2005 Mercury Mountaineer

Routine

Owners filed 82 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body. It has been recalled 1 time.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
56,750 milesMedian miles at failure

69 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 40,00050,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Body16
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission10
100
Vehicle Speed Control7
201
Engine6
000
Power Train5
000
Unknown or Other4
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal3
100
Structure3
000
Steering3
000
Electrical System3
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear07E104000
Filed Dec 11, 20071,657 vehiclesSafelite Fulfillment, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.

Remedy. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 17, 2023NY

Back rear windshield keeps exploding on its own I’m not the only person to complain about this

Power Train
Filed Aug 3, 2023WI

The truck bearing keep going out the spark plugs overloaded and I can’t accelerate at times when I’m driving it slows down then starts back up

Power Train
Filed Feb 2, 2023MT

The Transmission won't shift into 3rd and 4th gear, hitting hard into gears at starting, slipping begins after 35 mph..replaced torque converter.

Engine
Filed Aug 10, 2022PA

Started losing power ,did not want to go pas 30 miles per hr ,then it ramed up and came to a stop with no acceleration ,i shut it off then start it again and was able to get home at a low rate of speed while continuing to have these problems, another day while far away from home the engine rammed up again minimizing my speed as the transmission was slipping and not go fast then my O/D over drive went on flashing a light ,while the engine kept steady at 20-30 miles per hour while accelerating increasing no speed ,now my SUV will not run wright, it will kick into gear at times constantly and cause problems driving safely ,this is a common problem I'm hearing and reading in the internet with the ford/ mercury mountaineer the manufactory does not want to accept responsibility with this problem ..... this is clear a RECALL ISSUE that needs to be addressed before someone gets killed on the highway by getting rammed by a semi-truck which it almost happened to me !!!! a multi-million dollar law suit is in order if they do not acknowledge and fix this problem

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 18, 20201 milesCA

THE PLASTIC THAT HOLD THE VISOR ARM ON PLACE CRUMBLES. BOTH SIDES WERE AFFECTED. THE OUTER SHIELD PLATES SEEM OK IT'S ONLY THE PIECE THAT I CAN ONLY GUESS, 'STABALIZES' THE VISOR WHEN YOU MOVE IT FROM FRONT TO SIDE OF THE CAR. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ABOUT $30-$80 EACH TO REPLACE. THIS IS A 3RD HAND VEHICLE HOWEVER THE MILEAGE IS FAIRLY LOW FOR THIS YEAR AT 127,408. THESE ARE NOT PLASTIC PIECES THAT ARE IN THE SUN A LOT, THEY AREN'T AT ALL BUT CRUMBLE LIKE PLASTIC CAN BECAUSE OF SUN EXPOSURE. THERE IS GLUE IN THE PHOTO THAT I PUT ON AS A TEMPORARY FIX BUT IT PEELS OFF EASILY.

Tires
Filed Mar 8, 2019LA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER EQUIPPED WITH FOUR COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, SIZE: 245/65R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES RUMBLED AND RODE ROUGHLY INSTEAD OF PROVIDING A SMOOTH, STABLE RIDE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE FACILITY MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT HAD NOT REQUESTED THAT THE TIRES BE SENT TO THEM FOR TESTING. THE CONTACT WAITED OVER TWO YEARS FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TIRES ON HIS OWN. ONCE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, THE RUMBLING STOPPED. THE DOT NUMBER, VIN, AND TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Dec 31, 2018100,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK PANEL WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (FIVE STAR FORD, 6618 NE LOOP 820 AT RUFE SNOW, NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX 76180-7844, 817-500-0097) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Nov 8, 2018136,200 milesCT

I PURCHASED A USED 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER LAST MONTH, WITH 135,400 MILES, WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AND TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ROAD WENT FROM LEVEL TO A VERY SLIGHT DOWNGRADE. THE CAR THEN JUST SHUT OFF AFTER AUDIBLE WARNING BELL WAS HEARD. NOTICED DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ALL LIT AND BATTERY GAGE WAS NORMAL. I LOST POWER STEERING, BRAKES AND OIL PRESSURE. AFTER PULLING SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I RESTED FOR 30 SECONDS BEFORE RESTARTING THE CAR, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY OPERATED NORMALLY. AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND SAFETY CHECK, I WENT ON A 450 MILE WEEKEND TRIP AND HAD NO ISSUES, RESTRICTING CRUISE CONTROL TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE OTHER DAY, I WAS TRAVELING ON A DIFFERENT STRETCH OF LEVEL ROAD IN MY TOWN WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROX. 35 MPH. AFTER HEADING INTO A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE, I AGAIN HEARD THE WARNING BELL, FOLLOWED BY ENGINE SHUT OFF. A "CHECK GAGE" LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING, OIL PRESSURE AND BRAKES. THIS TIME, I GENTLY SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND WHILE COASTING AT 15-20 MPH I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF BEFORE RESTARTING WITHOUT ISSUE. THE CAR HAS SUBSEQUENTLY OPERATED NORMALLY, BUT I HAVE NOT ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AT ANY SPEED.

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 16, 2018KY

THE MOUNTAINEER IS A 2005. I LOVE THE VEHICLE BUT, THE PAINT IS ALMOST GONE ON THE HOOD AND IS STARTING TO BUBBLE IN OTHER AREA. THIS IS MY DAILY CAR, HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT UNTIL MAY 2018. I CANNOT THINK OF ANYTHING WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 6, 2018116,354 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PANEL WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE REAR WINDOW WAS COMPROMISED DUE TO THE CRACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DICK SMITH FORD (9505 E STATE RTE 350, RAYTOWN, MO) WHERE THE CRACKS WERE CONFIRMED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT ADHESIVE MATERIAL NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO THE CRACKS TO REINFORCE THE PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THE CONTACT WERE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE INDEPENDENTLY, SHE MAY BE REIMBURSED IF A RECALL WERE ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,354. *TT *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 29, 201760,000 milesMN

THE REAR LIFT GATE IS CRACKED. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN FORDS MANUFACTURING AND THEY SHOULD FIX THIS

Engine
Filed Dec 21, 201690,000 milesTX

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE ENGINE CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, ALL THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. ONCE THE CAR WAS SAFELY OFF THE ROAD AND PLACED IN PARK IT WOULD START AND CONTINUE TO OPERATE. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOT FAULT CODE IN THE COMPUTER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY FAULT IN THE ENGINE SYSTEM. FORD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES SAID I SHOULD GO A DIFFERENT FORD DEALER AND SEE IF THEY COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I FIND SIMILAR ENGINE FAILURES DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS GENERATION OF CAR. MORE CURRENT SIMILAR MODEL ARE NOT REPORTED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THUS I ASSUME FORD FOUND AND FIXED THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM TO TELL ME HOW THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. SO, I HAVE AN OTHERWISE GOOD CAR WHICH I CAN DO USE NOR IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL TO SOMEONE ELSE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jul 1, 201698,581 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD AND COLD AIR WAS BLOWING FROM THE VENTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE BLENDER ACTUATOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,581.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Apr 22, 2016124,000 milesNY

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND HE WAS GOING LESS THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR ON A MAIN STREET AND GOT IN A ACCIDENT THE WOMAN STOPPED SHORT AND HE REAR ENDED HER. THE CAR TOTALLED UP BUCKLED UP AIR BAGS NEVER INFLATED THEY CAME OUT COMPLETELY DEFLATED. ISSUE WITH THIS CAR ALSO IS THE ELECTRIC DRIVER WINDOW DIES OUT MECHANIC COULD NOT FIGURE OUT BOUGHT NEW MOTORS STILL WOULDNT OPEN ELECTRIC SWITCHES THEY THOUGHT IT WAS FULLY ELECTRONIC THEY WHERE GOING TO RE WIRE VERY EXPENSIBE BUT CAR WAS TOTALLED. CAR HORRIBLE ON GAS ALSO. HAVE PICTURES OF DELATED AIR BAGS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSANGER

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Apr 18, 2016110,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LIFTGATE WINDOW HANGING OFF THE HINGES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 2, 201640,000 milesOH

SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH, THE CAR WILL SEND AN AUDIBLE WARNING SIGNAL, MOST OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON AND THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY SHUTS OFF. IT NEVER HAPPENS WITH MY WIFE WHO IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE AND WAS MENTIONED TO OUR L/M DEALER (BEFORE THEY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS). I JUST MADE THE CORRELATION WITH THE SPEED CONTROL LAST WEEKEND. IN FACT, I CAN DUPLICATE THE ISSUE NOW. THE SHUTOFF OCCURS DURING DECELERATION WHEN SPEED CONTROL IS ENGAGED AROUND 35 MPH. SINCE MY WIFE ONLY USES SPEED CONTROL ON THE INTERSTATE, IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO HER.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Dec 21, 2015159,000 milesMI

"TAKATA RECALL" PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 158,000 MILES ON IT. OWNED FOR ONE MONTH. BARELY DRIVING EVEN 12 MILES A DAY AS I HAVE BEEN LAID OFF FROM JOB. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, SITTING. OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE TO RETRIEVE GROCERIES AND CLOSED GATE. REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT INTO A MILLION PIECES WITH THE CENTER PIECE THAT IS PLASTIC? TWISTED AS WELL. DID NOTICE CRACK IN PANEL NEAR THE EMBLEM SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE AND I THOUGHT THAT THE PRIOR OWNER MAY HAVE BACKED INTO SOMETHING , ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO DENT OR PAINT MARKED UP NEAR THE CRACK, SO I WAS STUMPED AS TO HOW IT GOT THAT WAY). AFTER INQUIRING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LIFT GATE PANEL AND GLASS FALLING OUT. I HAD SEALED THE CRACK WITH CLEAR SILICONE JUST A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING IN ORDER TO KEEP THE WATER OUT OF THE LIFT GATE. DEALER RAN MY VIN AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. I PURCHASED A VEHICLE REPORT THIS MORNING FOR MY VIN AND IT INDICATES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON GLASS THAT STATES THE #DOT430 IS DEFECTIVE GLASS. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE STAMPING ON MY GLASS AS THE DEALERSHIP/BODYSHOP REMOVED THAT PANEL AND THREW OUT THE PANEL IN THE GARBAGE. THEY SEALED THE REAR LIFT GATE WITH PLASTIC WHILE THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER EVALUATES. I KNOW THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING BY ALL THE REPORTS THAT I HAVE READ ONLINE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD OR WHATEVER MANUFACTURER WHO SUPPLIED PARTS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND SHOULD N

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 10, 2015128,000 milesPA

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES. TOOK IT TO A GARAGE, WAS TOLD IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STALLED. FOUND ELEVEN (11) SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE! PERHAPS THERE IS SOME VALIDITY TO THE COMPLAINTS. ALL PARTS OF THE VEHICLE RELATED TO SAFE DRIVING WERE RENDERED USELESS. SOUNDS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME!

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 28, 2015TX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE LEAVING A DRIVE-THRU, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, NECK, AND SPINE WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Engine
Filed Jul 27, 201541,000 milesNY

MY TRANSMISSION WENT ONLY AFTER 1 YEAR OF HAVING CAR, SPEND OFVER $3,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING AGAIN. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I DON'T EVEN DRIVE THAT MUCH.

20 of 82 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2002
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201013100Routine
20096000Routine
200896200Routine
200781100Routine
2006117220Routine
2005 — this page82100Routine
2004210120Above average
2003152150Routine
2002372470Above average
200122410Routine
20001238120Routine
1999151951Fatalities reported
19982366231Fatalities reported
19973287101Fatalities reported
19963200Routine

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: Dec 11, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.