2003 Mercury MOUNTAINEER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 30 | 19.7% |
| Braking behavior | 22 | 14.5% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 5.9% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10018122 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018122 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 10026722 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HAS A VERY DANGEROUS VIBRATION MOTION. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026722 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026895 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)
THE LIFTGATE IS COMING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE TWICE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027077 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030437 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)
REFERENCE NO: 10026895 REPORTED JULY9,2003. LIFTGATE IS OPENING WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS. DEALER INSPECTED 2XS AND CANNOT DUPLICATE, BUT HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND SEPERATELY ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. ALSO THE REMOTE ON KEYRING SOMETIMES STICKS AND WON'T ALLOW ENTRY TO VEHICLE OR LOCK OR UNLOCK AND WILL NOT DEPRESS
Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030437 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 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 ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.