2004 Mercury Mountaineer complaints

ON AUGUST 29, 2008, AT ABOUT 9:30 P.M., I WAS GOING HOME FROM A VACATION. I WAS GOING 55 MILES PER HOUR AND THE VEHICLE POWER COMPLETELY STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY SAFELY AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE STARTED UP AGAIN. THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING BECAUSE WE TRY OUR BEST TO MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE TO ITS OPTIMAL I.E. OIL,TIRES. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER BY THIS AGENCY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU *TR

SPEED CONTROL; MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 2004. INTERMITTENT FUNCTION. SOMETIMES SHOULD NOT TURN OFF OR ON. *TR

LAST YEAR I HAD THE SAME FAILURE ON THE HINGE THAT HOLDS THE GLASS IN THE HATCH. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE GLASS WHEN IT CRACKED. I COULDN'T PUT THE WINDOW DOWN, SO PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE HE STATED HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I GOT IT REPLACED AND AM A LITTLE WORRIED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

FAILED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, FORD PN F00B13480-BA THIS SWITCH FAILED BECAUSE THE BI-METAL SWITCH CONTACT FRACTURED FROM METAL FATIGUE, WHICH CAUSED THE SWITCH TO BECOME INOPERABLE: WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES LIGHTS TO NOT FUNCTION AS WELL AS PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR TO PROPERLY ENGAGE. AND IN ADDITION TO NOTING THE INTERNAL FAILURE INSIDE THE SWITCH THE CONTACT POINTS INSIDE APPEAR TO BE PITTED. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS ONLY 44,700. THIS SWITCH DESIGN APPEARS TO BE SHARED WITH OTHER FORD AND MERCURY PRODUCTS, HOWEVER IT IS INTERESTING THAT THERE ARE NO KNOWN SOURCES IN THE AFTER MARKET; FORD OEM ONLY ! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHUT THE LIFTGATE GLASS, THE HINGES FRACTURED AND ALLOWED THE GLASS TO FALL. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS NEARLY INJURED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GLASS STRUT BRACKETS AND GLASS HINGES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT ALTHOUGH SHE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS REFERENCED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFT GATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS), HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS, WHICH EXCEEDED $355. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,600.

WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE DIED: ALL GAUGE LIGHTS CAME ON (BATTERY, ENGINE, ETC.) ENGINE DIED, NO POWER STEERING, ETC. HAD TO ROLL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK OR NEUTRAL AND RESTART. THIS PROBLEM REPEATS ITSELF EVER TIME I USE THE CRUISE CONTROL. AND, I SEE THERE ARE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL THAT HAVE POSTED THE SAME COMPLAINT. PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED IN JANUARY OF 2008 HOWEVER CONTINUES TODAY. FORTUNATELY WHEN THE ENGINE HAS DIED EVERY TIME I HAVE USED THE SPEED CONTROL IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.... YET! *TR

2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER STALLS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS USED. OFTENTIMES IT SEEM RELATED TO GOING DOWNHILL OR LOWER RPMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON TWO SEPARATE 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. ONE HAD A V-6 AND THE OTHER HAS A V-8. BOTH WERE THE PREMIERE EDITION. *TR

2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER STALLS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS USED. OFTENTIMES IT SEEM RELATED TO GOING DOWNHILL OR LOWER RPMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON TWO SEPARATE 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. ONE HAD A V-6 AND THE OTHER HAS A V-8. BOTH WERE THE PREMIERE EDITION. *TR

TRANSMISSION DELAY AND THEN SLAMMING INTO GEAR, SOMETIMES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. *TR

SMALL CRACK STARTED ON REAR HATCH BETWEEN WIPER BLADE AND MERCURY LOGO, WITHIN 2 WEEKS CRACK WRAPPED AROUND THE LOGO AND CONTINUED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE PANEL. I CONTACTED FORD WHEN THE CRACK FIRST OCCURRED SINCE THEN I HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS WITH MY CAMERA PHONE OF OTHER MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE A TOTAL OF 14 PHOTOS SO FAR. *TR

WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR END (REAR DIFFERENTIAL) OF VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT ARE NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE FOR FREE. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, OVER MANY MODEL YEARS. *TR

NOTICED THIS CRACK THAT FORMED IN THE WINDOW PANEL, OF THE LIFTGATE. IT RUNS FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE WINDOW, DOWN TO THE MERCURY LOGO, THEN AROUND IT TO THE BOTTOM. *TR

DRIVER SETS CRUISE CONTROL AT 35MPH VEHICLE SPEED IS AT 35MPH FOR ABOUT 90 SECS. SUDDENLY VEHICLE'S WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. (SERVICE ENGINE SOON. BATTERY ALERT. LOW OIL PRESSURE ALERT , AND TEMP. ALERT ) VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER. NO BRAKES, STEERING LOCKS UP, NO POWER. DRIVER (BY THE GRACE OF GOD) BRINGS VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD RIGHT BEFORE A T IN THE ROAD. VEHICLES AT THE INTERSECTION CAN BE TRAVELING AT 45MPH. THERE WAS A SCHOOL BUS APPROACHING AS WELL. DRIVER TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS. DRIVER PHONES HUSBAND. HE HAD OUR 15 YEAR OLD SON (WHO WAS WITH ME) CHECK BELTS. THEY WERE INTACT. HE THEN ASKED ME IF I HAD USED THE CRUISE CONTROL. I THEN REMEMBERED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND SEVERAL TIMES WHEN WE HAD FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN HE HAS NOT SET THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR LESS THAN 40MPH. OBVIOUSLY I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT. I GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND TURNED ON THE ENGINE AND ALL WAS WELL. THIS MORNING, I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER RECALLED THAT THEY HAD SERVICED A FORD EXPLORER ONE OTHER TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY RECORD OF A MANUFACTURER RECALL. I TOLD HIM THAT I WANTED TO MAKE A REPORT, AS I KNEW THAT THE SITUATION YESTERDAY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I HAD LOST POWER ANY CLOSER TO THAT INTERSECTION. HE TOLD ME TO MAKE A REPORT HERE. (BY THE WAY, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT OEM MEANS CONCERNING THE COMPONENT I LISTED. I EVEN TRIED TO LOOK IT UP IN TMY OWNERS' MANU

I FILED A MUCH MORE SERIOUS COMPLAINT THIS EVENING REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF POWER ON OUR VEHICLE. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT I DO NOT MAKE A HABIT OF FILING THESE COMPLAINTS. I WAS NOT EVEN AWARE OF THIS WEBSITE UNTIL TODAY. HOWEVER, AFTER I FILED THE COMPLAINT, I CHECKED TO SEE IF YOU HAD RECORD OF OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAD BEEN REGISTERED FOR THIS VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL I SAW THAT AT LEAST 2 OTHERS HAVE REGISTERED COMPLAINTS FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD MAKE YOU AWARE THAT OUR VEHICLE ALSO HAS THIS SAME ISSUE. ONE OTHER COMPLAINANT WROTE THAT HE WAS TOLD THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, BUT WAS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS A DEFECT. ON THE LIFTGATE, JUST BELOW THE CENTER OF THE WINDOW, ADJACENT TO THE MERCURY LOGO THERE IS AN APPROXIMATE 6 INCH CRACK IN THE BODY OF THE DOOR. IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. SINCE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME, MY HUSBAND AND I AGREE THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. *TR

WHEN BACKING UP WILL HESITATE AND THEN FLY BACKWARDS. FEEL OF DELAY IN TRANSMISSION WHEN HAVE COME TO A STOP AND GOING FROM ONE GEAR TO NEXT. IS INCREASING GETTING WORSE. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR MERCURY IN FEBRUARY OF 2007. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IT HAD AROUND 36,000 MILES. IT CURRENTLY HAS AROUND 46,000 MILES. I HAVE A CONCERN ON THE VEHICLE THAT I BELIEVE IS A DEFECT IN MATERIAL WORKMANSHIP OR A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFTGATE TRIM. THE CRACK STARTS RIGHT BELOW THE REAR WIPER AND CRACKS ALONG WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE WEAK POINTS OF THE REAR BODY TRIM. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT ARE MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS AND FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME BODY STYLE AND APPROXIMATE TIME OF MANUFACTURE. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE PLASTIC TRIM TO CRACK IN SUCH A PLACE. IT IS LIKE A STRESS FRACTURE IN THE HATCH. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND WORKMANSHIP OF THE VEHICLE, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A VEHICLE WHICH IS 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS LOW MILEAGE SHOULD HAVE SUCH A STRESS FRACTURE. I BELIEVE THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS AVOIDING TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. *TR

VEHICLE PURCHASED USED 6/3/07. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER, NOTICED A POPPING NOISE FROM REAR HATCH AREA WHEN TURNING ON SLIGHT INCLINES (EG. PARKING LOTS. AROUND OCT 21, 2007, ON OPENING REAR HATCH, LEFT HINGE BOLT CAME OUT- GLASS DROPPED AND WAS CAUGHT. DEALER SAID HATCH RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS VIN #. PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIR. *TR

SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN "SAFETY RECALL 04S20" CONCERNING LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE. *TR

TRANSMISSION - NO OVERDRIVE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE LIFTING THE REAR LIFT GATE, THE HINGE DETACHED AND CAUSED THE GLASS TO FALL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO CATCH THE GLASS AND HER HAND GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE GLASS AND THE BUMPER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HINGES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

I OWN A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. ON 6/23/07, I PLACED SEVERAL ARTICLES INTO THE CARGO AREA THROUGH THE LIFTGATE WINDOW HATCH. WHEN I ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE HATCH THE HINGES GAVE WAY AND THE ENTIRE WINDOW HATCH FELL INTO MY ARMS. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO HOLD ONTO IT AND DISCONNECT THE PISTONS THAT SUPPORTED THE WINDOW. THE HINGE PINS HAD SHEARED OFF AND BROKE THROUGH THE UPPER PIVOT OF THE HINGE. HAD A CHILD BEEN CLOSING THIS HATCH IT COULD HAVE KILLED THEM. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 75MPH. THE SERVICE MANAGER DROVE WITH THE CONTACT AND OBSERVED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE ACCELERATOR ALSO DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY WHEN INCREASING SPEED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL BRAIN FAILED AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT ON TWO OCCASIONS. AN EXPERT FROM OUT OF STATE ALSO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKES FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON STATE HIGHWAY 295 MILEMARK 54 WHEN ALL 5 LUGS BROKE ON THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE OF THE 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE TIRE FELL OFF AND THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I COMPENSATED AND STEERED LEFT TO THE CENTER GRASS MEDIAN, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALER. UPON INSPECTION,1 OF THE LUGS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAD FAILED. THE MECHANICS AID IT WAS EVIDENT IT WAS NOT FROM OVER TIGHTENING , BUT A FLAW IN THE LUG ITSELF. SINCE I AM 2000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY FORD WILL DO NOTHING. HAD I BEEN IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION I AM SURE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT IF PEOPLE HAVEN'T ALREADY, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I TOOK ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED FOR INSPECTION. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK NEAR THE REAR HATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ,BUT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.*AK

AFTER NOT DRIVING MY VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS THE BATTERY LEVEL IS LOW, THE RED INDICATOR LAMP ON BATTERY IS SHOWING, AND MY VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OVER. I CONNECT MY JUMP-IT AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO MIDLAND FORD SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE AND THEY CANNOT REPLACE ANY PARTS UNLESS THEY CAN FIND A PROBLEM. THEY WANT ME TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE THERE FOR AT LEAST TWO DAYS TO TRY TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSE TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE OR RENTAL CAR OR I HAVE THE OPTION TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED IN TO MIDLAND FORD AT MY EXPENSE SO THEY CAN VERIFY THAT THE BATTERY IS ACTUALLY LOW IN ORDER TO REPLACE IT. MY 2004 MOUNTAINEER ONLY HAS ONLY 21000 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING AROUND 200 MILES AND IS GETTING WORSE AS TIME PASSES. LAST WEEKEND AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I DECIDED TO VACUUM OUT MY VEHICLE USING ELECTRICAL FROM MY HOUSE FOR ABOUT A 1/2 HOUR AND I DID NOT EVEN PLAY THE RADIO OR HAVE THE IGNITION KEY TURNED ON. WHEN I WAS FINISHED, I CLOSED UP THE DOORS AND DID NOT ENTER THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK AND AGAIN THE BATTERY WAS DEAD WITH THE RED LIGHT ON. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND MIDLAND FORD SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THEY CANNOT REPLACE THE BATTERY. I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT IF THE WARRANTY WERE TO EXPIRE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE BATTERY AT MY EXPENSE. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH 5000 FAILURE MILEAGE)AT 20 MPH AND TURNING AROUND IN A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE ONLY WENT APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO HAD NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. *AK

IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO START 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. AS A RESULT, WE COULD NOT START CAR. WE HAD NOT NOTICED ANY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DRILLED OUT IGNITION CYLINDER AND BUILT AND INSTALLED NEW CYLINDER, WHICH APPEARED TO FIX PROBLEM. *JB

THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED IN 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED ACCELERATING WHILE TRAVELING AND CAME TO A STOP. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN A NEAR-EMPTY PARKING LOT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION HAD THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. AFTER THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IT FORWARD FOR MORE THAN ABOUT 100 YARDS. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT LOSS OF ACCELERATION WAS DUE TO "TP OPEN INTERMITTENT." DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. *JB

TAILGATE HAS A "STRESS FRACTURE CRACK" BELOW THE WIPER ASSEMBLY AND TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 6" DOWN TO THE LOGO ON THE TAILGATE. THERE WAS NO IDENTIFIED REASON FOR CRACK TO OCCUR. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY 500 REPORTED INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE HOWEVER FORD/MERCURY HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. RECOMMENDED BUYING A NEW TAILGATE FOR $500. THE CRACK INDICATES A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT COMPROMISES THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TAILGATE ASSEMBLY. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PUTTING PEOPLE IN THIRD ROW BENCH AND/OR THE CONSEQUENCES OF GETTING STRUCK FROM THE REAR WITH THE EXISTING TAILGATE.*JB

BRAKE PEDAL RUBBER COVER CAME OFF DURING BRAKING. FOOT SLIPPED TO ACCELERATOR CAUSING CAR TO LEARCH FORWARD HITTING REAR OF PARKED CAR AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THAT CAR. *JB

WE PUT TWO NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IN JULY 2006 ON OUR 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AWD. IN DEC 2006 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER SOUTH HILLS LINCOLN MERCURY FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND STATE AND EMISSION INSPECTION. THE DEALER FIXED PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION, AND DID INSPECTIONS. THEN TWO WEEKS LATER,ON NEW YEARS EVE, WE BROKE DOWN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST FORD DEALER IN BEDFORD, PA. THE BEDFORD DEALER SAID DUE TO THE DIFFERENT "CIRCUMFERENCE" OF THE NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT AND THE OLDER TIRES IN THE REAR IT RUINED THE DIFFERENTIAL AND TRANSFER CASE ON THE HIGHWAY. OUR MANUAL STATES NOTHING ABOUT THIS ONLY SAYS TO PUT ON THE SAME STYLE AND TYPE OF TIRE WHICH WE DID. THEY SAID THE CIRCUMFERENCES OF THE TIRES CAN NOT BE MORE THAN 1/4" DIFFERENT. THE FACTORY REP SAYS IF WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR TIRES THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD US THIS. THEY ARE BLAMING THE TIRE DEALER FOR NOT KNOWING THIS TOLERANCE. THE TIRE DEALER SAYS 1/4" TOLERANCE IS RIDICULOUS. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AND RENTAL CAR IS OVER $5000.00 SOUTH HILLS LINCOLN MERCURY IN PITTSBURGH WAS GOING TO HONOR THE WARRANTY SECRETLY FOR ME, BECAUSE THEY SYMPATHIZED WITH MY PROBLEM AND I THINK THE SERVICE MGR THERE KNOWS FORD HAS A BAD ENGINEERING DRIVETRAIN. HOWEVER BEDFORD FORD NOTIFIED THE FORD FACTORY REP AND NOW SOUTH HILLS MERCURY IS BACKING OUT OF HONORING WARRANTY. MY COMPLAINTS ARE: WHY DOESN'T THE MANUAL STATE ANYTHING ABOUT THE TIRE CIRCUMFERENCES? IS THIS REALLY THE CAUSE? 1/

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HINGES CAME LOSE ON THE BACK WINDOW. THE WINDOW WAS BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH DUCT TAPE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS MADE AWARE.

BOTH PROBLEMS HAPPEN WHEN BACKING UP. 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER,UPON PUTTING IT IN REVERSE, WILL HESITATE AND THEN FLY BACKWARDS. THE RECALL SOLENOID WAS PUT IN AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED FOR ABOUT A YEAR. IT HAS STARTED UP AGAIN, INFREQUENTLY. JUST 1 WEEK AGO, UPON BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THERE WAS A METAL ON METAL SCREECHING NOISE AND A BURNING SMELL. THE WHEELS, WHEEL WELLS AND UNDERCARRIAGE WERE CHECKED FOR FOREIGN OBJECTS, AND NONE WERE FOUND. I LEFT THE TRUCK OUTSIDE THAT NIGHT, AND THE NEXT DAY THE NOISE HAPPENED AGAIN AND NOW HAPPENED ONCE IN THIRD GEAR. THE SAME BURNING SMELL HAPPENED AGAIN. I PARKED THE TRUCK AND DIDN'T USE IT ALL THAT DAY. WHEN I WENT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, THE NOISE WAS GONE. THE DEALER WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT AS "IT WASN'T DOING IT AT THAT TIME". *NM

I PURCHASED MY 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER IN OCT 2003. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A ROARING NOISE, ONCE TAKEN IN FORD REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND REAR DRIVE SHAFT, ALSO COMPLAINED OF ROUGH SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION AROUND 30-35 MPH CHANGING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED, ADDITIVE ADDED, MANY REPROGRAMS BUT AFTER 6 TRIPS TO DEALER STILL IS NOT CORRECTED. 18 MONTHS LATER ROARING NOISE APPEARED AGAIN AND SAME REAR DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. *JB

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: WHILE PREPARING TO BACK UP, BEFORE SHIFTING, VEHICLE JUMPED, AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD, BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP AND ENGINE WAS ROARING AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE OVER AN EMBANKMENT, THROUGH A LAWN, HIT A ROCK/DEBRIS AREA, TIRE BLEW BEFORE HITTING CURVE, LANDED ON RIGHT RIM, WAS THEN ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. VEHICLE TOWED AWAY, DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY STATES NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. HELP!! *JB

2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER PURCHASED NEW SEPT. 2004. TRANSFER CASE WAS LEAKING WHILE UNDER WARRANTY - ALL REAR SEALS REPLACED. STARTED LEAKING AGAIN AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE @ 39,000 MILES. TOLD LARGE CHUNKS OF METAL IN TRANSMISSION PAN - TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. VEHICLE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AFTER 30,000 MILES; FORD AND DEALER AGREED TO "SHARE" SOME OF THE COST, $500 TO OWNER. BELIEVE LEAK IS RELATED TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT WAS NOT CHECKED DURING ORIGINAL COMPLAINT WHEN SEALS WERE REPLACED. *JB

REAR AXLE FAILURE AT 11,000 (SIDE BEARINGS) AND 48,000 MILES(BEARINGS AND REAR AXLE). DUE TO DESIGN MISTAKES, AND PROBABLY COST REDUCTION PROGRAMS, MUD CAN TRAP OPEN A BREATHER VALVE FOR THE REAR AXLE. THEN WATER GOES THROUGH THE VALVE AND INTO THE AXLE, AND DESTROYS THE SIDE BEARINGS,AND CLUTCH FLANGE,AND PINION. THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THESE ITEMS IS NEARLY$1,300. *JB

I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION I.E. A NOTICEABLE CLUNK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM OVERDRIVE TO LOW UPON APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN BACKING AND SHIFTING TO FORWARD THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND SLIPS BEFORE GOING INTO FORWARD DRIVE. THIS CAUSES SOME ANXIETY WHEN YOU HAVE TO BACK FROM A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS INTO A BUSY TRAFFIC WAY AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS LEAVING YOU NOT KNOWING IF YOUR GOING TO BE ABLE TO AVOID APPROACHING TRAFFIC FROM THE REAR. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO COLORADO RIVER FORD IN ON AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MERCURY'S RECALL. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. SUBSEQUENTLY,I HAVE CHANGED TO BRADLY FORD FOR REPAIRS. ON ONE OCCASION IMMEDIATELY AFTER A RAIN STORM AND WHILE TRAVERSING A HIGHWAY WASH, I SLOWED THE VEHICLE AND STRADDLED THE CENTER LINE (NO TRAFFIC) TO AVOID ANY STANDING WATER. ADMITTEDLY, THERE WAS MUD RESIDUE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE WASH. REGARDLESS, AS I EXITED THE WASH AND ACCELERATED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM OVERDRIVE TO LOW GEAR CAUSING THE REAR WHEELS TO SPIN AND I WENT INTO A BROAD SIDE SKID TO THE RIGHT AND BACK TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT AGAIN, ALL OF WHICH WAS AS CLOSE TO A NEAR ACCIDENT AS I WANT TO EXPERIENCE. AS A RETIRED ARIZONA HIGHWAY PATROLMAN I WILL ADMIT THAT MY SPEED WAS TOO FAST FOR THE CONDITIONS (ESTIMATED SPEED 30 TO 40 MPH). HOWEVER, I AM ALSO OF THE OPINION THAT THE SHIFTING PATTERN OF THE VEHICLE ADDED

MY 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SHIFTS ROUGH, LUNGING FORWARD WITH A HARD SHIFT, AND SOMETIMES DRAGGING. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE EXPERIENCE A VERY HARD CLUNK FOLLOWED BY A THRUST BACKWARDS. *NM

VEHICLE JERKS INTO REVERSE. VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN SHOP TO HAVE ADDITIVE PLACED IN TRANSMISSION FLUID TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT ABATED. THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO VERY LOOSE. AFTER BEING PLACED IN PARK IT LUNGES 3 TO 4 INCHES IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLOPE IT IS PARKED ON. *JB

DT:THE CONSUMER STATED DURING BRAKING THE VEHICLE STALLS. WHEN THE CVONSUMER WENT TO RESTART AND PUT IT IN DRIVE IT STALLED AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 TIMES. THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, THE FIRST TIME THEY UPDATED THE ENGINE CONTROLLER SOFTWARE.*AK FOR THE 4TH TIME TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER WHEN BRAKING FROM 55 MPH. DEALER REPLACED MAF SENSOR. DRIVER REAR DOOR MOLDING CATCHING FRONT DOOR MOLDING AT TIMES WHEN OPENING. *TT

I FLIPPED IN MY 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND HUNG UPSIDE DOWN FOR AN HOUR TILL SOMEONE CAME BY BECAUSE MY SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE EMT'S COULD NOT EVEN GET IT TO RELEASE SO THEY HAD TO CUT IT OFF OF ME. I THE THING RELEASED I COULD HAVE CRAWLED OUT THE WINDOW AND WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO HAVE $12,000.00 DAMAGE TO MY CAR BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT LET ME CRAWL OUT AND HAD TO USE THE JAWS OF LIFE TO GET ME AND THE BOARD OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS HOW THEY ARE DESIGNED AND I FEEL THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING. HAD I LANDED IN WATER OR CAUGHT ON FIRE I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD BEFORE I WAS FOUND. *NM

I PURCHASED A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER V6 IN APRIL, 2004. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO NOTICE A HARSH JERK WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING FORWARD. IT SOMETIMES FELT LIKE DRIVING A 5-SPEED VEHICLE. IN LATE SEPTEMBER, 04 WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, ME AND MY 13 YR OLD DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED A VERY HARSH JERK AS IF SOMEONE HAD SLAMMED IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. WE WERE BOTH SHAKEN. I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE NECK PROBLEMS. I MADE MY FIRST DR. APPT. IN EARLY TO MID OCTOBER 2004 AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VERTABRE WAS OUT OF PLACE. WHEN THE RECALL NOTICE CAME IN FEBRUARY 2005 (I BELIEVE) TO ME, I TOOK MY CAR TO BE REPAIRED AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST 4 HOURS TO FIX. IT ACTUALLY TOOK THE DEALSHIP 3 DAYS TO FIX IT. THE AUTO TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS WORSE OFF THAN OTHERS THAT HE'D SEEN BEFORE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND ADDITONAL PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED. MY CAR IS WORKING OKAY NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN FIXED. ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE BEEN TO THE DOCTOR SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS NECK INJURY. I HAVE HAD X-RAYS, MRI AND ULTRA SOUND COMPLETED. THE JERKING OF MY VEHICLE HAS CAUSED INJURY TO THE #2 VERTABRE IN MY NECK. I EXPERIENCE HEAD ACHES, SEVERE NECK PAIN, AND SHOULDER AND BACK PAIN. I HAVE BEEN TO PHYSICAL THERAPY- RECOMMENDED BY MY DOCTOR AND TO THE CHIROPRACTOR. I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME SLEEPING AND WORKING DUE TO THIS PAIN. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO ALARM THEM OF MY INJURY DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE THAT THEY MANUFACTURED

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WILL STALL AND A LIGHT WILL COME ON SHOWING "ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE". THERE IS NO POWER AT ALL AND THE CAR NEEDS A FEW MINUTES BEFORE STARTING UP AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW AND ALL IN TRAFFIC. WE HAVE HAD TO PRAY THAT WE WOULD NOT BE HIT OR WORSE YET, KILLED. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERDHIP TWICE NOW (THE 1ST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS BAD GAS AND SENT US ON OUR WAY) AND ALL THEY CAN SAY THE LAST TWO TIMES IS "WE CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND WE ARE VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL SANK IN INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN 20 MPH IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD. OWNER HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. OWNER SHIFTED TO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK

WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE TRANSMISSION HESITATED THREE TO FOUR MINUTES BEFORE ENGAGING. THEN, VEHICLE SHOOK. DRIVER DROVE VEHICLETO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, V8, AUTOMATIC, AWD. VIN DU86W84ZJ23248, PURCHASED AUGUST 2004. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 22000. MID DECEMBER 2004 I STARTED EXPERIENCING ODD OR ROUGH SHIFTS GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. IT STARTED HAPPENING OCCASIONALLY THEN IT BECAME MORE CONSTANT. I ALSO EXPERIENCED HARSH REVERSES, ONE WAS HARD ENOUGH THAT MY HUSBAND SAID IT COULD GIVE YOU WHIP LASH! WHAT WAS IRONIC ABOUT THE WHOLE THING WAS I WAS GOING TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL GARAGE WHEN I GOT A LETTER FROM FORD (JANUARY 2005) INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH MIGHT CAUSE A HARSH REVERSE. SO I TOOK IT TO A FORD GARAGE JANUARY1 5,2005, AND THEY INSTALLED THE ADDITIVES. I DROVE THE TRUCK ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER THAT AND DIDN'T FEEL IT FIXED THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE GARAGE AND THIS TIME THEY SAID THEY RECONFIGURED THE COMPUTER. AFTER I PICKED IT UP AND DROVE IT FOR A WEEK OR SO, IT WASN'T ANY BETTER. I'M TAKING IT BACK TO THE GARAGE AGAIN BECAUSE IT STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS A LOT LIKE YOUR OTHER COMPLAINTS ESPECIALLY #10103034. I THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD LOOK INTO BEFORE IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY THOSE OWNERS THAT DRIVE IN WINTER WEATHER. *AK

2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, V6, AUTOMATIC, 2WD. VIN 4M2ZU66K8UJ13274. PURCHASED MARCH 2004. CURRENTLY MILEAGE 9821. STARTING APPROXIMATELY 12/1/04, WHEN REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE FOR 2 OR 3 SECONDS, THEN ENGAGES WITH A VERY HARD JOLT THAT SHAKES THE WHOLE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VECHICLE AND ALSO MID-DAY WHEN BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE. ALSO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ROUGH SHIFTS IN FREEWAY SLOW TRAFFIC BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH. FORD MOTOR CO. CONSUMER HOTLINE SAID ON 12/15/04 THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER HAS NO RECALLS. FROM PRESS RELEASES, I KNOW OF FORD'S 11/22/04 ANNOUNCEMENT OF 740,000 EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS WITH THIS SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM.*AK

THE REVERSE GEAR TENDS TO POP AND SWITCH TO ANOTHER GEAR, MAKING THE VEHICLE JUMP. TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK