Mercury Mountaineer Structure Problems
Owners have filed 283 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Mercury Mountaineer across 13 model years. The 2004 model year has the most (79). The words owners use most often: “lift gate” (19% of reports).
- 283structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 21mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $740typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Lift gate: mentioned in 55 of 283 complaints (19%)
- Rear liftgate: mentioned in 25 of 283 complaints (9%)
- Around emblem: mentioned in 19 of 283 complaints (7%)
- Noticed crack: mentioned in 16 of 283 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the Mercury Mountaineer at $740, and half of them between $360 and $1,000.
Based on 15 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2013), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 206 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 283 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 21 an injury.
Mercury Mountaineer structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Mountaineer | 1 | 8% | 31,000 |
| 2008 Mountaineer | 3 | 3% | — |
| 2007 Mountaineer | 5 | 6% | 80,600 |
| 2006 Mountaineer | 7 | 6% | 67,500 |
| 2005 Mountaineer | 26 | 32% | 69,000 |
| 2004 Mountaineer | 79 | 38% | 69,449 |
| 2003 Mountaineer | 59 | 39% | 78,784 |
| 2002 Mountaineer | 70 | 19% | 58,500 |
| 2001 Mountaineer | 3 | 14% | 60,250 |
| 2000 Mountaineer | 6 | 5% | 59,745 |
| 1999 Mountaineer | 4 | 3% | 71,500 |
| 1998 Mountaineer | 11 | 5% | 75,000 |
| 1997 Mountaineer | 9 | 3% | 59,800 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device/strut
Model years: 1997
Problem: Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles. The liftgate assist gas cylinder bracket on the right hand bodyside outer panel was incorrectly welded.
Risk: The gas cylinder bracket may not properly support the liftgate increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will reinforce the bracket attachment with two pop rivets.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact's daughter owns a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that while her husband and her daughter were inspecting the engine compartment of the vehicle, the hinges of the hood failed, causing the hood to drop inadvertently. The contact's husband sustained a laceration on the arm…
Body : to much rust, corrosion, on rear of truck other failure or detachment of exterior body like rear gate frame components, and other structural components that may present a safety hazard. Electrical :Â electrical systems and items such asa wiring and cable on or inside the door, ignition…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated that the rear lift gate failed to latch securely on several occasions. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact stated on one occasion while driving the vehicle, the lift gate ajar warning light…
2006 mercury mountaineer, 123,000 miles. Notice (bottom) of box subframe, located rear driver side only. Foward of rear axle, has excessive corrosion in a length of 8 to 10 inches. Corrosion has rotted through this area. Vehicle has 123000 miles on it. Also vehicle has surface corrosion all over…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK PANEL WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (FIVE STAR FORD, 6618 NE LOOP 820 AT RUFE SNOW, NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX 76180-7844…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mercury Mountaineers have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 283 owner complaints about structure for the Mercury Mountaineer. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Mercury Mountaineer structure?
Yes: 1 safety recall list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the Mercury Mountaineer?
Owners report a typical cost of $740 (half paid between $360 and $1,000), from 15 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Mercury Mountaineer?
The most frequent phrase is “lift gate”, in 55 of 283 complaints, followed by “rear liftgate” (25).
Other Mercury Mountaineer problems
- Power Train problems (385)
- Tires problems (327)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (215)
- Electrical System problems (182)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (161)
- Seats problems (125)
See all Mercury Mountaineer problems.