Most common 2006 Mercury Mountaineer problems
Share of the 117 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 →
2006 Mercury Mountaineer recalls (1)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
On certain trucks, passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, the windshield wiper motor May have been produced without grease being applied to the output shaft gear.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiper motor for the presence of grease and grease the wiper motor gears if necessary. The recall began on November 22, 2005.
What 2006 Mercury Mountaineer owners say
Engine & cooling all 56 →
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.
My 2006 Mercury Mountaineer was leaking coolant due to a crack in the radiator. After searching online forums, I have learned that has been a long standing issue with many of this vehicles owners. Unfortunately for owners, Ford issued a tbs in 2009 just in time for most of the affected vehicles' warranties to expire. Some owners are on their 3rd or more radiator replacement, I am only on my first. I petition that Ford recalls this issue before myself and others have to repeatedly pay for this clear design problem with their hard owned money. This problem also poses safety risk to the passengers operating these vehicles and to any animals attracted to the sweet smell of the coolant from affected vehicles whose owners who May not yet know this issue or cannot afford to fix it.
Transmission & drivetrain all 39 →
My car has had a continuing problem with the transmission. It shifts roughly and lurches when beginning to move. For example, when stopped at a stoplight, and then beginning to drive, it will lurch, jolting the passengers. Our driveway is sloped toward the street. When I park the car, I always set the emergency brake as well. The car always rolls a few inches before the brakes lock, even though it is stopped and in park. On sep. 4, 2009, my mother borrowed my car to go to lunch. She couldn't find the emergency brake release. She put the car in park and got out to locate the emergency brake. She found it and released it. The car popped into reverse and rolled backwards to the street. The door knocked my mother down and she hit her head hard enough to sustain a closed head injury with minor bleeding in her brain. …
Truck cooling system died which caused the truck to catch fire while driving down the highway, smoke poring out, state troopers had to assist us. My daughter was scared to death and now refuses to get back in the truck even though we got a new engine. To make matters worse we spent 3000 on and engine...500 on cooling system and had the transmission reprogrammed. The truck is still have major problems and now for says it needs the transmission rebuilt or replaced. All of this is out of pocket. We cant even trade it in bc they will only give us 1/2 of what we paid for it 2 yrs ago. Nightmare and makes me sick that Ford doesn't care.
Electrical system
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.
Shortly after purchasing my Mountaineer the electric running board on the driver side began to make a grinding sound. Bought from a dealer in wa state and moved to wi state where the driver side stopped and the passenger side stopped extending/retracting. Moved to nj and we had purchased the vehicle extended warranty. Began to sound like a knocking sound with little power and had towed to dealer. There they found all 8 spark plugs fouled, driver side had 3 exhaust manifold bolts loose. Passenger side had same 3 loose, but also had 2 broken off in exhaust manifold plus the manifold itself had a hairline crack. In the end, I paid almost $2,000 to have driver and passenger running board and motors replaced. The rear windshield wiper motor had gone bad and was replaced, the spark plugs and all manifold bolts (along with broken) were all removed and replaced.
2006 Mercury Mountaineer engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer a good car?
Based on 117 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Mountaineer rates average: about 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 2006 Mercury Mountaineer?
The engine & cooling — 56 complaints, 48% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (39) and electrical system (9).
How many recalls does the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer have?
There is 1 recall for the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer, the most recent from November 9, 2005 (motor). 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 2006 Mercury Mountaineer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 59,000 miles; 34% 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.