2002 Mercury Mountaineer: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jul 20, 2011 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated the vehicle had a very hard shift for a few months. While driving the transmission failed and the overdrive light came on prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times since it was purchased and was always told that nothing was wrong with the transmission. The dealer recently stated there was a blow hole at the bottom of the transmission and the hole expanded which caused the failure. The dealer told the contact there was a repair kit that could be used, but not until the transmission failed completely. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 75,000. Updated 10/18/11*lj updated 3/22/12 *cn updated 8/11/12

Filed Feb 16, 2009 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · PA

Experiencing transmission issues at 75k miles. Took it to shop who reported these transmissions are notoriously bad, replacing some at 60k miles and most by 100k. Mine needs to be replaced at a cost of $2500. Problem is use of aluminum within metal and fast wear. Ford should be held accountable for making poor quality products. Transmissions should have a much greater life than 75k miles. Problems noticed - slipping out of gear while driving, not engaging gear when selected, not shifting into higher gear (overrevving),, clunking shifts. Danger arises when you select gear, accelerate and nothing happens and suddenly it pops into gear which causes vehicle to lunge forward.

Filed May 5, 2008 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · MI

My 2002 mountaineer has had transmission problems since we purchased the vehicle in new in late 2001. It has always had a very hard shift from 2nd to 3rd gear. We have complained to the service department during the warranty period and they found nothing wrong with the car. At 57,734 miles we had to replace the torque converter and solenoid assembly for a total bill of $1,438.00. My car now has 90,000 miles. On may 2 2008 I was driving to town to pick up my children and suddenly my car would not shift from 2nd to 3rd gear. The overdrive light went crazy and my check transmission light came on. I brought my car to the dealer and they reported that my vehicle will need a new transmission for a cost of $3,200. This problem poses serious safety issues. My vehicle malfunctioned on a road with a speed limit of 55 MPH. I could have been seriously injured by another car since my car could not move more than 25 MPH when it malfunctioned. This vehicle has been well maintained and is only used to transport myself and my children around town. We have owen many other vehicles with more than 200,000 miles on them and have never experienced any problems like this.

Filed Feb 18, 2008 · Airbags, Suspension · OH

01/18/07 when truck shifts gears it vibrates. Solution: flush automatic transmission fluid. (also changed oil) helped for a few months but problem is back. ($198.95) 5/29/07 air bag light stays on. Solution: replaced drivers side pretensioner. (also changed oil). $273.19 6/26/07 heard very loud clunking noise. Solution: replaced front differential (internal damage to clutches), both rear axle seals (because of leakage) $1580.23 11/07/07 truck makes loud noise from the rear and seems to jump while turning. Solution: front end alignment and replace seals in rear. $482.97 still have the loud noise and jumping. 12/13/07 take truck to different place with same problem. Solution: replace left front hub bearing. $401.73. 02/18/08 still have same problem with loud noise and jumping. Solution: left rear hub bearing, drums in rear, and now mechanic tells me I need clutch packs in rear to solve problem. Tells me I should take it back to the dealer.??? $380.00. Now I can add all of this up 198.95+273.19+1580.23+482.97+401.73+380.00=$3017.07 to finally get my truck fixed---------priceless!!!!!!!!!

Filed Aug 1, 2007 · Suspension · 65,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 mercury mountaineer. While driving 30 MPH uphill, the contact heard a clunking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The dealer stated that the wheel bearing needed to be replaced. The VIN and engine size were unknown. The current mileage was 70,000 and failure mileage was 65,000.

Filed May 11, 2005 · Electrical, Transmission · OH

Dt: the vehicle's transmission slipped, jumped and made clunking noises while in park, reverse or while the consumer was driving. The vehicle was taken to the shop several times for numerous things such as the ignition switch. She took her vehicle to the shop this time and they said it was her transmission. Her vehicle only has 41000 miles. She started smelling a burning smell and that's when she took it into the shop. She has only had the vehicle 45 days and has already had all these problems.

Filed Jun 29, 2004 · Body, Engine · 883 miles · DE · 1 injury

Problems with vehicle's transmission at various speeds. *mr the engine remained slipping, jumping, and making noises, the rear window did not hold and fell on the consumers head, the steering column locks, the fuel engine read empty and the light was on, the interior coat hooks had come out of the walls, and the transmission was jumping, clunking, and slipping. *sc dup of 10022342_pco

Filed May 25, 2004 · Body, Transmission · 90 miles · DE

From the time the consumer purchased the vehicle there have been problems with it. The transmission in the vehicle made a loud clunking sound. The dealer replaced the transmission once but the consumer continued to experience problems. The head liner on the ceiling fell down.

Filed Feb 26, 2004 · Transmission · 47,000 miles · KS

I bought a 2002 mercury mountaineer may 16th 2003 with approx 45,000 miles. About a week later we noticed that the shifting seemed to be jerky going from 2-3 gears. Took it back into the person I bought it from and he called our local ford dealer who he purchased it from 2 days prior for me. They stated there were not bulletins out on the transmission. We had the transmission fluid checked and it appeared to be ok. A couple of months went by and then a soft shudder started when going to the next gears. I took it to a local transmission place and the tech stated that he had seen 2 of these incidents in the last 6 months. Recommended I get rid of the vehicle as there was a flaw in the transmission design. In november of 2003 we had the transmission serviced (approx $250). Cleared up the problem for a couple of months but reappeared and then went into a hard shift going to each gear. Feb 2004 took it back to local ford dealer and they will charge me $2700 to replace my transmission with a rebuilt ford transmission. The real kicker is I bought this vehicle because my 2001 ford windstar's transmission went out and there was a service bulletin out on it too. I guess shame on me for continuing to buy ford.

Filed Jun 4, 2003 · Body, Steering · 883 miles · DE · 1 injury

The vehicle transmission slipped, jumped and made clunking noises. The steering column locked up. The rear hatch fell onto the consumers head which resulted in retinal detachment and balance trouble. *mr *ph *ak *nlm pe04045.pco

Filed Nov 7, 2002 · Engine, Transmission · MI

The first time the transmission problem happened while I was driving on I-275 going to jury duty. It was rush hour, stop & go traffic. I was excellerating and at approximately 60 miles per hour, the truck like "slammed" into gear. It started me & I thought I had been rear-ended. I contacted the dealer on my cell phone and asked to bring it in. I was told since I was in jury duty, I would have to wait until my service ended and then bring it in. I asked if the transmission or drivetrain could further damage & was told no. I was afraid to keep driving it but did not have a choice at the time. I kept track of the times the truck "slammed" into gear which up until the time I took the vehicle in, was when the vehicle was warm & it was on excellerations at different speeds & times. The service people said it did not do it while they test drove it but ford's knew there was a problem with it & the repair was to reprogram the computer chip & that would fix the problem it did not. I had to re-schedule an appointment for another attempt to fix it. This time the dealer placed a recording device on the truck & were able to capture it acting up. The service person told me I needed a new transmission & that's what he'd like to do to repair it but I'd have to wait until ford's retrieved the data. I was concerned about driving the vehicle and it only had 800 miles on it! While waiting for a determination, I had driven the vehicle about 6 or 7 miles and an awful odor filled the cab. It smelled like something burning under the vehicle. I pulled over & checked under the truck for a fire. I did not see anything that looked like it was burning. I called the dealer & complained again about it slamming into gear & now the awful smell. I wondered if the transmission was burning. I was told it was another complaint others made as well. It was coming from the exhaust (valve?) for the 3rd try, these 2 issues & others are now being repaired. Dt