2002 Mercury Mountaineer from North America - Comments

Threw the timing chain and is costing me approximately $1600 to repair. I found out after talking to several mechanics that these engines are notorious for doing this. In fact, the local Ford dealership carries a "kit" for this specific repair. hmmmmm. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not, but this seems to be a very common problem. I am keeping my paperwork in the event there is a recall on this particular part. I really like the truck but now i don't feel that i can trust it.

This is the second mountaineer I have owned, and it will be the last Ford product I ever purchase.

You did know you're supposed to change the timing chain/belt? at 60,000 right?

On Dec 22nd of 2005 I purchased a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer and traded in my 03 Chevy Impala deciding a SUV was a good move. I test drove the vehicle and noticed a slight shifting problem, brought it to the attention of the dealership and was told it was fixed. I drove it after what I was told was "repairs" and noticed if shifted much smoother. A week later I bought another Mountaineer not wanting to buy one with problems. It had no shifting problems at all. A week after buying it the same problem with the one I test drove, a really bad lag when acclerating and then it a vibration in the front drive shaft. The dealership to have it looked at and was told it was the front hubs, they once again fixed it and there fore it was under warranty so no out of pocket expense. Still noticed after "repairs" slight shifting problem was told all All Wheel drives do this. So without prior knowledge of a an all wheel drive I took it at face value. After that I deployed for 5 months overseas, and had the vehicle look after by my family (parents and brothers). While I was gone it was driven once every two weeks for about 10 miles and no one noticed any problems. When I got back I bought two new tires and did the whole tune up as it was needed. I made a long drive of about six hundred miles one way and a week later on the way back home the check engine light came on and then the vibration and the shifting started again. I took it to the dealership they said it was the egr valve, I paid 60 bucks to have the valve replaced and then they said it would take a week for the check engine light to cycle off. During this time I drove it as they said it would be OK and then I had to replace the head gaskets and the plastic part of the intake manifold a nice price and then a week after the shifting got worse and could not accelerate without jerking. Bottom line is that the tranmission will be replaced like about 10 other people I know who have the same make and model of mountaineer I once had. Luckily I traded it and I will never buy another mercury made vehicle.