2002 Mercury Mountaineer Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 5%of 372 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 87,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer, 5% of the 372 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 87,000 miles. 9 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving on a straight road going 20-25 MPH, my driver and passenger side/curtain airbags deployed for no reason. I pulled over and called my insurance company still confused as to why this happened. They informed me to call ford and report it and cut the airbag enough to see. With no luck on getting help from ford or my insurance company, I'm now dealing with failing inspection due to my airbag light. I feel this is a manufacturer problem as I haven't made any modifications to the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10959878, filed 2017-03, 199,000 miles“While driving to work one morning all I here was ding ding ding od/off started flashing . Sec later check transmission light came on now when I drive putting foot on the paddle to go it will idle up I release and it will shift n go. Aamco saying that I need a rebuilt tranny that's bs with all what I have been reading it's just a rip off I don't have $3500 to get this fix. Now seeing not once not twice so many complaints I read that people paid for 2 or more tranny for the vehicle's and nothing is been done about it. And the ford deals knows about it..... …”
NHTSA complaint #10715424, filed 2015-05, 167,000 miles“The side air bags in my 2002 Mercury Mountaineer deployed for no reason. Although no one was seriously injured because the car was traveling at less than 5 miles per hour at the time, this could have been a serious situation. Ford's response has been less than satisfactory. Despite the fact that I prompltly notified ford of the incident, no one at ford's consumer affairs department has contacted me to investigate the problem as promised. …”
NHTSA complaint #10008291, filed 2003-03, 4,700 miles“Passenger air bag warning light activated / will not go out. / this a safety issue which chronic on this make and model year / should not be subject to normal warranty terms / should be repaired by Mercury and not the owner / costly repair / normal driving and wear / this issue has not been corrected on my vehicle needs repair.”
NHTSA complaint #10227186, filed 2008-05, 110,000 miles“Dt: the contact's vehicle was involved in a head on collision with a tree while driving at 45 MPH. Upon impact, the front air bags did not deploy. There was one injury reported. The insurance company was notified and a report was taken. The manufacturer was contacted. They requested that the vehicle be delivered to them for analysis. The insurance company had already taken the vehicle. A police report was taken. Updated 12/19/05.”
NHTSA complaint #10143997, filed 2005-11, 100,000 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
| 2005 | 3 | 4% |
| 2004 | 12 | 6% |
| 2003 | 9 | 6% |
| 2002 | 20 | 5% |
| 2001 | 1 | 5% |
| 2000 | 9 | 7% |
| 1999 | 14 | 9% |
| 1998 | 3 | 1% |
| 1997 | 7 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
144 complaintsBody and structure
70 complaintsSuspension
36 complaintsEngine cooling
33 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
33 complaintsBrakes
23 complaintsSteering
23 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsEquipment
13 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology