2005 Mercury MOUNTAINEER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
82 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
56,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 69 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 82 complaints (23.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 18.3% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 17.1% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 8.5% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 8.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 19 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Structure | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
Structure:Body: 19; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Power Train: 8; Engine: 7; Structure: 5; Electrical System: 4; Steering: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 5; 2008: 8; 2009: 10; 2010: 10; 2011: 8; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 6; 2015: 7; 2016: 5; 2017: 1; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 3
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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 10219977 · 2008-03-03 (March 3, 2008)
MINIMAL EVENTS LEAD UP TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ODD SHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING OCCURRED THE DAY OF THE FAILURE AND POSSIBLY SEVERAL TIMES OVERT THE TOW YEARS, BUT VERY INFREQUENTLY. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 74,000 MILES OF PRIMARILY HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH PERHAPS TWO REVERSES A DAY RESULTING AT MOST 2,000 REVERSES FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE SAME DAY AS SHIFTING PROBLEMS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE WAY HOME REVERSE GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WOULD STAY IN GEAR FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS BEFORE GOING BACK INTO NEUTRAL. NEVER …
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220382 · 2008-03-07 (March 7, 2008)
THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE MOUNTAINEER OR SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CAR CHANGING GEARS. MY CAR IS ONLY A WEEK OLD (2005) AND IT JERKS WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES. OTHER MOUNTAINEER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10220382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123782 · 2005-06-01 (June 1, 2005)
2005 - MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THIS VEHICLE HAS WHAT I BELIEVE IS A BRAKING DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE BEE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS BRAKE IN THIS VEHICLE FORM DAY ONE AS WE FIRST THOUGHT THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD TIRE DRESSING ON THEM. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. IT NOW APPEARS THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DESIGNED FOR THE SHORTER PERSONS, AROUND 5 FT, 2 IN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH A PERSON OF THIS SIZE WOULD SIMPLY PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST STRAIGHT DOWN DOWNWARD TOWARDS THE GROUND. A PERSON OVER 6 FT LIKE MYSELF (6 FT, 6IN), CANNOT PUSH THIS BRAKE PEDAL D…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10123782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140188 · 2005-10-19 (October 19, 2005)
PURCHASED A NEW 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER IN 7/31/2005 THE FIRST TIME THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE CAR HAD TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL TO STOP. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO KNOWN FIXES FOR THIS PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. THE SECOND TIME WHILE PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE CAR ACCELERATED AND CRASH INTO MY GARAGE DOOR. THIS TIME THE DEALER BLAMED MY WIFE AND SAID SHE MUST HAVE PRESSED THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDDLES AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR SUSTAINED FRONT END BODY DAMAGE AND MY GARAGE DOOR NEEDS …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181889 · 2007-02-07 (February 7, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. ON 11/20/06 THE CONTACT'S HEATER ON/OFF SWITCH WOULDN'T ALLOW HER TO TURN THE HEATER OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. WHILE DRIVING ON 12/18/06 AT 35MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT READ CHECK ENGINE, LOW PRESSURE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON 1/19/07. EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10211539 · 2007-12-12 (December 12, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES SINCE 2006. THE FAILURE IS MOST COMMON WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE AND WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 18, 2006, JANUARY 19, 2007, AND DECEMBER 4, 2007. ON EACH DATE, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE FOR THIRTY DAY…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,327 miles reported. Look up ODI 10211539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274542 · 2009-06-21 (June 21, 2009)
WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THE ENGINE QUITS UNDER 35 MPH, SOMETIMES WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. AFTER CAR ROLLS TO A STOP, IT CAN RESTART RIGHT AWAY. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. DEALER SAYS NO CODES TO BACK UP COMPLAINT. THIS HAS AS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3X SPREAD OVER 35,000 ODOMETER MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343823 · 2010-07-18 (July 18, 2010)
MY MOUNTAINEER STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE GOING ABOUT 35 MPH BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES CAN RESTART. IT HAS DONE THIS 4 TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 OR SO MONTHS. IN ADDITION TWICE IT WOULD NOT START (IT HAD BEEN ABOUT 30 MINUTES SINCE I DROVE IT) AND IT HAD TO BE JUMPED. I REPLACED THE BATTERY THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT IT PERSISTS. I BROUGHT IT TO A REGULAR GARAGE ONCE, WHO KEPT IT FOR A DAY AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I THEN BROUGHT IT TO A MERCURY DEALER WHO KEPT IT FOR 2 DAYS BUT FOUND NO CODES OR PROBLEMS. IT JUST STALLED AGAIN TWO NIGHTS AGO…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369966 · 2010-12-11 (December 11, 2010)
MY 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER LOSES POWER FOR NO REASON. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. IT WAS BEEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. THERE IS NOTHING TO FORESEE WHEN IT HAPPENS, THE ONLY CONSISTENCY HAS BEEN THAT LUCKILY I HAVE BEEN ON LOCAL ROADS DOING NO MORE THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR OR SO. FIRST BATTERY LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE COMES ON AS THE ENGINE STOPS, THEN LOW OIL. THE CAR DOES NOT SEIZE UP, I CAN STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF I PUT IT BACK IN PARK. TURN THE IGNITION OFF, AND THEN RESTART I…
Owner-reported narrative. 158,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249428 · 2008-11-20 (November 20, 2008)
LEAKING EVAPORATIVE EMISSION FUEL TUBE, THAT RUNS ACROSS THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK, VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 74,045 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249428 at NHTSA ↗