Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Mercury Mountaineer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Back lift shattered when closing, resulting in shattered glass in my hand, inside the car, on top of the car and all over the parking lot near other cars (everywhere) and brackets hanging from the wires on the top (it was raining outside!). I drove car to dealer who after initial questions and Ford approval then advised of recall and provided a replacement car during repairs but it took 6 weeks to repair. Amazing while the 6 week repairs of "waiting for parts" I got a recall notice in the mail (aug 05). After bothering the dealer to get the car back, I was called to pick up the car and I was told the "check engine soon light" is coming on! When I picked it up, I not only see the light is intermittent coming on, but my electric window switches are not working to put the windows up and down (except the front passenger works fine) and the driver seat belt is not retracting correctly! …
On cold mornings, the front windshield fogs/frosts up. Turning heat on and selecting defrost provides little to no air to windshield. Dealership identified it as a broken vent select door, requiring dashboard to be removed and part replaced, $1100 fix. In doing research on the vent select door - cars are designed that if the selector breaks that the air should default to the front defrost so that windshield would not fog/frost and cause a life threatening situation. Multiple times this has occurred while driving, all along believing that the fogging up was due to snow build up on outside vents. The fact that the vent broke and did not push air to the windshield is why I'm logging this complaint as it could have resulted in a life threatening situation. In reading the other entries, noting that I've had to have the rear coil springs replaced and had back liftgate replaced after cracking.
Rear passenger power window not operating properly. It will go down, but not go up, either from passenger door switch or driver's switch. Both switches and motor replaced at first repair shop but could not fix the problem. My local Mercury dealer also wanted to replaced both new switches and new motor claiming all three were still bad. Two weeks, and three shops later, a Ford dealer in the next town over said both switches and motor were fine ( I already knew that). He found a broken wire behind the emergency brake pedal behind the dash panel. A new section of wire was spliced in, but they are not sure how or why this wire broke in an unexposed location.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the rear lift gate failed to latch securely on several occasions. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact stated on one occasion while driving the vehicle, the lift gate ajar warning light illuminated. The contact's son went to close the lift gate and glass shattered. The contact hired a glass repairmen to fix the window for $250.00. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact associated NHTSA campaign number: 01i010000 (visibility) with the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. While the vehicle was parked the contact attempted to close the windshield on the rear lift gate and it shattered. The dealer was notified and informed the contact that NHTSA recall # 01i010000, visibility glass, side/rear had already been serviced on the vehicle. Prior to the recent failure the contact had the rear windshield repaired on 4 different occasions. The dealer stated that the three years ago the windshield recall repair was satisfied. The most recent repair was made in April of 2007. The approximate current and failure mileages were 80,000.
Back lift shattered when closing, resulting in shattered glass everywhere and brackets hanging (it was raining outside!). I drove car to dealer who provided a replacement car during repairs but it took 6 weeks to repair. Then when I was called to pick up the car I was told the "check engine soon light" is coming on! When I picked it up, I not only see the light is intermittent coming on, but my electric window switches are not working to put the windows up and down (except the front passenger works fine) and the driver seat belt is not retracting correctly! This car is only 3 years old!!
I had driven my 2002 Mountaineer to work, I gently pulled back on the gear shift, to put it into park, and it broke off in my hand. I had to leave it in drive and also had to leave my keys in the car. I didn't really worry about it being stolen because it won't go anywhere. I feel that Ford should have put a recall on this model of Mountaineer, do to so many problems. Transmissions, auto windows, gear shifts, wheel welds, and now a fire May start in the car even if it's not running. Really, I guess we will have to wait till one of them blows up, killing someone, before Ford will listen.
2002 Mountaineer stalls, transmission control assembly, main control valve, and gasket had to be replaced. The lift gate was sticking, and while closing it, the glass shattered, the glass was recalled, and was suppose to have been fixed. The oil light illuminated. The trim on the front door fell off while driving. There was a grinding noise coming from the rear wheels, it was determined that there was severe rust on the brake componets, the park brake shoes fell apart due to corrosion, the rear wheel bearing and knuckle assembly had excessive rust.
My mother was at her parents' house and opened the rear glass portion of the lift gate. Upon doing so, one of the lift gate cylinders detached from the glass. She went inside to get her father to come outside and see if he could fix the issue. When he attempted to lift the glass, it shattered instantly leaving cuts all over his body. I called Ford about this issue and was told that there was nothing that they could do about this because the recall that addresses this issue had already been performed on the vehicle (NHTSA campaign id number: 01i010000).
Rear lift gate panel below glass has developed a crack. This lift gate has been recalled but dealer states the cracked panel is not part of the recall. Two dealers have said this problem has occurred in other vehicles. Has not yet been repaired. Also transmission trouble. Dealer said needed to replace at cost of $3200.00. Dealer charged $80.00 to tell me it needed fixed. Took to trans. Repair shop to repair at cost of $1300.00. This month I have also had to replace the idler pulley, EGR valve, and the elec rear window is not functioning.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Mountaineer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer, 9% of the model year's 372 complaints. The component named most often is glass, side/rear (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Mercury Mountaineer window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Mercury Mountaineer window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.