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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Mercury MOUNTAINEER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

152 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

78,784 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 117 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 152 complaints (17.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting3019.7%
Braking behavior2214.5%
Steering behavior95.9%
Engine operation85.3%
Electrical and battery issues63.9%
Fuel system concerns10.7%

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.

Structure:Body
26
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
19
Power Train
15
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
15
Electrical System
10
Structure
9
Vehicle Speed Control
7
Engine And Engine Cooling
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Structure:Body26
Power Train:Automatic Transmission19
Power Train15
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate15
Electrical System10
Structure9
Vehicle Speed Control7
Engine And Engine Cooling6

Structure:Body: 26; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 19; Power Train: 15; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate: 15; Electrical System: 10; Structure: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
13
25,000 to 49,999
17
50,000 to 74,999
27
75,000 to 99,999
31
100,000 to 149,999
22
150,000 and above
7
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00013
25,000 to 49,99917
50,000 to 74,99927
75,000 to 99,99931
100,000 to 149,99922
150,000 and above7

Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 31; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 7

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 35 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.

2003
9
2004
7
2005
15
2006
14
2007
6
2008
12
2009
20
2010
16
2011
12
2012
12
2013
4
2014
6
2015
8
2016
5
2017
3
2019
1
2020
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20039
20047
200515
200614
20076
200812
200920
201016
201112
201212
20134
20146
20158
20165
20173
20191
20201
20221

2003: 9; 2004: 7; 2005: 15; 2006: 14; 2007: 6; 2008: 12; 2009: 20; 2010: 16; 2011: 12; 2012: 12; 2013: 4; 2014: 6; 2015: 8; 2016: 5; 2017: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Structure:Body leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 30 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10068396 · 2004-05-06 (May 6, 2004)

I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD INTO GEAR. AS SPEED INCREASED IT WOULD JERK INOT THE NEXT GEAR. I WENT TO THE FORD/MERCURY DEALERSHIP IN MONTGOMERY, AL. IN NOV 03.THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDED A COMPUTER UPGRADE THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS ON MY CAR. AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE JERKING STOPPED TEMPORARYILY. I BEGAN TO NOTICE IT AGAIN. WELL NOW THE WARRANTY IS GONE, I DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE TRUCK IS 13 MONTHS OLD AND MY SHIFT SOLENOID IS GONE. PER 2 ESTIMATES IT WILL BE COSTLY.…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068396 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10090760 · 2004-09-10 (September 10, 2004)

WHEN SHIFTING MY MOUNTAINEER INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE JERKS INTO GEAR. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE AND ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION GETS CONFUSED AND GOES TO THE WRONG GEAR. IT GIVES YOU A FEELING SIMILIAR TO A STANDARD SHIFT BEING PUT IN 4TH WHEN IT SHOULD BE IN 2ND BOGGING DOWN DRAMATICALLY.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090760 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018718 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)

INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING LIT AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND KEY IS REMOVED. LIKELY THAT THIS FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN LIT WHILE DRIVING, RENDERING THE SIGNAL INEFFECTIVE. LIGHTS ACTUALLY STAYED ON TWO OCCASIONS CAUSING A DEAD BATTERY ONCE. LIGHTS WERE NOTICED THE SECOND TIME, AND WIGGLING THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTINGUISHED ALL THREE INDICATORS. DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH UNDER WARRANTY. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 16,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018718 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034144 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, SOMETIME THE DRIVERS FOOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL, AND CAUSED A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THE PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE AND ON THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLAIN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. *AK *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034144 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10043237 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)

TO THIS DATE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS ARE PRESENT: GAS GAUGE STICKS, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR RATTLES AND KNOCKS, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW TAPS, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW GRINDS WHILE MOVING UP AND DOWN, CLOCK AND RADIO DO NOT LIGHT UP OR WORK WHEN START VEHICLE, SUN ROOF RATTLES AND KNOCKS, WIND GETS CAUGHT BETWEEN ROOF AND HEADLINER WHICH CREATES A LOUD VIBRATION, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ALSO RATTLES AND KNOCKS, THERE IS A LOUD RHYTHMIC CHIRP TOWARD REAR OF VEHICLE, HEATING AND COOLING CONTROLS SQUEAL WHEN TURNING …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043237 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10115150 · 2005-03-15 (March 15, 2005)

THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BY ITSELF TOWARDS THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER ENCOUNTERED THIS UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, AND AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED. ONCE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE SEAT MOVED BACK TO THE POSITION IT WAS IN ON ITS OWN. THE SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN THE POSITION, EVEN WHEN SET MANUALLY. THE SEAT MOVED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, PRESSING THE CONSUMER INTO THE STEERING AND HIS KNEES INTO THE DASHBOARD. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 34 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115150 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10042801 · 2003-10-14 (October 14, 2003)

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042801 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10099122 · 2004-10-27 (October 27, 2004)

THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND CONCERN WITH STALLED VEHICLE, SERVICED AND PROBLEM STILL CONTINUE. *BF THESE PROBLEMS ELEVATED TO VEHICLE STALLING, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, THERE WERE CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCES OF THE BATTERY FAIL/CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT, VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A NEW LEASE AND OR EARLY TERMINATION OF THE LEASE. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099122 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10736214 · 2015-07-24 (July 24, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10736214 at NHTSA ↗