID
10327168
Incident
Dec 15, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi

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 .