Mercury Mountaineer engine failure problems

Filed Dec 21, 2016 · Engine · 90,000 miles · TX

On two occasions the engine cut out while driving the car, all the engine warning lights came on. Once the car was safely off the road and placed in park it would start and continue to operate. The ford dealer said that there was not fault code in the computer, they could not duplicate the failure and could not find any fault in the engine system. Ford service representatives said I should go a different ford dealer and see if they could solve the problem. I find similar engine failures documented on the internet for this generation of car. More current similar model are not reported to have this problem. Thus I assume ford found and fixed this problem. I asked them to tell me how they solved the problem, they said that was not possible. So, I have an otherwise good car which I can do use nor in good conscience sell to someone else. Please help!

Filed Jul 6, 2015 · Acceleration · 89,600 miles · MI

Engine died has repeated only a few times at or above 50mph over span of time

Filed Aug 17, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 99,000 miles · TN

Using cruise control going down a slight grade the engine died. This has happened multiple times in the last few months, so now I know to put the vehicle in netural while still moving and re-start the engine, then pull back down into drive. This isn't easy to do, so be careful not to put in reverse or park while trying to re-start the engine.

Filed May 10, 2014 · Body · 112,399 miles · WA

Info copied from website is what happened to me while I was unloading my car in my garage. The best we can tell is that the right strut/arm seized and the hinge pins broke, causing the hatch to fall off. We don't have it in the shop yet. It will have to be towed. ********* the federal safety agency action number : rq08003agency recall campaign number : n/a vehicle make / model: model year(s): mercury / mountaineer 2004 manufacturer(s) : ford motor company component(s) : structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device visibility:glass, side/rear summary: this investigation was opened on june 23, 2008, based on 34 complaints involving eight injuries in which the rear liftgate glass hatch on model year 2004 ford explorers or mercury mountaineers broke off and fell, usually while individuals were operating the glass hatch or loading or unloading items from the rear of the vehicle. Ford conducted recall 04v‑442 in 2004 to address similar problems on model year 2002 and certain model year 2003 ford explorers and mercury mountaineers. The information ford provided in response to odi's information request letter indicated that failures with 2004 vehicles were primarily liftgate glass hatch hinge failures related to corrosion at the hinge pin, whereas the failures that prompted the recall with the earlier models were primarily related to problems with the glass hatch's struts or fracture of a prior hinge design at the boss/bolt connection at the glass. Odi's review of ford's warranty, complaint, and injury data for the 2004 vehicles indicates that these rates are significantly lower than those for the recalled population. A potential defect trend has not been identified at this time. Odi will continue to monitor complaints and take appropriate action as necessary. This investigation is closed.

Filed Jul 21, 2012 · Brakes, Electrical · 54,000 miles · PA · fire

Truck cooling system died which caused the truck to catch fire while driving down the highway, smoke poring out, state troopers had to assist us. My daughter was scared to death and now refuses to get back in the truck even though we got a new engine. To make matters worse we spent 3000 on and engine...500 on cooling system and had the transmission reprogrammed. The truck is still have major problems and now for says it needs the transmission rebuilt or replaced. All of this is out of pocket. We cant even trade it in bc they will only give us 1/2 of what we paid for it 2 yrs ago. Nightmare and makes me sick that ford doesn't care.

Filed Apr 4, 2011 · Engine · 92,213 miles · CA

New showroom 2002 mercury mountaineer. The engine in this vehicle malfunctioned twice without warning; no overheating, no dashboard light indicators either time. July 2004/odometer reading 92213, the mechanics at the freeway lincoln mercury were baffled. They advised me that all the fluids were in the vehicle. Later (one week) they found a "hole" in the radiator. I was told I had a new engine, with a new warranty. 2nd time was june 06, odometer 166199,(new engine 73986) no warning, no dashboard lights, no overheating. Per a different certified mechanic not only was the engine not new but it had severe corrosion in it and showed signs of multiple overheating conditions. They told me of an "all technical service bulletin" dated 1/21/02 for my vehicle's engine regarding the "engine head gasket"---"some engine assemblies with aluminum cylinder heads repaired in-vehicle have been found to leak coolant and/or oil from the cylinder head gasket area due to particle contamination or scratches and dents to block mating surfaces." action: refer to the following service information for recommended gasket sealing surface preparation procedures. If the engine diagnosis points to a faulty head gasket (leaks oil, leaks coolant, oil or coolant contamination, or air in coolant), thorough cleaning procedures are necessary for a successful head gasket repair. Diagnosis and post- repair confirmation can be done successfully utilizing leak detection methods such as a black light dye process. Service procedure:to sum up, a successful leak repair depends on:accurate diagnosis of the leak using ford-recommended test equipment and procedures .surface preparation and gasket installation using the approved tools, cleaners, and methods.exercising care and cleanliness during disassembly/assembly of components use of genuine ford oem replacement parts<use of a ford remanufacturer

Filed Nov 7, 2010 · Engine · 86,000 miles · TX

Driving from dallas, tx, to west lafayette, in, in jan 2010, the 2002 mercury mountaineer with 4.6l v8 engine blew a spark plug out of the cylinder head causing us to stop in a small town to have the engine repaired. This was a factory installed (not replaced) spark plug. I have seen many complaints about this in the ford v8 engine. The vehicle had around 86,000 miles on it at the time and was not due for a spark plug replacement until 100,000 miles. This was a safety hazard as gasoline is spewing out of the cylinder head with an attached and still arcing spark plug.

Filed Jun 29, 2009 · Electrical, Fuel system · 127,000 miles · NY

2003 mercury mountaineer 4.6l-v8: when the vehicle is not under acceleration [stop sign/signal, exiting an expressway to a surface street, coasting] the engine will not hold idle, then stall. The steering & brakes are compromised when the engine stalls. To restart the engine, the headlights go dark for a moment...this is a very serious matter. Decelerating from an expressway to a surface street, on a curved exit ramp , at night makes for an out of control situation where the driver can not see because of engine failure! I've replaced the throttle position censor [tps] with no improvement. The dealer offers replacement of parts $1500, and no guarantee of solving the problem. The vehicle is useless to me fore it is a hazard to be on the road...for me and anyone else driving near me.

Filed Feb 16, 2009 · Body, Engine · 52,000 miles · NM

Rear panel under window has recently cracked, there are now 2 vertical cracks running down the back of the vehicle. Also, hitch to rear door doesn't stay up. This vehicle has also had a new engine put it and injectors have popped out on more than one occasion. This is the most expensive vehicle I have ever purchased and it has given me more problems than I could ever expect in a vehicle. Ford needs to compensate for this vehicle. We have owned several ford's and have never seen anything like this. It is a true lemon>>>>

Filed Jun 22, 2008 · Acceleration · 44,000 miles · NJ

When using the cruise control the vehicle died: all gauge lights came on (battery, engine, etc.) engine died, no power steering, etc. Had to roll to the side of the road, put vehicle in park or neutral and restart. This problem repeats itself ever time I use the cruise control. And, I see there are other owners of this model that have posted the same complaint. Problem first occurred in january of 2008 however continues today. Fortunately when the engine has died every time I have used the speed control it has not caused an accident.... Yet!