2003 Ford Mountaineer

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the latches/locks/linkages › hatchback/liftgate › lock. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension › Rear1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hatchback/Liftgate › Lock1
001

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Hinge and Attachments04V442000
Filed Sep 13, 2004955,732 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED OR THE HINGE MAY FRACTURE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK.

Risk. IF THE HINGE SHOULD FRACTURE, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE GLASS TO FALL AND ULTIMATELY BREAK AND PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL HAVE THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT BRACKETS AND GLASS HINGES REPLACED. FOR THE VEHICLES BUILT FROM AUGUST 1, 2000 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2002, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HINGES AND LIFTGATE STRUT BRACKET. ON VEHICLES BUILT FROM MARCH 3, 2002 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2003, THE DEALERS WILL ONLY REPLACE THE HINGES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. A POSTCARD WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 27, 2004, ADVISING THEM THAT PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 11, 200744,000 milesFL

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF. BRAKES ARE STARTING TO FAIL WHEN LIGHT IS OFF, NOT WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS ON. I AM GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION.*AK

Suspension › Rear
Filed Jun 8, 2007VA

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS REAR DIFFERENTIAL ISSUES. LOUD HUMMING COMING FROM BACK END. POTENTIAL FAILURE IS POSSIBLE AT ANYTIME WHICH CAN RESULT IN LOCKING OF BACK WHEEL.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hatchback/Liftgate › Lock1 injured
Filed May 22, 200771,000 milesMA

MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAD A LIFT GATE RECALL. LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER IN HYANNIS, MA REPLACED PARTS TO FIX. THIS WAS LAST YEAR. THIS WEEK THE LATCH BROKE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW AND THE GLASS FELL AGAIN. LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER IN HYANNIS CHARGED ME FOR THE PART! THIS ALL IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE EARLIER RECALL I WOULD BELIEVE. THE DEALER SAYS NO. THE ORIGINAL RECALL SAID LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY DISENGAGE OR HINGE MAY FRACTURE, ALLOWING GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK. AM I WRONG? AND IF IT NOT PART OF THE RECALL THEN I GUESS IT SHOULD BE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2002
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20044000Routine
2003 — this page3100Routine
200211200Routine
20011100Routine
20002100Routine
19996100Routine
19985210Routine
19977110Routine

Compare every Mountaineer year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 13, 2004. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.