Most common 2002 Mercury Mountaineer problems
Share of the 372 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercury Mountaineer complaints by model year
Best Mountaineer years: 2009, 2010, 2001. Years to avoid: 2002, 1997, 1998, 2004, 1999. Compare all years →
2002 Mercury Mountaineer recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 Mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair…
Tires › Sidewall
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The right side tires May have horizontal cuts on the edge of the tread that could have occurred during vehicle assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tires and, if any slices are found, the cut tires will be replaced. Owner notification began June 7, 2001.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer:
Stuck engine throttle
On July 7, 2005, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate alleged stuck throttle complaints in certain model year (my) 2002 Ford explorer and Mercury mountaineer vehicles equipped with the standard available 4.0l sohc v6 engine.at that time, odi was aware of 15 complaints that alleged stuck engine throttle causing unwanted vehicle acceleration and 1 alleged crash as a…
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…
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular…
Mis-assembled airbag clockspring
In July 2001, Ford issued a special service message announcing that some air bagclockspring devices May produce noise when the steering wheel is turned full left or right.Ford was aware that some clocksprings May have been improperly installed.the improper installation May also cause an open circuit and the air bag warning light to illuminate.starting with vehicles produced in September 2001, Ford adding length to…
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
What 2002 Mercury Mountaineer owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 144 →
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.
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.. …
Body & structure all 70 →
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.
When approaching my vehicle (2002 Mercury Mountaineer) from behind, I noticed a crack in the center of the liftgate panel, beginning at the bottom of the window and extending to the handle. I researched this on the internet and found that it is a problem which has occurred in Ford-manufactured suvs, including the Mountaineer and explorer. I called the service manager of the dealership where I purchased the vehicle. He was familiar with the problem and stated that the panel will need to be replaced. Since there is no recall issued, there was nothing he could do. I then called Ford customer service and spoke to a person who told me that Ford could not provide assistance since my vehicle was out of warranty. Since this is an obvious defect in the product, I believe that Ford should issue a recall and cover the repair cost. …
Suspension all 36 →
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. …
Tl contact owns a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. The vehicle has toyo open country at tires, size p22570r15 (na). The tires were purchased brand new in May of 2007 from jensen tire company while driving 15 MPH. At 36,000 miles, the rear passenger tire blew out in June of 2008. The repair shop stated that the tire was worn down to the steel. The tire company from where the tire was purchased is providing reimbursement for the failed tire. The remaining tires were inspected by other shops and each shop recommended that the rest of the tires be replaced. Toyo stated that the tires needed an alignment. The contact stated that an alignment had just been performed; however, the manufacturer advised her to have another one. While the vehicle was at the shop, the mechanic stated that the ball joints were defective due to the damage caused by the tires and needed to be replaced. …
2002 Mercury Mountaineer engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer a good car?
Based on 372 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Mountaineer rates avoid: 3.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Mountaineer at the same age. It is one of the Mountaineer years we suggest avoiding. 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 Mercury Mountaineer?
The transmission & drivetrain — 144 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the body & structure (70) and suspension (36).
How many recalls does the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer, the most recent from October 13, 2009 (vehicle speed control). 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 Mercury Mountaineer?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2010 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002, 1997, 1998, 2004 and 1999. See the full Mercury Mountaineer years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Mercury Mountaineer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 20% 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.