2004 Mercury Mountaineer: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Nov 27, 2011 · Body, Transmission · 64,000 miles · ID

Being having problems with rear lift gate [ not staying close, opens anytime, it wants to by itself. My transmission problems erratic shifting, hard shifting up and down shifting and in and out shifting on reverse from park to reverse pulls very hard. When I bought the car I told them they looked at like I didn't know what I was saying they made an appointment for mechanic to check it and said it was good but it wasn't. I have 84,000 miles on it never pull a trailer with it I've made 38 payments on it. Why does ford puts a product like that and asks alot of money for the car that can't even make to 100,000 miles they should be out of act. Hope ford will take care of this cars.

Filed Jan 25, 2011 · Transmission · 68,000 miles · NM

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated that the vehicle began to experience a very hard shift when changing gears and driving any speed. The vehicle would also surge forward slightly during the hard shifts. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. The contact also stated that the gear shift lever felt abnormally loose whenever operated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 68,000 and the current mileage was 71,000. Updated 3/7/11 *cn updated 03/14/11

Filed May 22, 2010 · Body · 92,360 miles · TX

Glass lift gate strut froze when it was opened when I tried to close it, the force broke the hinge at the top. If I had not immediately supported the lift gate it would have fallen. The hinge on the other side was cracked and bent and about to give. The emblem on the gate has also been cracked for quite awhile. I did have the transmission fluid issue addressed when the vehicle was still under warranty, but still experience transmission slamming into gear in reverse at various times.

Filed Sep 28, 2009 · Transmission · 29,225 miles · CA

Problems with transmission in my 2004 mercury mountaineer. When in park and shifting in reverse it delays and then a loud hard clunk. It also clunks from going into second gear. My car is out of the standard 36,000 miles/ 3 year warranty. I am very disappoint in ford. The car hasn't even hit 30,000 miles yet.

Filed May 11, 2008 · Transmission · 42,500 miles · OH

Transmission delay and then slamming into gear, sometimes causing the vehicle to lunge forward or backward.

Filed Jun 15, 2006 · Transmission · 10,000 miles · TN

I purchased my 2004 mercury mountaineer in oct 2003. The vehicle was making a roaring noise, once taken in ford replaced the rear differential and rear drive shaft, also complained of rough shifting of transmission around 30-35 MPH changing from 2nd to 3rd gear. The solenoid was replaced, additive added, many reprograms but after 6 trips to dealer still is not corrected. 18 months later roaring noise appeared again and same rear drive shaft was replaced. The vehicle has less than 30,000 miles.

Filed Dec 29, 2005 · Transmission · 10,000 miles · AZ

I have had repeated problems with the transmission I.e. A noticeable clunk when the transmission shifts from overdrive to low upon approaching a stop sign. Additionally, when backing and shifting to forward the transmission hesitates and slips before going into forward drive. This causes some anxiety when you have to back from a commercial business into a busy traffic way and the transmission slips leaving you not knowing if your going to be able to avoid approaching traffic from the rear. I have reported the problem to colorado river ford in on at least two different occasions and have had the transmission fluid replaced in accordance with mercury's recall. However, the problem continues. Subsequently,I have changed to bradly ford for repairs. On one occasion immediately after a rain storm and while traversing a highway wash, I slowed the vehicle and straddled the center line (no traffic) to avoid any standing water. Admittedly, there was mud residue on the far side of the wash. Regardless, as I exited the wash and accelerated the transmission shifted from overdrive to low gear causing the rear wheels to spin and I went into a broad side skid to the right and back to the left and to the right again, all of which was as close to a near accident as I want to experience. As a retired arizona highway patrolman I will admit that my speed was too fast for the conditions (estimated speed 30 to 40 MPH). However, I am also of the opinion that the shifting pattern of the vehicle added to the momentary loss of control. Regardless, at this point the vehicle registers 35,500 miles and bradly ford in lake havasu city is going to attempt to rectify the problem. They will be tearing down the transmission for examination. This is after they have already replaced a pressure solenoid and the problem still continues. I do not believe the repair will relieve the problem and will result in my taking a financial loss when I trade the vehicle in.

Filed Dec 27, 2005 · Transmission · OR

My 2004 mercury mountaineer shifts rough, lunging forward with a hard shift, and sometimes dragging. Also, when shifting from park to reverse experience a very hard clunk followed by a thrust backwards.

Filed Feb 22, 2005 · Transmission · 21,000 miles · NY

2004 mercury mountaineer, v8, automatic, awd. Vin du86w84zj23248, purchased august 2004. Current mileage is 22000. Mid december 2004 I started experiencing odd or rough shifts going from 2nd to 3rd. It started happening occasionally then it became more constant. I also experienced harsh reverses, one was hard enough that my husband said it could give you whip lash! What was ironic about the whole thing was I was going to make an appointment with my local garage when I got a letter from ford (january 2005) indicating a problem with the transmission fluid which might cause a harsh reverse. So I took it to a ford garage january1 5,2005, and they installed the additives. I drove the truck about 2 weeks after that and didn't feel it fixed the problem. I took it back to the garage and this time they said they reconfigured the computer. After I picked it up and drove it for a week or so, it wasn't any better. I'm taking it back to the garage again because it still has the problem. This problem is a lot like your other complaints especially #10103034. I think this is a problem that ford should look into before it causes an accident especially those owners that drive in winter weather.

Filed Dec 15, 2004 · Transmission · 9,600 miles · CA

2004 mercury mountaineer, v6, automatic, 2wd. Vin 4m2zu66k8uj13274. Purchased march 2004. Currently mileage 9821. Starting approximately 12/1/04, when reverse gear does not engage for 2 or 3 seconds, then engages with a very hard jolt that shakes the whole vehicle. This occurs when first starting the vechicle and also mid-day when backing into a parking space. Also the automatic transmission rough shifts in freeway slow traffic between 20 and 30 MPH. Ford motor co. Consumer hotline said on 12/15/04 that my vehicle VIN number has no recalls. From press releases, I know of ford's 11/22/04 announcement of 740,000 explorers and mountaineers with this same transmission problem.

Filed Dec 7, 2004 · Acceleration, Transmission · 1,424 miles · WI

When applying the accelerator pedal from a stop position it caused a momentary pulse before the vehicle went into motion. Vehicle had been to the dealer on numerous occasions, and they were unable to locate the problem. *ak the consumer stated that the pause was so severe that it jerks all passengers heads . The vehicle also had transmission problems. The transmission had a harsh shift and clunk when going into reverse or drive. The transmission has been repaired.