Most common 2002 Ford Mountaineer problems
Share of the 11 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Mountaineer complaints by model year
Best Mountaineer years: 1998. Compare all years →
2002 Ford Mountaineer recalls (1)
Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Hinge and attachments
On certain sport utility vehicles, the liftgate glass strut May become disengaged or the hinge May fracture allowing the glass to fall and possibly break.
Remedy: Dealers will have the liftgate glass strut brackets and glass hinges replaced. For the vehicles built from August 1, 2000 through March 3, 2002, the dealers will replace the hinges and liftgate strut bracket.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2002 Ford Mountaineer:
Inoperative air bag system
Rear liftgate glass assembly
Complaints report failure of the rear liftgate glass support while the operator is opening or closing the glass.the falling glass can strike the operator or bystander.the injuries reported are bruises to the head, neck or back, cuts to the face, arm or hand.on September 9, 2004, Ford notified the agency that it will recall approximately 955,732 my 2002 and 2003 Ford explorer and Mercury mountaineer vehicles to…
What 2002 Ford Mountaineer owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
Transmission started to shudder when shifting, had dealer power flush and fill transmission and reprogram PCM this fixed problem for 3 days, then problem returned. Have now been told that transmission needs to be replaced. Transmission can go out anytime so repairs have to be done at a cost of $3600.00 at dealer.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Mountaineer. The contact stated that the transmission gear shift lever on the column was fractured. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 183,000.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Ford Mountaineer a good car?
Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Mountaineer rates average: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Mountaineer at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Ford Mountaineer?
The transmission & drivetrain — 5 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the speed control & acceleration (2) and windows, wipers & sunroof (2).
How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Mountaineer have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 Ford Mountaineer, the most recent from September 13, 2004 (hinge and attachments). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Mountaineer?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1998. See the full Ford Mountaineer years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Mountaineer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 77,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.