While driving my vehicle the o/d light starts flashing very fast. I can hear the vehicle revving as I am pressing on the gas. All of a sudden a hard pop and then the vehicle starts to accelerate. I try to continue home and the vehicle gets to around 30 MPH and does it again, as time goes on (same drive) it gets harder to shift into gear around 20 MPH and stays at that speed. Vehicle is a 2002 mercury mountaineer with 150,000 miles.
2002 Mercury Mountaineer transmission complaints
Page 2 of 6: complaints 11 to 40 of 144, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The shift lever snapped off, in reverse, while attempting to put into park. The lever broke in such a way that the vehicle was stuck in gear with no means to put in park. The base of the lever that operates the gear change mechanism appears to be made of porous metal. I was forced to leave my vehicle in reverse, with the keys stuck in the ignition, until I was able to arrange a tow. Thankfully I was not in traffic, on a hill when this happened. I was able to place some items behind the wheels to prevent rolling (emergency brake does not work well). This appears to be a common problem as there are numerous documented complaints (enough that a parts manufacturer has come up with a more durable replacement part).
I got into my mountaineer and notice a familiar rumble. My wheel bearins went bad again! I will be replacing these for the 4th time now. This is on top of having to have the transmission rebuilt to the tune of $3700. I love to drive this car but it constantly needs repairs and the repairs need repairs. I can not afford a new car but I can't keep fixing this one!!! I have also had to replace the intake manifold only to find out ford had a fly by night law suit and never notified people to have there intakes checked so that was another $300 just for the part. I think ford should help us out that helped them out.
I pulled into a parking lot and had the engine running while it was still in drive. I had my foot on the brake pedal and was looking through the center console to find my phone. After finding my phone, I shut the vehicle off and pulled the key out of the ignition. I returned to the vehicle roughly 45 minutes later to find that I had left the vehicle in drive and it had allowed me to shut the engine off and remove the key from the ignition while it was still in drive. Luckily, the parking lot was level and the vehicle did not roll away. Ever since that day, the vehicle will allow me to remove the key from the ignition, regardless of what position the shift lever is, as long as the engine is turned off.
I was parking the car when the gear shift stick broke and ended in my hand the whole part.
I, as so many others, have a failing transmission in my 2002 mercury mountaineer. From 2nd to 3rd gear it refuses to shift properly and when it does it is extremely hard. Others have experienced this condition while the vehicle was still under warranty and it is my belief that ford realizes that the transmission is defective but refuses to do a recall. I was almost rear ended because the vehicle lost its forward momentum between the shifts. I feel as if this is a dangerous situation and it should be addressed.
At 99,000 miles the transmission started to jump slightly as it shifted gears. Then the od light came on when I tried to go in reverse and it didn't want to move. Then, when it was put in drive it jerked violently. The vehicle has not been abused or hotrodded.
Transmission , I read this is a comon problem with this year and model.
While attempting to put the vehicle in park, the gear shifter snapped in half. It is currently attached by just a wire. The vehicle is currently stuck in reverse, and the key is stuck in the ignition. It snapped off from the housing unit, part of the bolt is left in the gear shifter and the rest is inside the steering column. The battery had to be disconnected, since unable to take the key out.
Transmission will not shift into second gear and from what I am told is that for my year and model it is a mass problem not just a isolated incident my check transmission light came on the display my over drive light was flashing rapidly and only drives at 20mph now.
I just finished getting gas. I turned on the ignition and put the car in reverse and the gear shift snapped off in my hand. It is just dangling. I had to put the emergency brake on and turn the car off immediately so that it would roll back and crash into someone else car or just a pedestrian. I paid to have the car towed to my home for $59. Upon going home, I called several ford dealerships who clearly were familiar with the problem because I was given a quote for the part and labor immediately after I told them about the issue. I took it one step further and went online to check for recalls. There weren't any recalls however, I have read several forums online and this seems to be an ongoing issue with the 2002 mercury mountaineers and 2002 ford explorers. This is ridiculous and I am outraged and I feel ford needs to take ownership regarding this issue.
Changing gear and gear shift broke off in hand.
Transmission would not shift into third gear. 70000 miles no towing just street driving. Had to have the transmission rebuilt. Seems to be common issue for ford on 2002 mercury mountaineers and ford explorers.
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
Drove to grocery store and attempted to place car in park and unable to get it into park. It will go in every other gear but will not go into park. Already had to replace gear shift after the gear shift arm broke off in my hand while trying to get it out of park a few months ago. Now looking at more money on this piece of junk car. Now must leave car in gear and leave keys in the car. This is just an accident waiting to happen with young children around.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated that the gears failed and would not shift from the park position intermittently. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The contact believed the column shift to be the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 01/26/118lj updated 02/11/11
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 mercury mountaineer. While the vehicle was parked, a 19 month old toddler sitting in the driver's seat moved the gear shifter into reverse without the keys being in the ignition. The rear door was open and the vehicle crashed into a gate and rolled into the middle of the street. The rear door and the gate were damaged. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 120,929.
2002 mercury mountaineer - drove my daughter to school and parked the car. Came back a few minutes later to go home. Started the car and found that the SUV was stuck in park. Tried to push break and pull back gear shift to place car in drive and the gear shift broke in hand. Currently at shop. Told car will need entire new steering column. Also SUV has been having problems shifting. Major delay when placed into gear until it actually goes in gear. There is usually a pause and then car will jerk into place.
Wife driving to work when car stopped moving. Pulled off street (near a car shop), paid $100 for them to do a diagnostic check and they said that gears and belt blew out and that he used to work with ford and that this is a common problem in earlier 2000's suvs (explorer and mountaineers). ~$3000 to fix by them. Researched on line and saw all of the problems people are having. Something needs to be done before someone gets killed.
I was parked in the driveway at my babysitter's home. I attempted to put the car from park to reverse and the entire gear shift lever fell off in my hand. I had no warning of any problem prior to this happening and was very much shocked that I could break in two a metal object in a car that should last for many many years. At the time this problem occurred the vehicle had approximately 65,000 miles on it. This problem seems to be happening again, even after having the part replaced by gary crossley ford in liberty, mo. I am much more aware now of the problems that can happen and am noticing wear on the rubber casing around the gear shift lever. I do not want this problem to happen again to any one. It was very distressing to have the gear shift lever fall off!
Purchased 2002 mercury mountaineer from ford dealership in 2007. Transmission was slipping, took in two days later and still under warranty and informed new transmission put in. In august 2010, vehicle suddenly would not start, towed to dealership and informed the transmission was once again defective and sensors as well as cpu unit would need to be replaced. Researched on line on www.autobeef.com and noted many other defects on similar make, model and years with very similar problems. Approximate cost to fix $2,400 dollars.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle began to jump and vibrate violently. The wheel bearings were replaced twice in eight months and a local mechanic also performed a diagnostic test. The mechanic removed the drive shaft because it caused the vehicle to stay in 4 wheel drive consistently which was why the vehicle experienced an uneven ride. The contact was concerned because the vehicle needed four wheel drive in the winter. The failure mileage was 90000 and the current mileage was 118000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercury mountaineer. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle was hesitant to accelerate. The overdrive off warning light then illuminated. The dealer informed the contact that the transmission would need to be replaced. The dealer replaced the transmission. Following repairs, the contact stated the vehicle would intermittently shift from drive into neutral involuntarily. The contact would shut off the engine and when restarting, the vehicle would resume normal operation. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was advised that the shift lever column was bent and the shift linkage cable possibly was abnormally stretched. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 61,000.
I have a 2002 mercury mountaineer, I have had more problems on this car than are countable. The transmission has slowly been slipping since I bought the vehicle. I have had to replace the transfer case within the past two months, and now my check transmission light and od off light is on. Mechanics now say I need a new transmission. I have looked at numerous review on this make and model cars and all have transmission problems, and those who said they replaced the transmission, the problem recurred and it was a waste of money. I am just trying to figure out what to do these prices is getting very costly for a car that seems like cannot be repaired.
I own a 2002 mercury mountaineer. The tailgate developed a crack between the emblem and the rear glass lift. It was fixed once already and has since cracked again. Since this crack has developed, the door ajar light has come on. I have noticed the same crack in almost every ford explorer and mountaineer that I see. I contacted the dealer to have it repaired again and was told that they only cover the repair once. I don't feel I should have to pay out of pocket for an obvious manufacturing defect. I then contacted ford and was told there is nothing they can do for me. Keep in mind, I have also had numerous visits for my transmission having issues from the beginning and I have also had issues with the cruise control where it suddenly "takes off" and goes really fast. Ford needs to stand by it's vehicles and fix them when there are obvious manufacturer defects!
2002 mercury mountaineer awd v8 - approximately january and may 2009 both rear hub bearings went bad at 87,000 and 90,000 miles , both sets of emergency brake shoes were disintegrated when taken off . Rear coil springs are broken . Front differential box has leaked for some time now . Rear end axle seal has been leaking for some time now . Going on 4th set of brakes on front . June 2010 at 109,000 miles transmission finally went out - after acting up from time of purchase at 37,000 miles - it would slip when put in drive at first morning startup and would jerk erratically at low speeds - we have never pulled anything with vehicle .
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.
Gear shift lever broke out of steering column. Totally broken metal piece.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 mercury mountaineer.while parking, the gear shaft suddenly broke. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint.
The problem was not noticeable at first. The SUV felt heavy when accelerating, it will jerk every now and then it was like this for a period of two days then the o/d light flashed rapidly and on the message center it displayed check transmission< the transmission constantly slips on every gear it revs without accelerating and when unexpected it catches itself and lunges jerks forward. It also makes a loud noise whenever the transmission shifts gears. This is everytime the vehicle is in use. I have no other means of transportaion . I took it to get diagnostics checked and they told me the transmission was faulty that there had been hundreds of complaints in my area dealing with the same make and model and year. I have not tried to correct the faulty tranny . I believe ford should consider the safety of it customers /consumers and should have a nationwide recall to repair such faulty transmission. I have been more close to crashing this year than all my years of driving. This faulty transmisssion is dangerous.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2002 Mercury Mountaineer?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history