Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train144
- Structure70
- Suspension36
- Engine and engine cooling33
- Visibility31
- Steering23
- Air bags20
- Electrical system19
- Vehicle speed control18
- Service brakes, hydraulic17
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 38 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 22 2002 Mountaineer vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 19 people died inside them, and 14 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer failed the safety check 2.26% of the time — 13% more often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 153,943 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer.
| 2009292 14 Oct 2009 | Other On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur ei… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES MAY HAVE HORIZONTAL CUTS ON THE EDGE OF THE TREAD THAT COULD HAVE OCCURRED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercury told its dealers about the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637920 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0 SOHC (SINGLE OVER-HEAD CAM) ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A PRIMARY TIMING CHAIN RATTLE NOISE. *TT |
| 637846 | INFORMATION USED WHEN REPLACING THE DRIVERS SEAT MODULE. *TT |
| 637807 | SUBJECT REGARDING FAMILY OR REAR SEAT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM HANDLE CONCERNS. *TT |
| 637803 | CONCERNS WITH BRAKE VIBRATION, ROUGHNESS AND / OR GRINDING NOISE, AND EXCESSIVE BRAKE ROTOR CORROSION. *TT |
| 637796 | INFORMATION ON POWER STEERING LEAK CONDITION. *TT |
| 637783 | SUBJECT REGARDING THEFT LIGHT RELOCATION. *TT |
| 637771 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR LIFTGATE APPLIQUE (TRIM PANEL) CRACKS. *TT |
| 637700 | SUBJECT REGARDING INTERMITTENT ENGINE QUIT DURING TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENTS OR PARKING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 637586 | SOME VEHICLES WITH THE 4.6L ENGINE AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE BUILT BETWEEN 02/25 AND 04/24, 2002 MAY EXHIBIT A SHUDDER ON THE 4-5 UPSHIFT AND / OR THE 5-4 DOWNSHIFT. *TT |
| 637573 | SUBJECT REGARDING CIGAR LIGHTER REVISED INSTALLATION PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 637528 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT SINCE OCTOBER 1, 2001 MAY EXHIBIT A NO START CONDITION OR AN INTERMITTENT NO START CONDITION, AND / OR POSSIBLY NO COMMUNICATION FROM THE POWERTRAIN ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER WITH THE WDS / NGS DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. *TT |
| 637476 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE SULPHUR SMEEL FROM THE EXHAUST UNDER CERTAIN DRIVE MODES. *TT |
| 636316 | EXHIBITING SQUEAK / CREAK NOISES DURING FRONT SUSPENSION MOVEMENT. *TT |
| 636314 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NEED FOR HEADLAMP AIM ADJUST AFTER DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS. *TT |
| 636221 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT UNINTENDED SMART UNLOCK ACTIVATION WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. *TT |
| 636175 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT AFTER MARCH 2002 MAY NOT ALLOW PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM (PATS) SECURITY ACCESS WHEN PROGRAMMING SPARE KEYS OR REPLACING DEFECTIVE KEYS. *TT |
| 636110 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT FUEL DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171, P0172, P0174, P0175 OR MASS AIR FLOW DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0102, P0103, P0112, P0113. *TT |
| 636106 | SOME 4DR VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT SEATING APPEARANCE OR RELATED ISSUES. *TT |
| 636071 | SOME ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A GROWL NOISE AT SPEEDS OF 65-112 KM/H (40-70 MPH). *TT |
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 636052 | INOPERATIVE OR INACURRATE SPEEDOMETER, 4X4 LAMP ILLUMINATD, AND / OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1635 OR P1639. *TT |
| 636049 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES PROPER PROCEDURES FOR PREPARATION OF SERVICE SHEET METAL PARTS COATED WITH ELECTRO DEPOSITION PRIMER (E-COAT). *TT |
| 636027 | SUBJECT REGARDING 5R55W AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HARSH UPSHIFTS DURING LIGHT TO MEDIUM THROTTLE CONCERNS. *TT |
| 636013 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING ENGINE RATTLE NOISE FROM PRIMARY CHAIN DRIVE AREA BETWEEN 2000-3000 RPM ON COLD ENGINE OPERATION ONLY. *TT |
| 630700 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V6 ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A STEERING RATTLE NOISE WHICH MAY BE HEARD AND FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
STUCK ENGINE THROTTLE
REAR LIFTGATE GLASS ASSEMBLY
MIS-ASSEMBLED AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation