2003 Mercury Mountaineer complaints

CRACK IN LIFTGATE TO THE RIGHT OF THE MERCURY EMBLEM. ON JANUARY, 24, 2008 I WENT TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF MY MOUNTAINEER ONLY TO FIND BEFORE OPENING IT THAT THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK IN THE LIFTGATE. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IF THIS EFFECTS THE INTEGRITY OF THE GLASS BACK WINDOW, BUT I'M SURE WITH TIME IT WILL SPREAD.....THEN WHAT! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BEGAN TO RUMBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND FLAMES BEGAN TO ERUPT UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT NOT INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000.

LIFTGATE CRACKED. NO DAMAGE DONE TO VEHICLE. NOTICE CRACK STARTING BELOW WINDOW GOING DOWN THROUGH THE MERCURY EMBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, BUT DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE CONTACT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE FORD DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE CONTINUOUS FAILURES OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE IS CRACKED. A VALID VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 64,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

REAR MIDDLE HATCHBACK HAS CRACK IN MOLDING FROM BOTTOM OF WINDOW ALL THE WAY DOWN. POSSIBLY DUE TO COLD WEATHER. *NM

2003 MERCURY MOUTAINEER'S CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH**CC FORD WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO COVER ANY REPAIR EXPENSES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 50000 MILES ON IT. *NM

PLEASE SEE THE ISSUE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION NOT GOING INTO PARK PROPERLY. VERY DANGEROUS.... MR. MARK FIELDS, PRESIDENT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY RE: VIN#[XXX] I OWN A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, WITH 28000 MILES ON IT, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW FROM LAKEWOOD FORD IN NOV. 2003. IN 2005, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN WITH A FEW MINOR PROBLEMS, AT WHICH TIME I EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE TECH THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO PARK PROPERLY AND WAS STICKING. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A DAY, THEY RETURNED IT TO ME SAYING THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. YESTERDAY, MY WIFE TOOK AN ENTIRE DAY AND RENTED A CAR, SO THAT WE COULD BRING IT INTO FREEWAY FORD TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. THE SERVICE MANAGER OLEY SEEMED NICE ENOUGH IN HANDLING THE MATTER BUT THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY REPORTED BACK TO US THE FOLLOWING; 1)THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A SHIFT LOCK OUT AND IT WOULD COST US $265 DOLLARS TO REPLACE AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I WOULD LIKE YOUR TEAM TO RECONSIDER. FIRST, IT IS INDEED PART OF THE POWER TRAIN AND IT IS UNFATHOMABLE TO ME THAT ANY COURT OF LAW WOULD CONSIDER IT OTHERWISE. SECOND, I'D THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL, AND SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN WHERE THE CAR SLIPS OUT OF PARK AND KILLS SOMEONE, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE NHTSA WOULD FIND NO FAULT UPON YOUR COMPANY. I FRANKLY WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED AT THE RESPONSE I GOT FROM THE DEALER. I'VE OWNED MANY BRANDS OF NEW CARS, AND NO ONE HA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED "ON 8/23/04, THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW OF MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VIOLENTLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SENT GLASS FLYING INTO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR 9 DAYS BEFORE FORD SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO VIEW THE DAMAGE. AGAINST SEVERAL OPINIONS, FORD DENIED RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THERE WERE DOG CRATES IN THE BACK. THESE CRATES HAD BEEN IN MY MOUNTAINEERS FOR YEARS & DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE WINDOW. I FOUND DOZENS OF IDIOPATHIC EXPLODING LIFTGATE INCIDENTS ON THE NHTSA SITE FOR THE FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER - AT THE TIME, NHTSA ADVISED THAT FORD WAS ABOUT TO ISSUE A VOLUNTARY RECALL. I DID GET THE RECALL WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT MY ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD FOR REPAIR OF THIS DEFECTIVE LIFTGATE GLASS FOR MYSELF AND MY INSURER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. MY COMPLAINT MADE IT TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF FORD, BUT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO ME BECAUSE MY INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT SUBROGATING - THE CLAIM WAS JUST TOO SMALL FOR MY INSURER TO PURSUE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A PRINCIPLE INVOLVED, AND I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED BY INSURANCE AFTER I PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE, AND THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE RECALL WORK FOR THE LIFTGATE WAS DONE BY MY DEALER. RECENTLY, I NOTICED THAT THE NEW LIFTGATE HAS AN EVER ENLARGING CRACK DOWN THE CENTER OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS FRAME - MY DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT STRUCTURAL AND NOT TO WORRY, B

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED "ON 8/23/04, THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW OF MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VIOLENTLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SENT GLASS FLYING INTO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR 9 DAYS BEFORE FORD SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO VIEW THE DAMAGE. AGAINST SEVERAL OPINIONS, FORD DENIED RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THERE WERE DOG CRATES IN THE BACK. THESE CRATES HAD BEEN IN MY MOUNTAINEERS FOR YEARS & DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE WINDOW. I FOUND DOZENS OF IDIOPATHIC EXPLODING LIFTGATE INCIDENTS ON THE NHTSA SITE FOR THE FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER - AT THE TIME, NHTSA ADVISED THAT FORD WAS ABOUT TO ISSUE A VOLUNTARY RECALL. I DID GET THE RECALL WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT MY ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD FOR REPAIR OF THIS DEFECTIVE LIFTGATE GLASS FOR MYSELF AND MY INSURER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. MY COMPLAINT MADE IT TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF FORD, BUT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO ME BECAUSE MY INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT SUBROGATING - THE CLAIM WAS JUST TOO SMALL FOR MY INSURER TO PURSUE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A PRINCIPLE INVOLVED, AND I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED BY INSURANCE AFTER I PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE, AND THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE RECALL WORK FOR THE LIFTGATE WAS DONE BY MY DEALER. RECENTLY, I NOTICED THAT THE NEW LIFTGATE HAS AN EVER ENLARGING CRACK DOWN THE CENTER OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS FRAME - MY DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT STRUCTURAL AND NOT TO WORRY, B

THE HATCH BACK DOOR ON MY MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SPLIT IN HALF FROM THE BASE OF THE WINDOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HATCH DOOR. I BELIEVE THE PLACEMENT OF THE MERCURY SYMBO LINER THE TOP CENTER OF THE HATCH WEAKENS THE HATCH CAUSING IT TO SPLIT WITH USE AND / OR WITH A SUDDEN CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - *NM

WE BOUGHT OUR MOUNTAINEER NEW IN 2003. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, BUT THE WORST HAS BEEN WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY TAKEN OUR VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIPS FOR SERVICE, BUT ARE CONTINUALLY TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT "REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME". THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS SHIFTED HARD, BUT DEALERSHIPS SIMPLY TELL US IT JUST SHIFTS HARD. IN JANUARY OF 2006 THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT WENT ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US WE HAD TO HAVE THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED AS THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN. WE PAID OVER $1300 BELIEVING THIS WOULD SOLVE THE SHIFTING PROBLEM, IT DID NOT. AT THE END OF JUNE I TOOK IT INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TRIP INSPECTION. I MENTIONED AGAIN THAT IT SHIFTS HARD. THEIR TECH LOOKED AT IT, FOUND METAL IN THE PAN AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AT LESS THAN 55,000). APPARENTLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER FORD SENT TO THE FIRST DEALERSHIP WAS FAULTY, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEED REPLACEMENT. FORD DID PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, GIVING US ABOUT A 45 DAY WARRANTY (AS THE WARRANTY STARTED FROM THE DAY THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FIRST REPLACED). WE THOUGHT SURELY THAT WOULD FIX THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS. NO...STILL SHIFTS HARD. IF WE COULD SELL THIS THING FOR ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT WE OWE...IT WOULD BE GONE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ELASTIC STRAPS CONNECTED TO THE CLOTH COVER OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WHICH WRAPPED AROUND THE SEAT CAN BE REMOVED EASILY. THE CONTACT'S CHILD WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE STRAPS, AND WRAP THE STRAPS AROUND THE NECK. THE CHILD WAS NOT INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED, BUT THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THEM SOON. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS DOREL JUVENILE GROUP. MODEL COSCO CONVERTIBLE FORWARD FACING; MODEL NUMBER IS: 22-100-TTD. THE MANUFACTURER DATE WAS 2-15-05.*AK

LIFTGATE CRACKED. PART WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED OR POSSIBILITY OF WINDOW FALLING OUT. WAS TOLD BY MY MERCURY DEALER THAT THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT IN VEHICLE BUT SINCE IT HAPPENS BETWEEN 40,000 AND 50,000 MILES IT IS NO LONGER FORD/MERCURY'S RESPONSIBILITY SINCE CARS ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

ON 9/2/06, I USED MY VEHICLE TO GO TO STORE AND WHILE AT THE STORE, I HAD DIFFICULTY PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND NEEDED TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF TO FINALLY LOCK IT INTO PARK. I THEN RETURNED HOME WITH THE VEHICLE AND PARKED IT IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO MY HOUSE AND STRUCK MY 8 MONTH OLD SON 'S STROLLER. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY HOUSE AND VEHICLE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD, FRONT BUMPER, HOOD AND GRILL. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT ON 9/11/06. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE , THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK SWITCH SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND TO STICK AND BE FAULTY IN OTHER MOUNTAINEERS. I WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD, IT WAS NOT A RECALL AND NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. I WAS ORDERED TO PAY $298.67 FOR THE REPAIR AND TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS TO MY HOUSE AND THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE HANDLED BY ME. I DON'T KNOW HOW SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS THIS IS NOT A RECALL BUT IT IS A KNOWN SAFELY DEFECT BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I FEEL THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE DAMAGE AND THE PAYMENT FOR THE REPAIRS AND THAT THEY ARE LUCKY THAT NO PERSONS, ONLY PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED THAT DAY. *B

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNKING SOUND, SLID BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. A/C BLOWER MOTOR MADE A HUMMING SOUND. WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR WOULD MISFIRE. *KB WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASH LIGHT WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY TURNING THE LIGHTING SWITCH. WHEN THE SWITCH WAS TURNED THE DASH LIGHT CAME ON BUT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER'S INDICATED THAT THEY SOMETIMES HEAR POPPING SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING, WHICH SEEMS TO BE OF AN ELECTRICAL NATURE.

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AWD 4.0L. WE PURCHASED OUR MOUNTAINEER IN JUNE OF 2004, WITH 22,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES INTO OUR OWNERSHIP, WE EXPERIENCED A FRONT BEARING WINE. DEALERSHIP COVERED DEFECT UNDER 3 YEAR / 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. OTHER DEFECTS COVERED...REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR SPEED SENSOR AT 23,454 MILES. A 2ND ABS PROBLEM REQUIRED A NEW ACTUATOR SPEED CONTROL SWITCH ASSEMBLY AT 28,419 MILES. TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOID REPLACED AT 32,075 MILES. DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR REPLACED AT 33,443 MILES. RECALL ON REAR GLASS HATCH LIFT STRUTS AT 27,379 MILES. JANUARY 23, 2006 OUR MOUNTAINEER NOW HAS 42,777 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WE NOTICED A LOW PITCH NOISE STARTING AT 25-30 MPH AND BECOMING HIGHER IN PITCH AT HIGHER SPEEDS. OUR LOCAL LINCOLN / MERCURY DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISOR DETERMINED WE HAD A FAULTY REAR AXLE RING & PINION GEAR SET. THEY REBUILT OUR REAR AXLE USING THE VIN # TO DETERMINE ACTUAL BILL OF SALES DATE, WHICH WAS JUNE OF 2003. THIS GAVE US A WARRANTY UNTIL JUNE OF 2006 THUS NEARING THE END OF OUR 36 MONTHS WARRANTY. WE REGRETFULLY ADMIT PAYING A $200.00 DEDUCTIBLE THE DEALERSHIP ASKED FOR. WE DROVE OFF WITH OUR NEWLY REBUILT AXLE IN OUR MOUNTAINEER. OUR NOISY AXLE NEVER WENT AWAY. THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED THIS DUE TO WORN AND NOISY TIRES. WE REPLACED THESE TIRES AT 47,500 MILES OR 4,500 MILES AFTER THE ORIGINAL AXLE NOISE COMPLAINT WITH NO REAL APPARENT CHANGE TO OUR NOISY PROBLEM. OUR MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WENT BACK INTO THE SHOP A

VEHICLE IS 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AWD/ THE VEHICLE KEEPS ON LOSING THE POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION AND YOU JUST SIT THERE WATCHING THE RPM RACE WITH NO POWER HAPPINESS AT ALL SPEEDS WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED MANY CRASHES RE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING . ON GOING PROBLEM X 2 YEARS AND IS AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW RE I FEEL I'M GOING TO GET KILLED IN THIS VEHICLE. *NM

2003 MOUNTAINEER TRANSAXLE HOUSING BROKE IN HALF. THE OIL FROM THE TRANSAXLE LEAKED ON THE EXHAUST CAUSING A SMALL FIRE. *TS THE DRIVER INDICATED THAT SHE MAY HAVE HIT AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT SEATBELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A MODIFIED REPAIR KIT AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. ALSO, THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT READING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL GAUGE, BUT THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT HAS BECOME INOPERABLE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE MOON ROOF WAS BEING OPENED, IT BUCKLED. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED.

AT 34,500 MILES, TRANSMISSION BEGAN A NOTICEABLE DELAY IN MAKING THE SHIFT INTO REVERSE GEAR. GAVE A LIST OF GRIPES TO CHAMPION MERCURY DEALERSHIP, WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, TO BE FIXED BEFORE THE 36K WARRANTY RAN OUT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INCLUDE THIS TRANSMISSION GRIPE IN THE LIST THEY INPUT INTO THEIR COMPUTERS. VISITED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AT 39K MILES, WITH THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM GETTING WORSE, AND THE DEALERSHIP DENIED HAVING THAT GRIPE AIRED WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. SO NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. NOW, AT 43K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BANGS INTO REVERSE GEAR AFTER A LARGE DELAY, AND THE SHIFTS FROM 2-3 AND 3-4 INCLUDE A HEAVY SHUDDER, CONSISTENTLY. *JB

DT: THE AUTOMATIC TIRE WARNING SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED SINCE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. EVERY TIME HE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTER EVERY 3,000 MILES, BUT THIS HAS NOT IMPROVED THE CONDITION. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEY TELL HIM TO TAKE IT TO THE TIRE DEALER. THE TIRE DEALER REFERRED HIM BACK TO FORD BECAUSE IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE ITSELF. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE COMPUTER DID NOT WARN HIM IF THERE WAS A LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN ANY OF THE TIRES. THIS OCCURRED FIRST IN 12-2003, AND HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN A TRIP IN 5-2004, AND IT KEPT RECURRING. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - *NM

WHEN USING THE RECLINE SEAT HANDLE, THE SEAT WOULD LURCH FORWARD, THIS CAUSED A MINOR HEAD INJURY. *JB WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS LOWERING THE MIDDLE BACK SECOND ROW SEAT SHE BENT OVER THE SEAT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE RELEASE LEVER. THIS ACTION POSITIONED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CONSUMER'S FACE LEVEL WITH THE SHOULDER HARNESS ASSEMBLY. WHEN THE LEVER WAS RELEASED THE SEAT SPRUNG FORWARD WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CRUSH THE CONSUMER'S RIGHT EYE. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER HAS VISION IN HER RIGHT EYE. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SHE WAS TURNING AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKES THE PEDAL FELL OFF. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE REASON THIS HAPPENED WAS BECAUSE THE BRACKET BROKE. *AK THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL OFF WHEN PRESSED BECAUSE A SELF LOCKING BOLT WAS NEVER INSTALLED DURING ASSEMBLY. *NM

I READ AN ARTICLE FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE TITLED "STICKY THROTTLES." I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAPPENED TO ME ON JULY 13TH. I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AND JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO A COMPLETE STOP, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, IT TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN STOPPED. SO YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO LOOK A THE 2003 MODEL ALSO. THE ARTICLE I MENTIONED IS BELOW. STICKY THROTTLES CHICAGO (CHICAGO TRIBUNE)--THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION IS INVESTIGATING 690,000 2002 FORD EXPLORERS AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SPORT-UTILITY VEHICLES AFTER COMPLAINTS OF STICKING THROTTLES AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE AGENCY'S PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF VEHICLES WITH 4- LITER, 6-CYLINDER ENGINES WAS PROMPTED BY 15 COMPLAINTS. NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING 2003 AND 2004 FORD MUSTANG, MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE AND MUSTANG GTS AFTER COMPLAINTS OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE WITH THE CAR'S CARPET. THE PROBE INVOLVES ABOUT 20,000 MUSTANGS. NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS CAN LEAD TO VEHICLE RECALLS.

LAST DECEMBER THE ENGINE REVVED AND ACCELERATED VERY HIGH, AROUND 6,000 RPMS. AFTERWARDS, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED, ACCELERATION LOWERED AND THE TRANSMISSION CHANGED GEARS WHILE ENTERING A STREET IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE REVVED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. ATTEMPTED THIS 3 TIMES TO NO AVAIL. ON 4TH ATTEMPT THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE MOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE SOLENOID PACK AND AN OIL ADDITIVE THAT THEY BELIEVED WERE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN JUNE. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN IN JULY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND AGAIN THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOLENOID PACK AGAIN BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. THE MECHANIC SPOKE OF ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH FORD MOUNTAINEERS AND EXPLORERS. YESTERDAY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. CALLED FORD, WHO REFERRED ANOTHER DEALER STATING THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. CALLED DEALER AND THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

DT: AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR 16 MONTHS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THIS HAPPENED. *AK

THE ROTORS WERE PITTED AND RUSTED ON THE CONSUMERS 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. *JB THE BRAKES WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO WORK. THE FRONT PADS AND REAR PADS WERE WORN, REPLACED AND RESURFACED. *SC *JB

DT CONTACT STATES SHE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR. *NM

MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WOULD STUTTER AND HAVE A JERKING MOTION LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND IT WOULD DO THIS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. ON THE 13TH OF JANUARY I WAS TAKING MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AND MY CAR STARTED TO STUTTER AND THEN IT JUST STALLED ON ME I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STARTING THE CAR. I THEN TOOK HER TO SCHOOL AND I SHUT THE CAR OFF TO WALK HER TO HER CLASSROOM AND THEN GOT BACK INTO MY CAR AND WHEN I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TURNED THE KEY THERE WAS NO POWER MY CAR WAS DEAD I HAD TO CALL THE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND HAD TO WAIT AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HEAD AND IT WAS FIXED AND I WAS NOT GIVEN A RENTAL CAR AND I ONLY HAD THIS CAR 11 MONTHS. WELL TWO WEEKS LATER AS I WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION MY MOUNTAINEER STALLED ON ME ONCE AGAIN AND ALL I COULD DO WAS PRAY THAT IT WOULD START IT TOOK THREE TRIES TO GET IT STARTED AND I DROVE IT DOWN THE BLOCK TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AGAIN AND MADE THEM TAKE THE CAR. WELL THEY HAD MY CAR FOR ANOTHER FOUR DAYS AND I WAS TOLD ONCE AGAIN IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HEAD. THEN IN FEBRUARY OF 2005 THE FORD DEALERSHIP WANTED TO DO A RUN DOWN OF MY CAR TO MAKE SURE IT WAS FIXED BUT LOW AND BEHOLD I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR BACK ON APRIL 5, 2005 FOR THE SAME STUTTERING AND STALLING PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PERIODICALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A CHECK UP FOR THE THIRD TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BY ITSELF TOWARDS THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER ENCOUNTERED THIS UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, AND AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED. ONCE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE SEAT MOVED BACK TO THE POSITION IT WAS IN ON ITS OWN. THE SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN THE POSITION, EVEN WHEN SET MANUALLY. THE SEAT MOVED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, PRESSING THE CONSUMER INTO THE STEERING AND HIS KNEES INTO THE DASHBOARD. *AK

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 2003 FOR LIFTGATE HINGES, PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE RECALL REPAIR DONE, BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. *JB

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE PART FOR THE LIFTGATE . NHTSA LIFTGATE BRACKET RECALL 04V442000. *JB LIFTGATE REPAIRED ON 2/3/05. *TT

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO HAD UNINTENDED SHUT DOWNS OF VEHICLE DURING PREVIOUS WEEK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER STILL HAS VEHICLE. I ALMOST RAN OVER 2 PEDESTRIANS CROSSING THE STREET AT A NURSERY SCHOOL. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC MOLDING AROUND THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE CRACK MAY CAUSE THE GLASS TO FALL OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

RECALL REPAIR INEFFECTIVE AND AGGRAVATED INITIAL PROBLEM - "CURE WORSE THAN THE DISEASE." REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW SHATTERED. FOLLOWING DEALER REPAIR FOR RECALL 04S29, OUR REAR WINDOW SHATTERED EXPLOSIVELY WITHIN 48 HOURS. THIS WAS THE TYPE OF ISSUE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT. INCIDENT OCCURED IN GARAGE WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, SPREADING GLASS IN A 6 FOOR RADIUS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR LIFTGATE HAD NOT BEEN OPENED SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED.*AK

THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND CONCERN WITH STALLED VEHICLE, SERVICED AND PROBLEM STILL CONTINUE. *BF THESE PROBLEMS ELEVATED TO VEHICLE STALLING, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, THERE WERE CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCES OF THE BATTERY FAIL/CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT, VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A NEW LEASE AND OR EARLY TERMINATION OF THE LEASE. *SC

WHEN SHIFTING MY MOUNTAINEER INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE JERKS INTO GEAR. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE AND ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION GETS CONFUSED AND GOES TO THE WRONG GEAR. IT GIVES YOU A FEELING SIMILIAR TO A STANDARD SHIFT BEING PUT IN 4TH WHEN IT SHOULD BE IN 2ND BOGGING DOWN DRAMATICALLY.*AK

THE REAR LIFTBACK WINDOW ON MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VIOLENTLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AT MY SON'S FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGE. AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION, AROUND 6:30 P.M., I WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH MY DOGS, AND I WAS PARKED IN THE SHADE WITH THE REAR OF MY CAR BACKED UP UP TO A MINIVAN. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY - SINCE I WAS IN THE VEHICLE, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY SURVEY THE AREA TO MAKE SURE NO ONE WAS NEARBY PULLING A PRANK. THE DEAFENING EXPLOSION MADE SUCH A LOUD NOISE THAT I INVOLUNTARY DUCKED, AND PEOPLE CAME RUNNING FROM ACROSS THE FIELD TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. BROKEN GLASS WAS SCATTERED ALL OVER THE INSIDE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND ALL OVER THE GROUND ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY VEHICLE. HAD 3RD ROW PASSENGERS BEEN PRESENT OR HAD DOGS BEEN IN THEIR CRATES IN THE REAR, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BADLY CUT AND DAZED BY THE EXPLOSION. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION ACTUALLY BENT THE FRAME OF THE LIFTBACK, LIKE A SUITCASE STUFFED TOO FULL OF CLOTHES WOULD BEND AT THE SIDES. THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS WERE DANGLING AND ASKEW. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING, UPSETTING EXPERIENCE. AT PRESENT, MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WEEK, AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE FORD DISTRICT MANAGER TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALER HAS CAST DOUBT AS TO WHETHER FORD WILL CONSIDER THIS A WARRANTY ITEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE "NEVER SEEN A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE". FORD HAS YET TO STEP UP AND ACKNOWLEDGE AN APP

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH SUDDENLY MADE A WINING LIKE SONG, THEN STOPPED ACCELERATING AND STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE TRUCK MEDIUM. THEN, IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. IT INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PLUGGED. DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE PLUGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER PART, BUT WAS HAVING DIFFICULTIES FINDING THE PART. *AK *NM

I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD INTO GEAR. AS SPEED INCREASED IT WOULD JERK INOT THE NEXT GEAR. I WENT TO THE FORD/MERCURY DEALERSHIP IN MONTGOMERY, AL. IN NOV 03.THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDED A COMPUTER UPGRADE THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS ON MY CAR. AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE JERKING STOPPED TEMPORARYILY. I BEGAN TO NOTICE IT AGAIN. WELL NOW THE WARRANTY IS GONE, I DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE TRUCK IS 13 MONTHS OLD AND MY SHIFT SOLENOID IS GONE. PER 2 ESTIMATES IT WILL BE COSTLY. BUT I AM ALSO TOLD AT THE AGE OF MY CAR AND MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING UNLESS IT IS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. ONE TRANSMISSION COMPANY HAS ADVISED ME THAT FIXING THE SHIFT SOLENOID WILL NOT WORK LONG UNTIL THE INNER PART OF THE TRANSMISSION IS FIXED OR REBUILT.

CONSUMER CANNOT OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL RECURRING.*AK

TO THIS DATE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS ARE PRESENT: GAS GAUGE STICKS, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR RATTLES AND KNOCKS, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW TAPS, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW GRINDS WHILE MOVING UP AND DOWN, CLOCK AND RADIO DO NOT LIGHT UP OR WORK WHEN START VEHICLE, SUN ROOF RATTLES AND KNOCKS, WIND GETS CAUGHT BETWEEN ROOF AND HEADLINER WHICH CREATES A LOUD VIBRATION, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ALSO RATTLES AND KNOCKS, THERE IS A LOUD RHYTHMIC CHIRP TOWARD REAR OF VEHICLE, HEATING AND COOLING CONTROLS SQUEAL WHEN TURNING ON OR SWITCHING VENT SETTINGS, DRIVER'S SEAT FEELS ROUGH WHEN MOVING ON SEAT TRACK, THE 3RD STEERING WHEEL STILL HAS DEFECT UNDER THE LEATHER WHICH PROTRUDES, DRIVER'S SIDE LEATHER SEAT WAS DAMAGED AFTER BEING AT THE DEALERSHIP, 2ND ROW MIDDLE SEAT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK IN FOLDED POSITION, FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL DOES NOT STAY WITHIN SETTING, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT A SLOW SPEED, THE THIRD ROW CUP HOLDER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT STAY DOWN IN THE FITTING, THERE IS A STRONG EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN WHEN ENGINE IS IN HARD ACCELERATION, ENGINE STARTS TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL WAS DEFECTIVE BY BEING MALFORMED CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE INEFFECTIVE. THE SECOND STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO ILL FITTED CAUSING SHARP PROTRUDING PARTS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: BODY WORK TO DEFECTIVE PAINT ON ROOF, FRONT HOOD, AND DRI

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT.*AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, SOMETIME THE DRIVERS FOOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL, AND CAUSED A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THE PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE AND ON THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLAIN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. *AK *SCC *JB

REFERENCE NO: 10026895 REPORTED JULY9,2003. LIFTGATE IS OPENING WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS. DEALER INSPECTED 2XS AND CANNOT DUPLICATE, BUT HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND SEPERATELY ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. ALSO THE REMOTE ON KEYRING SOMETIMES STICKS AND WON'T ALLOW ENTRY TO VEHICLE OR LOCK OR UNLOCK AND WILL NOT DEPRESS

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. *AK

THE LIFTGATE IS COMING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE TWICE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HAS A VERY DANGEROUS VIBRATION MOTION. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR. *AK