Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure79
- Power train64
- Vehicle speed control21
- Electrical system16
- Air bags12
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Unknown or other9
- Engine8
- Suspension6
- Visibility6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 16 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 16 2004 Mountaineer vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 13 people died inside them, and 8 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 2004 Mercury Mountaineer failed the safety check 2.28% of the time — 3% more often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 146,895 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2004 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 2004 Mercury Mountaineer: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 10109070 | The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer |
| 10045340 | FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: IF BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED OR DEAD, VEHICLES/TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE HARD STARTS AND ENGINE IDLE RPM FLUCTUATION AND EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0505, P0506, P2111 AND P2112. *PE |
| 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 |
| 10021052 | MIL ON WITH DTC P0463 OR ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION. *KB |
| 10021038 | MIL ON WITH P0463 OR ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION. *KB |
| 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 |
| 10018938 | VIBRATION DIAGNOSIS - TIRE/WHEEL RUNOUT. *TT |
| 10018937 | MIL ON WITH DTC P0191 WITH OR WITHOUT VARIOUS DRIVABILITY SYMPTOMS AND/OR ADDITIONAL DTCS. *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 |
| 10017931 | NO START/HARD START ON COLD SOAK - 4.0L ENGINE. *TT |
| 10017905 | WRENCH LAMP ON AND NO DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) STORED. *TT |
| 10017898 | DELAYED OR HARSH REVERSE ENGAGEMENTS - 5R55S TRANSMISSION - VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 09/23/2004. *TT |
| 10017892 | REAR AXLE NOISE REPAIR. *TT |
| 10017882 | NO START/HARD START ON COLD SOAK. *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 |
| 10016789 | REAR AXLE NOISE REPAIR. *SC |
| 10014664 | FRONT SEAT(S) SLIGHT MOVEMENT WHEN ACCELERATING AND/OR DECELERATING. *TT |
| 10014277 | INCREASED EFFORT DURING LOW SPEED SHARP TURNS ON 4X4 VEHICLES. *TT |
| 10014183 | RATTLING NOISE - RIGHT FRONT FENDER WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH FAILURE
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation