2002 Mercury Mountaineer Latches, locks and linkages Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 2%of 372 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 69,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the latches, locks and linkages of the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer, 2% of the 372 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 69,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When shutting my rear hatch on my 2002 Mercury Mountaineer my lift cracked underneath the window. When I contacted ford they said that I would have to pay for this - I could not afford it. Then my hatch was harder and harder to close. One day while trying to shut it the entire window and hatch fell on my head the latch came undone. Now I hear the cylinder are a defect what about the entire hatch. This whole unit is a defect.”
NHTSA complaint #10100015, filed 2004-11, 25,000 miles“I was driving my 2002 Mercury Mountaineer on vacation in florida 1400 miles from home with my kids, I was on the interstate 75 on alligator alley when I was coming up on two semi trucks, I applied the brake and instead of the cruise control shutting off it sped up fast sending me towards the semi trailers going about 85 MPH, I slammed on the brakes and veered off the interstate onto the shoulder and grabbed the gear shift lever to downshift to slow it down and the shift lever broke of in my hand, I got the SUV home and contacted the ford dealer and I was told that there is a recall on the…”
NHTSA complaint #10340877, filed 2010-07, 99,000 miles“Mercury moutaineer 2003, the hatch of the car just came down and hit her, she jumped back and the door continued to close and the window shattered. Contact learned that the car door has a safety recall and took it to the dealership for repair. Contact was told that the safety recall had already been repaired on her car and that she would have to pay to have it repaired again. Contact wants to know what she can do now. Doesn't feel she is responsible because it is a safety recall.”
NHTSA complaint #10176576, filed 2006-12, 58,000 miles“The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. The driver's side door would not close. The failure began when the weather was cold and then occurred during hot temperatures. Currently, the failure is constant, which causes the door ajar warning light to remain illuminated. The interior dome light remains illuminated as well. No repairs have been made and the dealer has not been notified. The failure mileage was 80,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10229932, filed 2008-06, 80,000 miles“The rear lift gate seemingly is open although all the doors of the car are closed it still shows a door ajar sign in the information panel in the dashboard.”
NHTSA complaint #10183979, filed 2007-03Latches, locks and linkages: other model years
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 complaintsAir bags
20 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsEquipment
13 complaintsFuel system
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