Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Mercury Mountaineer problems

Owners filed 117 complaints about the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer with NHTSA between Oct 2006 and Dec 2022. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (43).

Complaints
117
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling43
  2. Power train39
  3. Engine14
  4. Electrical system9
  5. Structure7
  6. Seats6
  7. Equipment4
  8. Vehicle speed control3
  9. Fuel system, gasoline3
  10. Wheels2
  11. Fuel/propulsion system2
  12. Exterior lighting2
  13. Tires2
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20061
20079
20089
200912
201012
201124
201210
20138
20147
20159
20166
20172
20182
20192
20200
20213
20221

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

43 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 27, 2022Engine and engine coolingODI 11498964

Power train

39 reports2 crashes2 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 22, 2021Power train, Vehicle speed control, WheelsODI 11413469

Engine

14 reports1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2017Unknown or other, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11022125

Electrical system

9 reports1 crash1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 26, 2018Electrical system, Seats, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11098075

Structure

7 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2019StructureODI 11269593

Seats

6 reports1 crash
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2015SeatsODI 10810565
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.