2006 Mercury Mountaineer

Routine

Owners filed 117 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
58,945 milesMedian miles at failure

94 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 50,00060,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission21
211
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System19
000
Engine and Engine Cooling16
001
Engine10
000
Power Train9
010
Unknown or Other6
001
Structure › Body5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly5
000
Seats3
000
Fuel System, Gasoline3
000

2 safety recalls

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.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor05V520000
Filed Nov 9, 2005199,942 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.

Risk. AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Dec 27, 2022143,869 milesNY

The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that her husband informed her that the vehicle had experienced an unknown radiator failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the radiator was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was repaired for a second time by an independent mechanic; however, the failure persisted. The local dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 143,869.

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 5, 2021TX

My shifter continuously won’t come out of park. Multiple other people with the same kind of vehicle have posted on forums with the same issue. It’s happened weekly for a year or more. I keep getting told there’s a recall on it but can’t find it.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 18, 2021TX

There is a known issue with the cluster panel’s relay that has caused my headlights to flash off and on randomly as it malfunctions.

Power Train
Filed Apr 22, 2021MN

MY CAR WILL JERK AS I'M DRIVING RPMS GOING HIGH WHILE NO SPEED IS PICKING UP. WITH JUMP OUT OF GEAR WHEN AT STOP LIGHT. LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM TIRES COULD HAVE FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON GAS PETAL AND GO NO FASTER.

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 20, 2019123,000 milesMO

2006 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 123,000 MILES. NOTICE (BOTTOM) OF BOX SUBFRAME, LOCATED REAR DRIVER SIDE ONLY. FOWARD OF REAR AXLE, HAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN A LENGTH OF 8 TO 10 INCHES. CORROSION HAS ROTTED THROUGH THIS AREA. VEHICLE HAS 123000 MILES ON IT. ALSO VEHICLE HAS SURFACE CORROSION ALL OVER BOTTOM OF SUBFRAME. FORD DID NOT APPLY CORROSION COATINGS ON THIS SUB FRAME PROPERLY. THIS COULD BE A HAZARD FOR OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL AS TIME GOES ON. NOTICE OTHER FORD VEHICLES HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND RECALLS WITH SUB FRAME CORROSION, RANGING FROM 2001 THROUGH 2014. FORD'S VENDORS THAT FABRICATE THESE PARTS SHOULD BE UPDATED WITH MODERN PROCEDURES TO APPLY CORROSION PREVENTED COATINGS ON THESE PARTS PROPERLY. SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE SECTIONS FOR REPAIR... NO ACCIDENTS, NO ISSUES, AS TIME GOES ON THERE MAYBE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE WITH FORD PRODUCTS SUB FRAME CORROSION RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS ON ROADS.

Power Train
Filed Apr 8, 2019166,000 milesIL

THE GEAR SHAFT WILL STOP MY CAR FROM STARTING WHEN I TURN IT OFF. IT WILL ALSO MAKE MY CAR VUT OFF WHILE DRIVING..THE BUTTON ON THE GEAR STICK WILL GET STUCK AND I AM ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS...WHEN THE CAR IS NOT STARTED AND MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE BREAKS. EVEN WHEN THE BUTTON IS NOT STUCK, IT STILL WILL GET STUCK IN PARK AND WONT LET ME START MY CAR..A RECALL SHOULD BE STARTED..BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN OTHERS ON HERE WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS..SO ITS A MANUFACTURING ACCIDENT NOT THE CONSUMER.

Electrical SystemCrash
Filed May 26, 2018100,000 milesLA

THE DRIVER SEAT MOTOR MESSED UP CAUSING THE TO BE STATIONARY. THE SEAT WONT MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD.THE AIR CONDITIONING ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T BLOW COLD , THE DASH AND RADIO LIGHTS BRIGHTEN AND DIM SPORADICALLY AND THE THIRD ROW SEATS DON'T WORK, THE GEAR STRIPPED OUT. ALSO, THE BUSHINGS ON THE FEONT AND REAR HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 9, 2018MA

I LIVE IN QUINCY, MA. WHEN IT SNOWS OR GETS COLD THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY, MAJORITY OF TIME IN REVERSE, LOCKS IN REVERSE, SELF ACCELERATING, AND EVEN WHEN I BRAKE IT OVERRIDES THE BRAKING SYSTEM. LAST NIGHT IT ACTUALLY SELF DISPLAYED THE 4X4 LIGHT ON DASHBOARD. WHEN I MEAN ACCELERATES, I MEAN UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION.

Engine
Filed Sep 7, 201742,000 milesMA

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE RECENTLY WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES. THE CAR KEEPS STALLING OR DYING AS YOU MAY SAY AS I DRIVE. IT WILL BE OKAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN JUST DIE RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY! ONCE IT DIES ONCE, THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL THE ENGINE HAS COOLED DOWN. I HAVE THE ENGINE CODES OF P2104, P2111 AND P2135 WITH A REFERE TO P2101. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND PAID WELL OVER $1,000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND IT JUST CONTINUES. I AM AFRAID MY FAMILY MAY ALL DIE! WERE ON 93 RECENTLY HEADING TOWARD BOSTON AND MY CAR DIED RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF 495. I HAD ALL MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAVE FIXED THE FUEL SYSTEM (ERROR CODE LAST TIME), HAD A COMPLETE TUNE UP, AND THROTTLE SENSOR ETC.

Power Train
Filed Jan 17, 2017154,758 milesWI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT WOULD NOT REVERSE WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,758.

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 8, 2016FL

"TAKATA RECALL" PAINTING, SEATS ELECTRIC, LIGHT OF THE ENGINE.

Engine
Filed Nov 8, 2016FL

"TAKATA RECALL" ENGINE ALWAYS TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. I FIXED IT AT 3 DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS AND STILL THE SAME.

Power Train
Filed May 6, 2016134,000 milesMD

HAVE SENT A COMPLAINT RECENTLY NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME I'VE SEEN ON LINE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS DUE TO FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS ON FORD, AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER ESP 20001- THRU 2012 MODELS AND HAD A 2004 LAST YR. I HAD TO SEND TO JUNKYARD BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND WOULD ALSO STOP WHILE DRIVING ESP. ON HIGHWAYS AT SPEEDS OVER 55 MPH MANY CLOSE CALLS AND LUCKY I WASNT INJURED OR KILLLED DUE TO TROUBLE WITH TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING AND BECOMING UNRESPONSIVE TO WHERE IT HAD TO BE TOWED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN TRANSMISSION BECAME UNRESPONSIVE NOW MY 2006 MOUNTAINEER AWD HAS SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND EVERY ONE I HAVE TRIED TO PURCHASE AS A REPLACEMENT ALSO HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS FAILING SO NEED SOME ADVICE AS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THESE ISSUES!.....AS IN PAST I STATED IT FAILS LOSES POWER AND TRANSMISSION FAILS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AFTER SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO STOP AT LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS IT USUALLY IS UNRESPONSIVE AND CANT GET OUT OF LOW GEAR AND OR COMPLETELY WILL NOT GO THRU GEARS NORMALLY!....HAVE HEARD ONLY 2011 MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED RECENTLY NOT FAIR IN MY OPINION THAT NO ONE HAS PAID ATTENTION TO THE EARLIER MODEL FORD EXPLORER AND MOUNTAINEER ESPECIALLY IN MY CASE O4-08 HAVE ALL HAD EXACT PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO MY CURRENT 06 MOUNTAINEER AWD....AS SEVERALMECHANICS RECENTLY REFUSE TO WORK ON IT TELLING ME THEY ARE NOT WORTH THEIR TIME AND NO GUARANTEES AS THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE ALL FAULTY FROM 02-2012 AND ALL SHULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO SAFE

Power Train
Filed Apr 30, 2016135,000 milesMD

2ND MOUNTAINEER OWNED TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT IN LOW GEARS AND UNRESPONSIVE. STALLED IN TOWN AND ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS ALMOST CAUSING COLLISIONS SEVERAL TIMES AFTER BECOMING UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 21, 201695,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, SHOULDER, AND CHEST. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 5, 2016134,483 milesPA

2006 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER DRIVING ALONG AROUND TOWN OR HIGHWAY AND WILL JUST LOOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING AFTER THE FACT THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH A RED WRENCH OR AN ORANGE WRENCH, FIRST PLACE I HAD IT TO SAID IT WAS A NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE THAT WAS LOOSE SO THEY TIGHTENED THE CABLE, TOOK IT HOME STALLED OUT ON ME, TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER SAID WAS READING THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP DRIVER MODULE DROVE VERY NEXT DAY STALLED ON ME ONCE AGAIN TAKING IT TO THE FORD DEALER ITSELF SAID COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS ONE IS THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW HAS EXPOSED WIRE WHICH THEY WILL BE FIXING THAT AND CLEANING OUT THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE BODY AND SEE HOW THAT IS IF NOT THEN THEY WILL TRY REPLACING THE TORQUE CONVERTOR CLUTCH CIRCUIT FOR ONE THIS NEEDS TO STOP BEING A GUESSING GAME I'M NOT A MILLIONAIRE I USED MY 401K TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE, ITS SUCH A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHILE ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND JUST UP AND STOPPED ON ME LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE MEANWHILE WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER COMING UP BEHIND ME WITH SEVERAL OTHER TRAFFIC HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FORD CONTACTED BY THE ONE GARAGE AND THEY "WASN'T SURE" WHAT IT COULD BE, WELL IT STOPS ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE SUCH A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD SOMEONE HAS TO KNOW SOMETHING WITHOUT HAVING TO JUST "GUESS" THE SITUATION. ALSO EVERY TIME IT RAINS THE WATER SEEPS THRU THE SUNROOF AND THE OVERHEAD LIGHT YOU CAN SEE IT CAME THRU THE LINER ITSELF WHEN IT DRIES UP, SO HEARTBREAKING BECAUSE I FELL

Seats
Filed Dec 15, 2015IL

MY DRIVER SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH AND THE INTERIOR INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I AM DRIVING. I HAVE TO STOP AND TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT SO IT WILL STOP.

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 14, 201560,000 milesNJ

BOUGHT USED IN WA STATE AND LIVE IN NJ NOW. AFTER PURCHASSE IT RAINED ONE NIGHT AND NEXT MORNING ENTIRE CENTER CONSOLE, OVERHEAD LIGHTS WERE ALL WET INSIDE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION DETERMINED LEAK WAS SUNROOF. NOTIFIED DEALER AND THEY HAD A GLASS SPECIALIST REMOVE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN. REPLACED SEAL WITH NEW ONE AND CLAIMED NO MORE LEAKAGE. A FEW DAYS LATER IT RAINED AGAIN (WA WELL KNOWN FOR ALWAYS RAINING) AND AGAIN THE LEAK WAS PRESENT. THE DEALER'S RESPONSE WAS NOW 'PARK YOUR VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT END DOWNHILL. THERE ARE TINY SLOTS THAT DIRECT THE WATER DOWN THE CORNER PILLARS AND APPARENTLY CLOG EASILY. SO PARKING WITH FRONT END DOWNHILL WILL RELIEVE THE WATER BEFORE IT CAN POOL UP TO LEAK.

Seat Belts
Filed Nov 14, 2015150,000 milesNJ

MOUNTAINEER PREMIER AWD WITH JUST OVER 150,000 MILES. WENT TO RAISE REAR (THIRD ROW) ELECTRICAL SEAT ON DRIVER/LEFT SIDE. MAKES A SLIGHT CLICKING SOUND AND WILL RAISE UP ABOUT 1 INCH, THEN JUST STOPS GOING UP WITH SOUNDS STILL HEARD. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWS A MOTOR IN THE CENTER ALONG A GEAR SHAFT WHICH MUST RAISE THE SEAT. THE MOTOR IS WHIRRING LIKE IT IS FUNCTIONING BUT THE SHAFT DOESN'T MOVE. THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY FULLY RAISE THE SEAT.

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 14, 2015120,000 milesNJ

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY MOUNTAINEER THE ELECTRIC RUNNING BOARD ON THE DRIVER SIDE BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING SOUND. BOUGHT FROM A DEALER IN WA STATE AND MOVED TO WI STATE WHERE THE DRIVER SIDE STOPPED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE STOPPED EXTENDING/RETRACTING. MOVED TO NJ AND WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE EXTENDED WARRANTY. BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE A KNOCKING SOUND WITH LITTLE POWER AND HAD TOWED TO DEALER. THERE THEY FOUND ALL 8 SPARK PLUGS FOULED, DRIVER SIDE HAD 3 EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS LOOSE. PASSENGER SIDE HAD SAME 3 LOOSE, BUT ALSO HAD 2 BROKEN OFF IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD PLUS THE MANIFOLD ITSELF HAD A HAIRLINE CRACK. IN THE END, I PAID ALMOST $2,000 TO HAVE DRIVER AND PASSENGER RUNNING BOARD AND MOTORS REPLACED. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAD GONE BAD AND WAS REPLACED, THE SPARK PLUGS AND ALL MANIFOLD BOLTS (ALONG WITH BROKEN) WERE ALL REMOVED AND REPLACED.

20 of 117 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2002
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201013100Routine
20096000Routine
200896200Routine
200781100Routine
2006 — this page117220Routine
200582100Routine
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.