Most common 2003 Mercury Mountaineer problems
Share of the 152 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 →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer:
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…
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 2003 Mercury Mountaineer owners say
Body & structure all 59 →
See where several people are experiencing the same issues that I am having with my 2003 Mountaineer. The rear gate is cracking around the emblem. I've have reported this to Ford and they tell me I can pay to fix it and if there is recall they will reimburse me. In addition I am also experiencing the door ajar light coming on when all are shut and secure. I have contact Ford and several local dealerships. The dealership all tell me their hands are tied until Ford makes a decision and that I am not alone. Ford refuses to do anything. It's almost like they don't care. With all these complaints why isn't this agency doing something?
1) front wheel bearing hub assembly failure resulting in unsafe​ undriveable (this has been repeatedly​ reported by vehicle owners regardless of vehicles milage) failure accured while slowing down for a stoplight after exiting a parking lot of a restaurant 2) lift hatch cracked center of hatch above the emblem potentially allowing water into the interior working of hatch and causing untold and unseen water related damages​(this is an admitted Ford manufacturing defect across the entire vehicle​ line spending multiple years production)
Transmission & drivetrain all 42 →
On 9/2/06, I used my vehicle to go to store and while at the store, I had difficulty placing the vehicle into park and needed to shut vehicle off to finally lock it into park. I then returned home with the vehicle and parked it in my driveway. The vehicle then rolled down the driveway and crashed into my house and struck my 8 month old son 's stroller. It caused damage to my house and vehicle received damage to the windshield, front bumper, hood and grill. I immediately called the dealer and was given an appointment to bring it on 9/11/06. After examining the vehicle , the dealer stated that they recommended replacing the brake shift interlock switch since they have been found to stick and be faulty in other mountaineers. I was told that although this was a safety hazard, it was not a recall and not covered under my warranty. …
Big o techs conned wife into buying 2 tires and we own AWD SUV that requires 4 at the same intervals .I immediately notify them that this is not safe and will damage my car they continued for over 2 months to lie to me about having somemone comtact me . I have all the communications I've had with them through messages. A few weeks after they put the tires on and refused to take them off and put my old o es back on and issue a refund well my transmission and transfer case failed I contacted them again and again they lied to me about someone contacting me . I took my SUV to the transmission shop we measured over 2 inch circumference difference. I informed big o that I have a TSB issued by Ford my employer that dates back to 2011 on tire circumference procedures for tire dealers to follow . The response I got was that big o refuses to review or acknowledge tsbs . …
Engine & cooling
I purchased a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer on 2/15/14 and I took it on a road trip on 2/16/4 with my grandkids. After entering the highway and gaining speed I started to smell a strong burnt rubber and exhaust smell. The smell was very toxic and stuck to our clothing. On 2/18/14, I took it to the dealer for his mechanic to take a look at it. The mechanic said there was some degreaser that overflowed from a cupler and leaked onto the exhaust. I asked if there was a leak and the mechanic responded by saying not really, which meant there was a leak. The mechanic assured me that the problem was taken care of, but if it still occurs, they would send it in for two days. I continued to smell the toxic smell and on 2/19/14 the hatch on lift gate just cracked. Also when I turn at a low speed, I hear a strange sound and vibration, coming from the tire area. …
Tl contact owns a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the rear driver's side wheel bearing was replaced 3 times within 16 months. On October 1, 2008, while driving out of the driveway at an unknown speed, she heard a loud noise. The vehicle was towed to the repair shop and the mechanic stated that the rear driver's side wheel bearing failed. The contact stated that the vehicle was not driven on dirt roads, only in the city. She feels that either the wheel bearing is defective or the Ford dealer did not properly correct the previous failures. The Ford dealer stated that the vehicle is out of warranty and the wheel bearing is only good for 12,000 miles. The manufacturer took a report and stated that they will forward her information to the dealer. From there, the dealer will determine if the vehicle will be repaired. …
2003 Mercury Mountaineer engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer a good car?
Based on 152 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Mountaineer rates average: 1.2× 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 2003 Mercury Mountaineer?
The body & structure — 59 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (42) and engine & cooling (11).
How many recalls does the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2003 Mercury Mountaineer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 79,000 miles; 26% 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.