Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure59
- Power train42
- Electrical system11
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Suspension10
- Vehicle speed control9
- Air bags9
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Latches/locks/linkages6
- Steering6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 9 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 13 2003 Mountaineer vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 8 people died inside them, and 6 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 2003 Mercury Mountaineer failed the safety check 1.36% of the time — 35% less often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 150,454 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer.
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 2003 Mercury Mountaineer: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 619276 | ON SOME VEHICLES, INCLUDING SPORT AND SPORT TRAC, THE FRONT AXLE LEAKS FLUID FROM THE VENT TUBE. *TT |
| 10156863 | Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10155551 | Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10028736 | FORD: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT OIL SEPARATION FROM THE INTERNAL LUBE FOUND IN THE UNITIZED CARTRIDGE SEAL. OIL SEPARATION APPEARS TO BE AND IS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED, AS AN AXLE LUBE LEAK. *PE |
| 10023943 | SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE |
| 10019800 | LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATION/WARNING, A/C COMPRESSOR INOPERATIVE AND/OR NO CRANK CONDITION ON 4.6L EQUIPPED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 10019384 | LOW TIRE INDICATOR ON - TPMS SYSTEM SENSOR WAKE UP. *TT |
| 10019379 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH PCM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0463 AND/OR IC DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B1201 - FUEL GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY OR SLOW TO UPDATE AFTER REFUELING. *TT |
| 10018745 | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT |
| 10018064 | NOISE FROM REAR WHEEL HUB BEARINGS. *TT |
| 10017892 | REAR AXLE NOISE REPAIR. *TT |
| 10017881 | NO START/HARD START N HOT SOAK RESTART. *TT |
| 10017860 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMING ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0171, P0172, P0174 AND/OR P0175 (FUEL SYSTEM TOO RICH OR LEAN). *TT |
| 10016832 | BACKGLASS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE AND AN INTERMITTENT DOOR AJAR LAMP. *TT |
| 10016798 | HARD START/NO START CONDITION DURING COLD AMBEINT TEMPERATURES AFTER SHORT HOT SOAK PERIOD-4.0L ENGINE. *SC |
| 10016789 | REAR AXLE NOISE REPAIR. *SC |
| 10014664 | FRONT SEAT(S) SLIGHT MOVEMENT WHEN ACCELERATING AND/OR DECELERATING. *TT |
| 10014165 | ALUMINUM CORROSION - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10014138 | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT |
| 10014100 | LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION, OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10014062 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
| 10013398 | GEAR SELECTOR LEVER - INCREASED EFFORT TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK. *TT |
| 10013388 | FUEL GAUGE SLOW TO UPDATE AFTER REFUELING. *EH |
| 10013369 | GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation