The failure is for a 2003 mercury mountaineer. The failure is a crack in the lift gate that occurs right alongside the mercury emblem or logo on the back of the tailgate or lift gate. This crack has been reported numerous times here and in online forums. To me seems like a deficiency or a defect in the material that makes up this panel that is a part of the lift gate glass and the tailgate as a unit'.. I would also like to add that the 2002-2006 mercury mountaineers and the ford explorer share this same tailgate with the same problem. Mercury and ford are solely to blame for producing this faulty part of the tailgate or lift gate and should step up and recall them'.. I noticed my failure or crack in june of 2008 with less than 60k miles on it. I am an original owner since 2003. A big concern is safety, someone walking by the SUV and getting cut on the sharp plastic, just looking at the crack is disturbing. Here in southern ca. Fairway ford wants $425.00 and cerritos ford lincoln mercury wants $625.00 to fix the same problem'.. I was made aware of this problem in 2004. We were picking up the SUV after having the rear glass hinges replaced per the recall. At that time the service writer at villa ford told me, try not to push on the emblem to close the glass, the panel will crack in time'.. (1.) I wonder how many of these panels were replaced under warranty due to the crack? (2.) why ford or mercury never disclosed the problem? I did call mercury, they took the complaint and said they would put it on the federal safety agency web site, but they never did''''''
2003 Mercury Mountaineer body complaints
Page 3 of 3: complaints 41 to 59 of 59, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I opened rear liftgate and removed some items as usual. Upon trying to let the gate down 1/4 way down the glass shattered. The struts hung not allowing me to be able to close gate.
Tl*the 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. The failure mileage was 74,494 and current mileage was 104,000. Updated 11/14/08 *cn the driver side visor was hanging down, the vehicle stalled on several occasions. The lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends were replaced. The rear hatch window cracked. The vehicle would crank, but it would not start. Updated 11/18/08.
Currently I have a crack in the left side of the back lift gate. I do not kow how it got there but then I noticed 6 other mountaineers with the ame issue. I think this may be a manufactors defect and wonder if thes will effect the back glass?
Crack in the rear liftgate to the left side of the mercury emblem. When we first noticed the crack, it was about 1/2 way down the plastic, then within a week it was all the way though. I'm not sure if there is any structural components that are effected by the crack or what may have caused the crack. I'm not sure if the glass is effected or not, but I'm concerned that whatever caused the plastic to crack will also effect the strength of the glass.
Crack in liftgate to the right of the mercury emblem. On january, 24, 2008 I went to put something in the back of my mountaineer only to find before opening it that there was a large crack in the liftgate. I'm not exactly sure if this effects the integrity of the glass back window, but I'm sure with time it will spread.....then what!
Liftgate cracked. No damage done to vehicle. Notice crack starting below window going down through the mercury emblem.
Rear middle hatchback has crack in molding from bottom of window all the way down. Possibly due to cold weather.
Dt*: the contact stated "on 8/23/04, the rear liftgate window of my 2003 mercury mountaineer violently exploded while parked. The force of the explosion sent glass flying into the rear of my vehicle and into the parking lot. The dealer had my car for 9 days before ford sent a representative to view the damage. Against several opinions, ford denied responsibility because there were dog crates in the back. These crates had been in my mountaineers for years & didn't even come close to the window. I found dozens of idiopathic exploding liftgate incidents on the federal safety agency site for the ford explorer and mercury mountaineer - at the time, the federal safety agency advised that ford was about to issue a voluntary recall. I did get the recall weeks after the incident, but my attempts to obtain reimbursement from ford for repair of this defective liftgate glass for myself and my insurer were unsuccessful. My complaint made it to the executive offices of ford, but they would not even talk to me because my insurance company was not subrogating - the claim was just too small for my insurer to pursue. However, there is a principle involved, and I am completely disgusted with ford motor company. I had the car repaired by insurance after I paid the deductible, and then a couple months later, the recall work for the liftgate was done by my dealer. Recently, I noticed that the new liftgate has an ever enlarging crack down the center of the liftgate glass frame - my dealer says it is not structural and not to worry, but due to the history of this vehicle, I fear that another explosion is imminent. I was in the car at the time of the first explosion, and it was scary. I have had a warning magnetic sign placed on the rear of my vehicle to warn people to stay away from the rear of my vehicle in case of another explosion, and my dog crates are now shielded with a sun blanket to protect from flying glass. Ford has created such bad will with me that this likely will be the last ford product I own."
Dt*: the contact stated "on 8/23/04, the rear liftgate window of my 2003 mercury mountaineer violently exploded while parked. The force of the explosion sent glass flying into the rear of my vehicle and into the parking lot. The dealer had my car for 9 days before ford sent a representative to view the damage. Against several opinions, ford denied responsibility because there were dog crates in the back. These crates had been in my mountaineers for years & didn't even come close to the window. I found dozens of idiopathic exploding liftgate incidents on the federal safety agency site for the ford explorer and mercury mountaineer - at the time, the federal safety agency advised that ford was about to issue a voluntary recall. I did get the recall weeks after the incident, but my attempts to obtain reimbursement from ford for repair of this defective liftgate glass for myself and my insurer were unsuccessful. My complaint made it to the executive offices of ford, but they would not even talk to me because my insurance company was not subrogating - the claim was just too small for my insurer to pursue. However, there is a principle involved, and I am completely disgusted with ford motor company. I had the car repaired by insurance after I paid the deductible, and then a couple months later, the recall work for the liftgate was done by my dealer. Recently, I noticed that the new liftgate has an ever enlarging crack down the center of the liftgate glass frame - my dealer says it is not structural and not to worry, but due to the history of this vehicle, I fear that another explosion is imminent. I was in the car at the time of the first explosion, and it was scary. I have had a warning magnetic sign placed on the rear of my vehicle to warn people to stay away from the rear of my vehicle in case of another explosion, and my dog crates are now shielded with a sun blanket to protect from flying glass. Ford has created such bad will with me that this likely will be the last ford product I own." updated.
The hatch back door on my mercury mountaineer split in half from the base of the window to the bottom of the hatch door. I believe the placement of the mercury symbo liner the top center of the hatch weakens the hatch causing it to split with use and / or with a sudden change in temperature.
Liftgate cracked. Part will need to be replaced or possibility of window falling out. Was told by my mercury dealer that this is a known fault in vehicle but since it happens between 40,000 and 50,000 miles it is no longer ford/mercury's responsibility since cars are out of warranty.
'recall campaign' mercury mountaineer 2003 for liftgate hinges, parts not available. *bf the consumer has been unable to get the recall repair done, because the parts were unavailable.
The consumer has been unable to get the part for the liftgate . The federal safety agency liftgate bracket recall 04v442000. *jb liftgate repaired on 2/3/05.
Consumer states there is a crack in the plastic molding around the rear liftgate glass. Consumer is concerned that the crack may cause the glass to fall out. The dealer was notified.
Recall repair ineffective and aggravated initial problem - "cure worse than the disease." rear liftgate window shattered. Following dealer repair for recall 04s29, our rear window shattered explosively within 48 hours. This was the type of issue the recall repair was supposed to prevent. Incident occured in garage while vehicle was stationary, spreading glass in a 6 foor radius inside and outside of the vehicle. The rear liftgate had not been opened since the recall repair was completed.
The rear liftback window on my 2003 mercury mountaineer violently exploded while parked in a parking lot at my son's football scrimmage. At the time of the explosion, around 6:30 p.m., I was sitting in the vehicle with my dogs, and I was parked in the shade with the rear of my car backed up up to a minivan. There was no evidence of foul play - since I was in the vehicle, I was able to quickly survey the area to make sure no one was nearby pulling a prank. The deafening explosion made such a loud noise that I involuntary ducked, and people came running from across the field to find out what had happened. Broken glass was scattered all over the inside rear of my vehicle and all over the ground on the outside of my vehicle. Had 3rd row passengers been present or had dogs been in their crates in the rear, they would have been badly cut and dazed by the explosion. The force of the explosion actually bent the frame of the liftback, like a suitcase stuffed too full of clothes would bend at the sides. The hydraulic lifters were dangling and askew. This was an extremely frightening, upsetting experience. At present, my car has been in the dealership for a week, and I am still waiting for the ford district manager to assess the situation. I have an extended warranty on the vehicle. The service person at the dealer has cast doubt as to whether ford will consider this a warranty item because they have "never seen a problem like this before". Ford has yet to step up and acknowledge an apparent design flaw in the back liftgate and repair my vehicle.
To this date the following problems are present: gas gauge sticks, air bag warning light comes on and off, driver's side door rattles and knocks, driver's side window taps, driver's side window grinds while moving up and down, clock and radio do not light up or work when start vehicle, sun roof rattles and knocks, wind gets caught between roof and headliner which creates a loud vibration, the passenger side window also rattles and knocks, there is a loud rhythmic chirp toward rear of vehicle, heating and cooling controls squeal when turning on or switching vent settings, driver's seat feels rough when moving on seat track, the 3rd steering wheel still has defect under the leather which protrudes, driver's side leather seat was damaged after being at the dealership, 2nd row middle seat is almost impossible to lock in folded position, front windshield wiper control does not stay within setting, the vehicle vibrates and the steering wheel shakes when turning the wheel at a slow speed, the third row cup holder on the driver's side does not stay down in the fitting, there is a strong exhaust smell in the cabin when engine is in hard acceleration, engine starts to stall while driving. Steering wheel was defective by being malformed causing the airbag to be ineffective. The second steering wheel was also ill fitted causing sharp protruding parts on the steering wheel. The dealership has had to repair or replace the following: body work to defective paint on roof, front hood, and driver's side fender. The dealership damaged paint in two areas and only provided touch up paint. Replaced noisy rear windshield wiper motor, rear hatch glass because defrost would not work, rear hatch hinges, driver's side seat track. Suspension problems with vibration and pitching. Vehicle lurches forward upon acceleration.
The liftgate is coming off while driving at any speed. Dealer has inspected vehicle twice, and could not duplicate or correct the problem.
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