2003 Mercury Mountaineer: jerking or lurching

Filed May 2, 2010 · Transmission · VA · crash

I have a 2004 mercury mountaineer and the transmission is very dangerous, my wife started to back up and put it in reverse and the transmission hesitated and then slammed into reverse causing her to jerk and then her foot came of the brake and hit the gas pedal causing her to ram a parked car behind her, and that was just the first time .the next time I myself was in the vehicle and it done the same thing except there was not a car behind me to stp me and I went over a embankment and if not for a tree I would have gotten hurt bad , the tree stopped me from going to the bottom , and it still to this day will slam into reverse, nothing has been done with it yet . I have read on the internet that alot of mercury mountaineer owners are having the same problem this is going to get someone killed if it has not already.

Filed Aug 1, 2005 · Seats · 26,000 miles · TN · 1 injury

When using the recline seat handle, the seat would lurch forward, this caused a minor head injury. *jb while the consumer was lowering the middle back second row seat she bent over the seat to gain access to the release lever. This action positioned the right side of the consumer's face level with the shoulder harness assembly. When the lever was released the seat sprung forward with enough force to crush the consumer's right eye. The consumer no longer has vision in her right eye.

Filed Apr 4, 2005 · Electrical · 13,000 miles · CA

My 2003 mercury mountaineer would stutter and have a jerking motion like it was going to stall and it would do this at any given time. On the 13th of january I was taking my youngest daughter to school and my car started to stutter and then it just stalled on me I had a difficult time starting the car. I then took her to school and I shut the car off to walk her to her classroom and then got back into my car and when I put the key into the ignition and turned the key there was no power my car was dead I had to call the road side assistance number and had to wait an hour for a tow truck. I was told by the dealership that it was the instrument cluster head and it was fixed and I was not given a rental car and I only had this car 11 months. Well two weeks later as I was getting ready to make a left turn on a very busy intersection my mountaineer stalled on me once again and all I could do was pray that it would start it took three tries to get it started and I drove it down the block to the dealership once again and made them take the car. Well they had my car for another four days and I was told once again it was the instrument cluster head. Then in february of 2005 the ford dealership wanted to do a run down of my car to make sure it was fixed but low and behold I have to take my car back on april 5, 2005 for the same stuttering and stalling problem. I feel that this car is a lemon and unsafe for my family.

Filed Sep 10, 2004 · Transmission · OH

When shifting my mountaineer into drive the vehicle jerks into gear. At highway speeds it shifts very hard from one gear to another. Sometimes when trying to pass a vehicle and accelerating the transmission gets confused and goes to the wrong gear. It gives you a feeling similiar to a standard shift being put in 4th when it should be in 2nd bogging down dramatically.

Filed May 6, 2004 · Transmission · 30,000 miles · AL

I began having problems with my transmission shifting hard into gear. As speed increased it would jerk inot the next gear. I went to the ford/mercury dealership in montgomery, al. In nov 03.they told me it needed a computer upgrade that was different from what was on my car. At the time the car was still under warranty. The jerking stopped temporaryily. I began to notice it again. Well now the warranty is gone, I did not purchase an extended warranty, the truck is 13 months old and my shift solenoid is gone. Per 2 estimates it will be costly. But I am also told at the age of my car and miles this should not be occurring unless it is a faulty transmission. One transmission company has advised me that fixing the shift solenoid will not work long until the inner part of the transmission is fixed or rebuilt.

Filed Oct 20, 2003 · Airbags, Body · PA

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.