2004 Mercury Mountaineer Body & structure Problems

OPERATING THE TAILGATE WINDOW HINGES BROKE OFF SCREWS APPEARED TO HAVE SEVERE CORROSION VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY

NHTSA ID

11128025

Incident

Sep 6, 2018

Mileage

149,674 mi

1. PAINT COMING OFF OF ROOF AND DRIVER'S DOOR. 2. REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOWS NOT WORKING. 3. CRACKS IN PLASTIC AREA OF REAR LIFT GATE AROUND WIPER ARM. 4. ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE WHEN RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME LOOSE.

NHTSA ID

11053938

Incident

Oct 5, 2017

Mileage

135,000 mi

REAR TAILGATE WINDOW HINGE BROKE WHILE HAVING THE WINDOW ONLY OPEN AND PUTTING AWAY GROCERIES. UPON CLOSING THE WINDOW, THE RIGHT HINGE BROKE CAUSING THE WINDOW TO ALMOST FALL OFF OF THE CAR. I ATTEMPTED, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM OTHERS IN THE PARKING LOT, TO PUSH THE WINDOW BACK INTO THE FRAME AND HAVE IT LOCK AT THE CENTER LATCH. THE LATCH IS NO LONGER ENGAGED AND I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PUSH ON THE WINDOW TO CONNECT WITH THE LATCH. I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DO SO. THE WINDOW IS AT A POINT WHERE IT COULD FALL OFF OF MY CAR. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR 2000-2003 VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. FORD IS NOT CARRYING OVER THE RECALL TO 2004 STATING THE DEFECT IS NOT THE SAME (WITH THE DETAILS) AS THE RECALL ITSELF. IT IS STILL THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART! I AM OF SHORT STATURE AND DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PUSH THE WINDOW THE 1" OR SO TO GET IT INTO THE FRAME TO LOCK SUCCESSFULLY. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR ADVICE BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD I WOULD NEED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I AM AT RISK OF HAVING THE WINDOW FALL OFF THE BACK OF MY CAR AND DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AT THIS TIME. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS NOTED FOR THIS EQUIPMENT FAILURE ON THIS SITE FOR THE 2004 MOUNTAINEER. JUST NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT. MY VEHICLE IS MY BREAD AND BUTTER IN ORDER TO WORK.

NHTSA ID

10862164

Incident

Apr 23, 2016

Mileage

186,000 mi

THE REAR LIFTGATE CRACKED NEAR THE MERCURY EMBLEM. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT TWO YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW. I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS AND WAS TOLD BY BOTH THE FORD WOULD NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM ON THE 2004. ONE STATED THE 2003 MODEL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THAT FORD REPAIRED THOSE. I DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE TO MY EMAIL I SENT TO FORD. THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL EXPENSE TO THE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. IF YOU LOOK AROUND YOU CAN TELL IF YOU ARE BEHIND A 2004 EXPLORER OR MOUNTIANEER, THEY ALL WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE CRACK AROUND THE EMBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10840354

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

Mileage

15,000 mi

REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW HINGES RUSTED/CORRODED. HINGES HAVE BROKEN CAUSING WINDOW TO SHIFT AND MOVE.

NHTSA ID

10778866

Incident

Sep 25, 2015

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT DISENGAGED AND THE GLASS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. ...UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF!..UPDATED 08/13/15 *BF UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10726806

Incident

Jun 22, 2015

Mileage

107,000 mi

EVERY TIME IT RAINS, EVEN JUST A SPRINKLE, WATER COMES IN FROM TOP OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR/ROOF. IT ALSO COMES IN THROUGH THE DOME LIGHT AND VISOR. MY FLOORBOARD IS FLOODED WITH WATER. I HAVE TRIED TO USE A CAR COVER AND IT DOES NOT WORK. I CAN NOT AFFORD AT THIS TIME TO BRING INTO A DEALERSHIP. THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO DESTROY THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668551

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS THREE TIMES, PAINT COMING OFF, PASSENGER SEAT TRIM CAME OFF, CRACKED REAR LIFT GATE, PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR DOOR WINDOWS, AND DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR WINDOW DO NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10655142

Incident

Apr 15, 2012

I TOOK MY CHILDREN TO DAYCARE CAME HOME AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. I CAME BACK OUT TWO MINUTES LATER AND THERE IS GLASS ALL OVER. THE BACK HATCH WINDOW EXPLODED, IT LOOKS LIKE IT GOT REALLY HOT AS SOME OF THE PLASTIC TRIM IS MELTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654107

Incident

Nov 11, 2014

Mileage

94,732 mi

REAR HATCH HINGE BROKE WHILE CLOSING BACK GLASS OF HATCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649657

Incident

Jul 19, 2014

Mileage

89,000 mi

PLASTIC/FIBERGLASS LIFTGATE CRACKED AROUND EMBLEM. THIS PROBLEM STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO AND HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED IN HALF. FORD EXPLORER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HALF OF IT FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN COMMUTE TRAFFIC....SEEMS THIS WOULD POTENTIALLY OPEN FAMILY MEMBER UP TO LEGAL LITIGATION IF THIS PART CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SIMILAR WITH DIFFERENT NAME PLATE. THIS IS THE SECOND VEHICLE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO IN OUR FAMILY. FIRST A FORD EXPLORER XLT AND NOW THE MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ELECTED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. BODY FLEX AT THE LIFTGATE CAUSES GREAT STRESS TO PLASTIC/FIBERGLASS LIFTGATES. JUST LOOK AROUND AT FORD AND MERCURY AND LOOK AT LIFT GATE.....NOT HARD TO MISS.... *TR

NHTSA ID

10640349

Incident

Sep 30, 2014

Mileage

53,000 mi

REAR HATCH HINGE BROKE WHILE OPENING BACK GLASS OF HATCH, NEARLY FELL ON SPOUSE WHILE OPENING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10640345

Incident

Sep 30, 2014

Mileage

53,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LATCH ON THE HATCH BACK FRACTURED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE DOOR AND THE DOOR CAME DOWN AND STRUCK HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.

NHTSA ID

10608706

Incident

Jul 7, 2014

Mileage

211,000 mi

INFO COPIED FROM WEBSITE IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS UNLOADING MY CAR IN MY GARAGE. THE BEST WE CAN TELL IS THAT THE RIGHT STRUT/ARM SEIZED AND THE HINGE PINS BROKE, CAUSING THE HATCH TO FALL OFF. WE DON'T HAVE IT IN THE SHOP YET. IT WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED. ********* NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : RQ08003NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : N/A VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): MERCURY / MOUNTAINEER 2004 MANUFACTURER(S) : FORD MOTOR COMPANY COMPONENT(S) : STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR SUMMARY: THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 23, 2008, BASED ON 34 COMPLAINTS INVOLVING EIGHT INJURIES IN WHICH THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH ON MODEL YEAR 2004 FORD EXPLORERS OR MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS BROKE OFF AND FELL, USUALLY WHILE INDIVIDUALS WERE OPERATING THE GLASS HATCH OR LOADING OR UNLOADING ITEMS FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. FORD CONDUCTED RECALL 04V-442 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON MODEL YEAR 2002 AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 FORD EXPLORERS AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. THE INFORMATION FORD PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER INDICATED THAT FAILURES WITH 2004 VEHICLES WERE PRIMARILY LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH HINGE FAILURES RELATED TO CORROSION AT THE HINGE PIN, WHEREAS THE FAILURES THAT PROMPTED THE RECALL WITH THE EARLIER MODELS WERE PRIMARILY RELATED TO PROBLEMS WITH THE GLASS HATCH'S STRUTS OR FRACTURE OF A PRIOR HINGE DESIGN AT THE BOSS/BOLT CONNECTION AT THE GLASS. ODI'S REVIEW OF FORD'S WARRANTY, COMPLAINT, AND INJURY DATA FOR THE 2004 VEHICLES INDICATES THAT THESE RATES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THOSE FOR THE RECALLED POPULATION. A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AS NECESSARY. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587611

Incident

May 7, 2014

Mileage

112,399 mi

WAS LOOKING AT MY VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED THE CRACK FROM THE TOP TO BOTTOM OF LIFT GATE, NEXT TO MERCURY EMBLEM. NO ACCIDENT OR COLLISION, IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER READING ONLINE THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME EXACT OCCURRENCE ON THE LIFT GATES OF FORDS, MERCURY AND LINCOLNS. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL IN FAIRNESS SO THAT WE MAY ALL HAVE OUR VEHICLES REPAIRED!

NHTSA ID

10583358

Incident

Mar 22, 2013

Mileage

72,000 mi

ON THE LIFTGATE, CRACKED BETWEEN BOTTOM OF GLASS AND THE EDGE OF THE WINDOW HATCH. IT CRACKED AFTER A FEW YEARS, AND CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE. NOW WE HAVE CONSTANT WARNING BEEPS, THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM. *TT

NHTSA ID

10582968

Incident

Mar 6, 2007

Mileage

23,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGES WERE FRACTURED AND AS A RESULT, THE LIFT GATE FELL ONTO THE CONTACTS RIGHT FOOT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10562699

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

Mileage

96,000 mi

I ACTUALLY MISSED TWO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED IN 2004. MY DEALER WHICH IS JOHNSON BROTHERS FORD/MERCURY ON IH 35 TEMPLE, TEXAS 76501. MY WIFE WAS UNLOADING TRUCK AND THE LIFTGATE PLUNGED DOWN ON HER WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. SHE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES FROM INCIDENT. THE YEAR BEFORE OUR TAILGATE STARTED CRACKING IN 2006 . THE DEALER JOHNSON BROTHERS NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THE TAILGATE RECALL OR THE RECALL #RQ8003 FOR THE LIFTGATE ISSUE IN 2008. THIS DEALER HAS BEEN THE WORST IVE SEEN SINCE BUYING MY FIRST NEW OR USED VEHICLE IN AMERICA. I ,[XXX], HAVE ONLY RECEIVED HELP CONCERNING OIL CHANGES , AND TIRE CHECKS SINCE 2004. POOR SERVICE CENTER FOR CUSTOMERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)*TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN WAS NEVER CHANGED AND THE DEALER CONTINUED TO TELL THE CONSUMER, ALL THE FLUIDS WERE FINE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE IN DRIVE MODE.

NHTSA ID

10548964

Incident

Jul 7, 2008

Mileage

74,006 mi

REAR GLASS TAIL GATE HATCH HINGE - THE HINGE PIN WAS COMING OUT THROUGH THE POT METAL CASTING. EVERY TIME I OPENED IT WORE A BIT MORE. HINGE WAS TWISTED - GLASS HUNG DOWN OUT OF POSITION. I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD FAIL ON THE ROAD AND INJURE A CAR BEHIND ME. I BOUGHT A NEW DEALER HINGE AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF. PARTS AND SERVICE PEOPLE AT DEALER NEGLECTED TO TELL ME TO DISCONNECT THE GAS CYLINDERS. WITH TAILGATE CLOSED GAS CYLINDERS ARE NOT VISIBLE. I REMOVED THE BAD HINGE IN PREPARATION TO INSTALL NEW. IT WAS A WRESTLING MATCH AS THE CYLINDER WAS TRYING TO FORCE THE GLASS OUT AND DOWN WHICH TWISTED THE OTHER HINGE. NOW THAT OTHER HINGES PIN IS BREAKING THROUGH THE POT METAL. IT TOOK TWO OF US TO WRESTLE THE CYLINDER AND GET THE NEW HINGE IN PLACE. TO BE SAFE I'M JUST NOT GOING TO USE THE HATCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10537460

Incident

Aug 8, 2013

Mileage

141,500 mi

REAR HATCH PANEL CRACKED AND LARGE PIECE BROKE OFF AND BLEW INTO TRAFFIC. LUCKILY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WAS FAR ENOUGH BACK THAT THE PIECE DID NOT HIT THE CAR FOLLOWING. I HAD THIS PANEL REPLACED ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS DUE TO IT CRACKING. I BELIEVE IT MUST BE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE REAR HATCH PANEL THAT CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN 3 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533120

Incident

Jul 26, 2013

Mileage

106,500 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE THAT HOLDS THE LIFTGATE, CRACKED WHEN OPENING IT. THE SCREWS AR ALL STILL ATTACHED TO THE DOOR AND THE GLASS, AND THE ACTUAL HINGE FRACTURED AND SPLINTERED OFF. THE GLASS LIFTGATE IS NOW INOPERABLE AND HANGING BY A SINGLE HINGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10523007

Incident

Jul 2, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER FIRST THE REAR LIFTGATE PLASTIC BROKE AND THERE'S A CRACK BY THE EMBLEM ON SOME OCCASIONS WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IT MAKES A LOUD BANG NOISE OR WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT ON THE HIGHWAY UP TO 50MPH AND OVER THERE SEEMS TO BE A RATTLE UNDER THE ENGINE AND IT GETS LOUDER WHEN MPH IS HIGHER IM NOT SURE WHAT IT IS BUT IM REALLY WORRIED THAT IT MAYBE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND IF THIS PROBLEM ISN'T RECALLED ME AND MY FAMILY PLUS OTHERS ARE IN REALLY BIG DANGER ITS A FAMILY CAR SO IM STARTING TO WORRY FOR MY FAMILY AND THERE SAFETY THESE VEHICLES NEED TO GO ON INSPECTION AND SOON SO THESE DOESN'T LEAD TO ANY ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514957

Incident

Jun 3, 2013

Mileage

99,750 mi

PREMATURE RUSTING AND PAINT BUBBLING ON REAR QUARTER PANEL UNDER FUELING DOOR (CONTINUES TO GET WORSE.) I HAVE OBSERVED SEVERAL OTHER LINCOLN/MERCURY VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR...UPDATED 12/09/15 *BF

NHTSA ID

10513118

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE LEFT REAR HINGE PIN ON THE GLASS LIFT GATE FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512669

Incident

May 18, 2013

Mileage

111,000 mi

REAR LIFT GATE IS FRACTURED FROM THE WINDOW DOWN AROUND AND THROUGH THE EMBLEM. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512469

Incident

May 11, 2013

Mileage

77,000 mi