2002 Mercury Mountaineer from North America - Comments

Wow, I'm really surprised! I have a 2002 Ford Explorer, which I thought was essentially the same vehicle as the Mountaineer, and I have had 0 problems with it and it just passed 100,000 miles. I get all the regularly scheduled maintenance done, like transmission fluid/filter changes, cooling system flushes, etc., so maybe that helps.

I too have an '02 Mountaineer. I have loved it for the past 5 years. After I had it for about 2 weeks, I had (surprise) transmission problems. It felt like someone hitting you in the rear, very hard shift. I took it back to the dealer and they "reprogrammed" the transmission. Over the next 5 years I felt this problem maybe 1/2 a dozen times until one day... I had that hard shift & then my car would not go over 20 mph. I have 76,000 miles. I went to a guy who has been fixing transmissions for 23 years and found out about the flaw in these transmissions. he has rebuilt 7 of them (only 2 have held up) My choice was a new one from Ford (with all the updates they now have) for $2600.00 plus labor of $1200.00 or rebuilt mine and take my chances for $2000.00. I had no choice but to go for the cheapest way I could. I have a 1 year warranty, so I guess I'll have to dump it in 11 months...

I have said vehicle, bought late 01. It now has about 89000 on it.

I have replaced the brakes, tires, did olf as recommended, the shocks, the springs rear and the passenger side F R bearings and the ABS sensor light is still on. Only 3 more to go according to the book.

I do want the ABS to work, which it doesn't, but I still like the vehicle. I know there are going to be repairs and recalls, but overall my vehicle's American; they all are doing good. Some family members have foreign and they're about the same. Remember, the more the weight in a vehicle, the more the problems you will encounter (shorter life span)

The transmission on our 02 Mountaineer died the day before we were to trade it in for an 09 Honda Pilot. Thank the good lord it happened around the corner from our home. The truck had 56K miles and had been a problem from 25K miles onward. Broken springs, tranny slippage and shuddering.

Wake up Detroit. I feel for the American auto workers. The companies they work for have no problem trying to sell substandard vehicles. I'm happy that our new Honda was assembled in Alabama.

I bought my 2002 Mountaineer brand new and have not had a problem with it until a rear seal bearing leak at 80,000 miles. At 101,000 miles though, the overdrive light came on and the overdrive kicked out on the way back home from a trip. When we arrived back home, the transmission started slipping and first gear would take too long to shift into next gear. Didn't realize there were so many problems with this transmission until I researched after my problem. My transmission is being rebuilt at the cost of 2600.00 dollars. Just hope the transmission will hold out for another 100,000 miles without any more problems as I really have enjoyed this vehicle.

We purchased our 2002 Mercury Mountaineer in 04 with 30,000 miles on it. It now has over 90,000 mile on it and the only thing that I have had to repair on it was a rear wheel bearing. After reading these horror stories, I think it is time to trade it in.

I too have a 02 Mountaineer bought with 30,000 miles on it in 03. I love my truck, even with the small problems.

I have had a lot of the same problems, ABS light has been on for over a year. Lived in Ohio, so of course had the cold weather, and at five in the morning on my way to work, I had to drive with my frozen door strapped in with my seat belt because the door would not close. I found out though even after running the car for a half hour, and still froze, that if I slammed it hard enough it closed! Had the rear hinge replaced, twice.

Drive north and truck tells me I am driving south, but I know where I am.

My air conditioning went out. Had to replace it for 1100 with only one year warranty.

And just before Christmas of 08, my trans did go out too. The only difference is I have over 130,000 miles on my truck. My problem was that when I told Ford dealership that my trans was slipping and I wanted it flushed, the service told me to wait because it was a sealed trans and not to worry until I really had problems.

Anyway, we are waiting to put my truck in the shop because my husband just found work and we know we would not be able to handle the big fix it bill. On the other hand my husband has a 300, and has had problems since it was pulled off the lot, including brakes; took it back twice for that, and they are still making noise, bought the car in August and the first heavy snowfall his sunroof broke in on him! The sensor for his trans went out on a 2000 mile trip, so we were stuck in a hotel because the closest dealer was closed all weekend. This car has less than 40,000 miles what next?

I will stick with Ford; even with my problems, I love my truck!

How is it that a recall has not been offered to deal with this obvious transmission problem?

Does anyone know if these transmission problems are more prevalent to V6 models or V8 models, or even the AWD or 4x4 models?

I have a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer, and I too have had several problems with this SUV.

It is a V8, and the transmission has never seemed to work just right, always changed gears hard, and going up hills was a nightmare with very hard changes and low speeds.

I have had brake problems, bearings and hubs have had to be changed already. My transmission has completely went out in August 08, had it totally rebuilt at a cost of @ $2200. Now, I told the mechanic it was changing very hard into second gear, but what does a woman know. I was told, Ford has never figured out those automatic transmission.

It has made a terrible loud noise, which I was told was my alternator, still makes the noise and now slipping terribly going into second gear also with a smell.

While parked on level ground, could not get into Drive at all, finally after a half hour of turning on and off and tugging and pulling the gear shift, I get it into reverse. I took it to the mechanic and he told me the loud noise is now the transmission pump. So it is in the shop again and I don't know what it is going to cost me this time.

I am still making payments on this car, and with all the repairs to it, it is like making 2 payments.

I am really dissatisfied with this car, and I think that Ford should recall these 2002 models with all the repairs purchasers are having to make. They cost way too much not to last at least until they are paid for.

I have had mine serviced regularly, and still have these issues.

Debbie in NC.

Uh Oh, just bought a Mercury Mountaineer V8 AWD 2002 with 109k, delay going into gear, dealer replaced torque converter under my 30 day warranty 1142.00. Nice, but it still stays in first gear a little too long when it's cold. My door is not ajar even though it says it is.

This truck is awesome for my family and handles like a sports car, however with the info from this site, I am running back to the dealer to have them check the solenoid and why 1st gear holds for so long before releasing, (hopefully with my new found knowledge I will be talking mechanic talk with service dept.). It only happens when I first drive it in the morning, and only randomly.

However I believe the old saying holds true for us Northlanders believers. Ford trucks never die, they just get tougher and tougher.

We purchased a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer as a third vehicle. It was red and silver and just too cool to pass up. After having it for a couple of months and hardly driving it we decided that we should sell it. After sitting on the lot for a few months and putting a new battery in, we drove the vehicle drove down the road and stalled at 60 mph. It is in the local Ford garage and they have no clue what is wrong. The Ford garage decided it was the alternator and replaced that. It did not do a thing for it. It sat for 2 days and died a few minutes after starting it. It is still at the garage. Any ideas?

Have 02 AWD driving down to Florida from Michigan. With all these tranny problems should I do it? I have only owned the truck for about 6 months. 107,000 on it now, already had bearing on front passenger side replaced.

Well here is another comment on these 2002 Mountaineers. Purchased with 85000 miles, September 2008. It has 101,000 miles currently.

Just now starting to slip in the O/D. Diagnostic test said, transmission gear ratio five and insufficient coolant temp. So I changed transmission filter and added the 5 liters of fluid that were lost while taking out the transmission pan. Filled back up with Mercon v and added additive for seals in with it, that works in all transmission types. Shifting fine now, but engine light still on and now shows just insufficient coolant temp, code numbers said to replace thermostat. Doing that tonight. Wish me luck, and I do like this SUV for now.

In Minnesota.

I just purchased a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer in January. I have had a problem with the ignition. It had to be replaced and I only had the car for 32 days. I was angry and was told it was not covered by the warranty. Well I had a shock for the dealer, I asked them to pay half, first they refused. When I explained to them I had made the deposit on my credit card and had up to 6 mos to charge it back if the product was defective they agreed. It was either lose $2000. or pay $115. What do you think they chose. See my car loan company told me they had nothing to do with the deposit, and if I charged it back the dealer could break the contract, but it would not be considered a repro. Always remember, if you make a large deposit, always use your credit card. Even if it's your credit card, use it where you have to sign it, because you have up to six months to get your money back.