2002 Mercury Mountaineer from North America - Comments

I own a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. I bought it in 2003 as a program car. I did buy the extended warranty at the time. I have had no problems with the car until last week when I was driving and the RPM's started revving up too high, almost immediately the OD light came on and the check transmission light came on. I took it to a transmission shop, but they said since the car only had 60k on it and it was a sealed transmission, if they opened it I may void my warranty. So I took it to Ford, the next day the bad news... new transmission @ 3200.00 So no problem, I bought the extended warranty, problem was the warranty expired Oct 20. So it's all out of pocket. Sad 2 this time of year : (

Hello.

This is a follow up to my last post just a few days ago. The conclusion was (no surprise) a new transmission was needed at about 3300 dollars! Lucky for me, unlike the person above this post, It was covered under my CARMAX warranty, woohoo.

Any guesses what happened to me December 23rd 2007?

2002 Mountaineer's tranny took a dump!

I Love my SUV! It has power, and style and I feel safe driving my kids around in it.

What I have a hard time understanding is I take my vehicle in for service regularly, and have done for 3 years since I bought it. They have recommended everything, but a transmission service. In 3 years not a mention/ recommendation nothing?

We purchased our 2002 Mountaineer new in December 2002. It has been a fairly good car until this year. We have about 75,000 miles on it and in June, on our vacation, blew a front pinion seal. It was replaced and then it blew again in November. This time we were close to home so our own mechanic repaired it. IN the meantime, we also developed problems with the rear end. We decided to replace the whole rear end at $2200. Then the front pinion seal blew for a third time and now we are looking at replacing the whole front end. We can't believe that with only 75,000 miles that we are faced with these problems. After reading all of the problems with the transmission I don't know it we will repair the front end because the transmission could end up being the next problem. What a disappointment this has been. We will not be buying Ford products again.

02 Mountaineer with 87,000 miles purchased from private party on 1/22/08.

2/2/08, O/D OFF blinking and CHECK TRANSMISSION light come on. Shift into 2nd is loud BANG. Shop said code 745 which is solenoid pack. They changed pack, test drove and got code 733...another solenoid.

When the lights are NOT on, shift is smooth through 1 and 2, but slips into 3rd at high RPM, and then very smooth to 4th and O/D.

When the lights come on, same rough CLUNK into 2nd, and then smooth into 3 and 4 and no O/D shift. Wish I would have read some info on these lemons prior to purchase. Now 2 weeks later, want to get it fixed and sold ASAP.

FORD... quality is job 1? I can't understand why people flock to the imports, can you?? Any amount of reading on the Internet about these things should make anybody puke. I just wish I would have puked BEFORE I purchased. Would have made more sense... expensive lesson for this car buyer.

Wow, I got to this site because I was looking for info on the brakes for my 02 Mountaineer. I didn't known there were so many transmission problems! My Mountaineer has 101,500 miles on it and I love it!!! I did have the solenoid replaced once, but it was under warranty so no problem. Right now the brake pedal goes to the floor after it has not been driven for a couple of days. From what I have read I will need a new brake master cylinder. No one seems to have that problem though and I don't mind since it has over 100K miles. I bought it new at the end of 01 and have been very happy with it.

I bought 02 mountaineer and had several problems with a noise coming from the rear, I took it to the mercury dealer thinking they will figure out the problem fast and they discovered it a month later. The workers started making fun of me as if I was hearing things and I got upset because I hear it when ever the car got hot. Finally the tech drove with me for half an hour and heard the noise he put the car on the lift and went straight to the rear differential and said the noise was coming from there. Now its costing me 2k not including all the other parts I had to replace because of wear and tear, I bought this car used in 05 and boy do I regret it!!!

I also own a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer.

I find myself feeling sick to my stomach after reading the numerous bad reviews on this car.

Sick because I really enjoy driving this car yet I can relate to a lot of what I am reading.

I too had the Solenoid replaced at 51,000 miles (under warranty). At that time they were just realizing this was the problem and not the complete transmission. Have not had any problems with transmission since, now have 74,000 miles. The other big problem I had that could not be diagnosed right away was ignition coils. Recently had front & rear brakes and rotors front & rear bearings (1-side) but that is to be expected.

I often think about selling this car but fear I will face similar problems with newer.

Good luck to all.

Same, Same, Same 2002 Mountaineer, 72k miles, Window motor, door won't close when cold, Rear wheel bearings, broken rear springs, Today, O/D lights, Transmission message, Transmission slipping, Need new one! Thanks Ford for the Memories!!! Anyone want to buy this thing?

I too had the same thing happen. The O/D light came on flickering and the check transmission message came on in the message center. When that happens, the shift is a terribly loud bang. I am taking it to the mechanic monday, goodness I hope I don't need to replace the tranny.

Thanks ford.

Oh, my what a sad day... I am like most others on here, and starting to feel really sorry for me (not to mention stupid, for buying a Ford product) Supposedly shift solenoid? is bad, 2002 Mountaineer with 99000 miles, slips back to 1st gear instead of up to 3rd gear. Bought this vehicle for 16 yr old daughter... wishing we had said no...

I have a 2002 Mountaineer and have a funny noise in the low gears... I sounds sort like a crackling noise/vacum leak. My mechanic said he was not sure wheter it was the tranny or the rear end. Anybody else experience the crackling/vacume leak noise in the low gears I just tried to explain? On the highway the noise is gone or either I just cannot hear it going at the higher speeds.

Also, it moves sluggishly from a stop.

I have 65K on the vehicle and have had to replace to fuel injectors... they were shooting gas out of them on the manifold. Also, I have a leak around the front windshield... the grove on the roof is the point of the leak. Just replaced the idle air sensor.

Any comments about the noise I tried to described will be greatly appreciated.

We bought a 2002 mountaineer in 03. it has over 100k. we made two trips to Florida and then the transmission went. replaced CV joints, rear bearings, brakes. took it to three mechanics because the front end has crunching/grinding noise when I turn the wheel. they say there is nothing wrong with it. Anyone else hear the grinding? It feels like it is in all wheel drive all the time. when I turn sharp it will hop and jump around.

Might be buying a 2002 automatic today with 145000 miles on it. The price is (or sounded good) until I viewed these reports. Has anyone been happy with the Mountaineer?? This vehicle is for our son who will be driving it often. Sounds to me like it's going to be a mistake. It is a V6 not a V8. Anyone care to comment on if yours is a 6, and if it differs from the 8?

Bought a 2002. Has 60,000. Of course 2 weeks later the transmission went out. 3200$ for new one. Wish I had seen this post.

Never had a problem with any of the Chevy's I owned. Had a Blazer and a Tahoe, and not one single problem. Last Ford I will buy ever.