2000 Mercury MOUNTAINEER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
123 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 123 complaints (17.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 13.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 11.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.3% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 |
| Tires | 15 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 5 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 21; Tires: 15; Electrical System: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Tires:Tread/Belt: 6; Air Bags: 5; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 5; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 10
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 63 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 28 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2000: 28; 2001: 2; 2002: 15; 2003: 15; 2004: 9; 2005: 13; 2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 4; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002443 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THEY DIDN'T HOLD. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE BRAKE CALIPERS FREEZING UP AND GETTING HOT WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEALS FAILING. *NLM ROTORS, PADS AND SHOES WERE REPLACED. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 37,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016935 · 2003-05-02 (May 2, 2003)
WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP ON A DRY DAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH MY BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THEY GRABBED AND THEN RELEASED WITH A FORWARD MOTION. I CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE WITH BOTH FEET AND THE BRAKES STILL REACTED IN THE SAME FASHION. SUBSEQUENTLY I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MERCURY DEALER AND THEY STATED THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I AM CONCERNED AND ACTUALLY WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING MY CAR. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 32,780 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010232 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER DIAGNOSED WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE - SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD GEARS. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 50000 MILES.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 50,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056989 · 2004-02-11 (February 11, 2004)
THE SPEED CONTROL OF MY 2000 MERCURY MOUNTINEER, STICKS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO EXCERLERATE OUT OF CONTROL THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO SLIP THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES AND IS GETTING MORE FRQUENT. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER (SELLERS SEXTON WAYNESVILLE, MO) THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG AND THEY CANT FIND A PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071723 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED TO LOW RANGE. *AK THE 4WD AND OVERDRIVE LIGHTS WHERE FLASHING AND WHINING ALONG WITH AN ALARM SOUND COMING FROM THE DASH. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED, BUT THE WHINING SOUND CONTINUED. *SC THE CONSUMER DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE NOISE STOPPED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071723 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132779 · 2005-08-14 (August 14, 2005)
LAST NIGHT WHILE TRAVELING HOME ON THE NYS THRUWAY, APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES FROM MY EXIT, THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T DISENGAGE. IT WAS LATE, AND WE CAME UPON SOME ROAD WORK, SO I DEPRESSED THE COAST BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES TO LOWER MY SPEED. I HAVE DONE THIS NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE WITHOUT ANY MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL/SOFTWARE PROBLEM. WHEN THIS DIDN'T LOWER MY SPEED, I DEPRESSED THE OFF BUTTON NUMEROUS TIMES-THIS DIDN'T WORK-SO I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE-AND THIS DIDN'T WORK. I BECAME SCARED AND IMMEDIATELY PUT THE SUV IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RPM WENT HIG…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,827 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020598 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
ENGAGING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL CAUSES SMOKE TO BE EMITTED FROM THE EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH HOUSING ON TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037002 · 2003-09-01 (September 1, 2003)
WE WERE REAR ENDED AND BOTH SEATS BROKE, FLINGING US INTO THE BACK SEAT. WE THEN WENT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE (BECAUSE MY WIFE COULD NO LONGER REACH THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE BRAKES) AND WERE HIT HEAD ON. COMPLAINT #1 - THE SEATS SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN. COMPLAINT #2 - THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 58,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178297 · 2007-01-10 (January 10, 2007)
MY DRIVE TO WORK IS ~ 14 MILES, ON 1/8/2007 WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE (TRAVELING AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED) MY VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THE VEHICLE STALLED, BUT AFTER COMING TO A STOP I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY LEFT AND THEN RIGHT A NUMBER OF TIMES. I SEE A SIMILAR COMPLAINT (ODI ID NUMBER: 10038075), THIS HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108319 · 2005-01-31 (January 31, 2005)
OXYGEN SENSOR. REPLACED BY FORD ON 1/17/05. HAS 69336 MILES.11/14/04 REPLACED AIR FILTER IN ORDER TO "EXTEND LIFE" OF O2 SENSOR. 2/5/04 WEAK FUEL PUMP 49804 MILES. 10/13/03 OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. 45742 MILES. 10/9/03 MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED. 45616 MILES. 8/21/03- REPLACE IAC. 43536 MILES. 5/22/03 REPLACE OXYGEN SENSOR. 41308 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 41,308 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108319 at NHTSA ↗