Problems · by component
2002 Mercury Mountaineer power train problems
149 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer cite power train, 38% of all 389 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
149
38% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Body : to much rust, corrosion, on rear of truck other failure or detachment of exterior body like rear gate frame components, and other structural components that may present a safety hazard. Electrical : electrical systems and items such asa wiring and cable on or inside the door, ignition switch cover detach ,instrument panel and gauges blinking that causes motors and actuators that power mechanical devices like (windows, sunroofs, seats, etc.) Generate some kind of electrical problem that may present a safety hazard. Power train :transmissions, transfer cases fluid hard to check ,electronic control units and shift lever inacurated, drive axles, hubs, shafts, differentials, CV joints star vibration that may present a safety hazard.”
“I PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE FROM REDEFINED AUTO SALES LOCATED IN SKOKIE, IL ON 3/11/17. SINCE THEN I HAVE SPENT OVER $1500.00 IN COST FOR REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE, BEGINNING WITH I HAD TO GET THE OIL CHANGED THE SAME DAY THAT I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CHANGE OIL REQUIRED LIGHT CAME ON AS SOON AS I EXITED THE EXPRESSWAY, I ALMOST GOT INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN ROUTE FROM THE CAR DEALERSHIP BECAUSE A MOTORIST TRIED TO CUT ME OFF AND THAT IS WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT THE HORN WAS NOT WORKING. THE NEXT DAY THE POWER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING AND THINGS JUST HAS WENT DOWN HILL SINCE THEN, THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AS I'M TYPING THIS, I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ANYWHERE OTHER THAN BACK AND FORTH TO REPAIR SHOPS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB BUT NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THE COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE BUSINESS RESPONDED SAYING THE VEHICLE WAS USED AND I REJECTED THE RESPONSE AND THEN RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE BBB SAYING THAT THE CASE WAS CLOSED. THIS VEHICLE WAS A LEMON WITH A LOT OF ISSUES AND NONE OF THOSE ISSUES WERE DISCLOSED TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.”
“WHEN GOING 25-30 MPH VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT.IT ACTUALLY KICKED THE VEHICLE BACK. OD LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH THEN SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON.BEEN DOING THIS SINCE. WENT TO GO GET MOUNTAINEER READ AND OF COARSE..THE TRANSMISSION..SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE OTHERWISE THIS MIGHT EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A LAWSUIT AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THE EXACT SAME THING.”
“WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING ALL I HERE WAS DING DING DING OD/OFF STARTED FLASHING . SEC LATER CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON NOW WHEN I DRIVE PUTTING FOOT ON THE PADDLE TO GO IT WILL IDLE UP I RELEASE AND IT WILL SHIFT N GO. AAMCO SAYING THAT I NEED A REBUILT TRANNY THAT'S BS WITH ALL WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING IT'S JUST A RIP OFF I DON'T HAVE $3500 TO GET THIS FIX. NOW SEEING NOT ONCE NOT TWICE SO MANY COMPLAINTS I READ THAT PEOPLE PAID FOR 2 OR MORE TRANNY FOR THE VEHICLE'S AND NOTHING IS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. AND THE FORD DEALS KNOWS ABOUT IT..... DO A HUMAN BEING HAS TO LOSE THEIR LIFE BEFORE FORD DEALER'S CAN OWN UP TO THERE RESPONSIBILITY? IF THEY WAS IN OUR SHOES THEY WOULD WANT THE SAME THING VICE VERSE THEY SAY U REAP WHAT YOU SOW. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP UP JUST FIX OUR TRANSMISSION THAT'S ALL.. ANOTHER THING ABS LIGHT STAYS ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON THE SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYS ON ALL MY WINDOWS DOESN'T LET DOWN NOW WTF? *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
“WHILE DRIVING THE "OD" LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO THIRD GEAR. IT WOULD JUST REV UP. IF YOU LET OFF THE GAS IT WOULD USUALLY SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. I WAS GOING TO TRY TO CHECK THE FLUID BUT COULDN'T FIND THE DIPSTICK. I CHECKED THE MANUAL AND FOUND OUT THERE IS NONE. WHEN I CHECKED ONLINE FOR HELP I FOUND ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT WERE EXACTLY LIKE MINE. IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT FORD WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS OBVIOUSLY POORLY DESIGNED TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART FOR AN OWNER TO REPLACE AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU COULD LOSE THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AT A CRITICAL MOMENT. WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS AS I AM SEEING ONLINE THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE SOMEBODY GETTING HURT OR KILLED FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN. *JS”
Showing 6 of 149 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.