2003 Mercury Mountaineer Problems
- Complaints
- 152filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 78,784miles, 117 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 16 mpgcombined, 4.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel RWD · 14 city / 19 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe cracks in the plastic panel around the Mercury emblem on the rear lift gate, followed by transmission complaints — harsh or delayed shifting, slipping, and occasionally a shifter that will not move out of Park. Many reports come in between roughly 50,000 and 100,000 miles; lift gate cracks often appear with no impact and sometimes worsen quickly, while transmission symptoms tend to build gradually and are frequently described as hard for dealers to reproduce.
- Body and structure
Cracked rear lift gate panel around emblem
- 43 complaints (28%)
- median 79,449 mi at 6.3 yrs old (36 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 6 quotes)
- filed 2005–2017
Owners describe a crack forming in the plastic body panel on the rear lift gate, usually starting near the Mercury emblem and running down toward the bottom of the gate. In several reports the crack appeared without any impact and spread within days or weeks; some owners worry about the glass and hinges. Dealers generally told owners the vehicle was out of warranty and repairs would be at their expense, with quotes ranging from a few hundred to about $700, and some noted the problem is common on this model. Most often reported between about 35,000 and 100,000 miles, with several owners mentioning cold weather or noticing it after washing the vehicle.
What to check: Open and close the lift gate and look closely at the panel around the emblem for any crack or paint bubbling, and check the hinges and struts. Ask whether the panel has been repaired or replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Crack in liftgate to the right of the Mercury emblem. On january, 24, 2008 I went to put something in the back of my Mountaineer only to find before opening it that there was a large crack in the liftgate. I'm not exactly sure if this effects the integrity of the glass back window, but I'm sure with time it will spread.....then what!”
NHTSA complaint #10216150, filed 2008-01, 50,840 miles“I want ford to recall there Mercury Mountaineer as it has a major safety issue. All of there Mercury from 2002 onward have a crack on there rear lift gate. I done google and almost net is full of complaints on this. Crack starts right below Mercury logo and keep increasing and increasing. My car logo not came off, but few cars, this logo blown off. Also now I learnt that car hinges holding this very rear hood came off.. …”
NHTSA complaint #10493325, filed 2013-01, 98,000 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Harsh shifting, slipping and shifter issues
Mentioned in 14 of 60 sampled complaints
Complaints describe hard or jerky shifts, the engine revving without the vehicle moving, delayed engagement when pulling into traffic, and in some cases a shifter that is hard to move out of Park or a lever that broke. Several owners report repeated dealer visits where the problem could not be reproduced, and repairs described include a solenoid pack, torque converter, transmission flush and computer reprogramming. A few describe the vehicle rolling after being placed in Park. Reported from as low as about 19,000 miles up to around 140,000, with many in the 50,000 to 90,000 range.
What to check: Test drive from cold through all gears, watching for delayed or harsh engagement and any revving without movement. Confirm the shifter moves cleanly between Park and Drive and ask for transmission service records.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Big o techs conned wife into buying 2 tires and we own awd SUV that requires 4 at the same intervals .I immediately notify them that this is not safe and will damage my car they continued for over 2 months to lie to me about having somemone comtact me . I have all the communications I've had with them through messages. …”
NHTSA complaint #11349674, filed 2020-08, 172,800 miles“Vehicle is 2003 Mercury Mountaineer awd/ the vehicle keeps on losing the power to the transmission and you just sit there watching the RPM race with no power happiness at all speeds which has almost caused many crashes re pulling out into traffic. Has been to the dealer and they can not find anything . On going problem x 2 years and is at the dealership now re I feel I'm going to get killed in this vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10154578, filed 2006-04, 20,000 miles - Body and structure
Rear lift gate glass and hinge problems
- 23 complaints (15%)
- median 59,925 mi at 5.8 yrs old (16 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2003–2015
Owners report the rear lift gate glass shattering or the gate falling when a hinge or support strut fails, sometimes while the gate is being opened or closed. Some describe the gate not staying up and struts that no longer hold. A few reports note the glass broke after a prior repair for a lift gate campaign, and others had the hinge replaced. Reported from about 30,000 to 180,000 miles, often while loading or closing the gate.
What to check: Raise the gate and check that it stays up on its own, and look at the hinges and struts for looseness, rust or cracks. Ask whether any lift gate campaign work was completed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I opened rear liftgate and removed some items as usual. Upon trying to let the gate down 1/4 way down the glass shattered. The struts hung not allowing me to be able to close gate.”
NHTSA complaint #10248412, filed 2008-11, 73,000 miles“Recall repair ineffective and aggravated initial problem - cure worse than the disease. Rear liftgate window shattered. Following dealer repair for recall 04s29, our rear window shattered explosively within 48 hours. This was the type of issue the recall repair was supposed to prevent. Incident occured in garage while vehicle was stationary, spreading glass in a 6 foor radius inside and outside of the vehicle. The rear liftgate had not been opened since the recall repair was completed.”
NHTSA complaint #10104846, filed 2004-12, 30,000 miles - Electrical system
Stalling, no-start and electrical cutouts
Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints
Complaints describe the engine stalling or running rough at idle and when coasting, followed by difficulty restarting, with headlights dimming during a restart. Others report the vehicle going completely dead after being shut off, and brake lights staying on after the key is removed. Dealer responses in these reports included replacement of the brake light switch and work on the throttle and ignition components. Mostly reported under about 50,000 miles in this sample, including cold-weather no-start conditions.
What to check: Start the vehicle cold and again after a short hot soak, and check that the brake lights go out with the key off. Ask whether any software updates or fuse-related bulletins were applied.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My 2003 Mercury Mountaineer would stutter and have a jerking motion like it was going to stall and it would do this at any given time. On the 13th of january I was taking my youngest daughter to school and my car started to stutter and then it just stalled on me I had a difficult time starting the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10116317, filed 2005-04, 13,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10018718, filed 2003-05, 16,400 miles
Buying note. Inspect the rear lift gate panel and hinges closely and take a cold-start test drive that covers every gear, since these are the areas owners mention most for this model year. Service records showing transmission and air bag work are worth asking about.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 152 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer. 117 of the complaints include a mileage, and 26% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 78,784 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 9 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 39 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Body and structure59 39%
- Electrical system11 7.2%
- Brakes10 6.6%
- Engine cooling10 6.6%
- Suspension10 6.6%
- Air bags9 5.9%
- Vehicle speed control9 5.9%
- Fuel system7 4.6%
Also reported: Latches, locks and linkages (6), Other or unknown (6), Steering (6), Seats (4), Equipment (3), Wheels (3), Exterior lighting (2), Seat belts (2), Engine (1), Tires (1).
Example complaints
Body and structure: “The back lift gate is cracked from the bottom of the window, around the side of the Mercury emblem, all the way down. I've noticed the same cracking on almost every other Mountaineer on the roads, and I see a huge number of the same complaint on the NHTSA website. Obviously this is a defect and needs to be recalled.”
NHTSA complaint #10479251, filed 2012-10, 98,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “I attempted to put my vehicle in reverse so I could pull out of a parking space. When I did this, the transmission level broke right off. The vehicle, since it is full-time awd, cannot be moved or towed since all the wheels are engaged in park. The metal holding the transmission lever to the steering column sheared off which I can only consider to be a grave safety risk if the vehicle was in motion and this happened.”
NHTSA complaint #10429347, filed 2011-10, 92,000 milesElectrical system: “I've been review this site and see where several people are experiencing the same issues that I am having with my 2003 Mountaineer. The rear gate is cracking around the emblem. I've have reported this to ford and they tell me I can pay to fix it and if there is recall they will reimburse me. In addition I am also experiencing the door ajar light coming on when all are shut and secure. I have contact ford and several local dealerships. The dealership all tell me their hands are tied until ford makes a decision and that I am not alone. Ford refuses to do anything. …”
NHTSA complaint #10534061, filed 2013-08, 92,123 milesBrakes: “2003 Mercury Mountaineer awd 4.0l. We purchased our Mountaineer in june of 2004, with 22,000 miles on the odometer. Approximately 300 miles into our ownership, we experienced a front bearing wine. Dealership covered defect under 3 year / 36,000 mile warranty. Other defects covered...replacement of the rear speed sensor at 23,454 miles. A 2nd ABS problem required a new actuator speed control switch assembly at 28,419 miles. Transmission shift solenoid replaced at 32,075 miles. Driver side passenger window motor replaced at 33,443 miles. Recall on rear glass hatch lift struts at 27,379 miles. …”
NHTSA complaint #10163859, filed 2006-07, 22,300 milesMileage when problems were reported
26% of the 117 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 47,000 and 98,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountaineer · sedan | not rated | 4 / 5 | — | — | 3 |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2003 Mercury Mountaineer version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountaineer 2WD | 4.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 13 | 18 | 15 | $4,450 |
| Mountaineer 4WD | 4.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 13 | 18 | 15 | $4,450 |
| Mountaineer 2WD FFV | 4.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel | 5-speed automatic | 14 | 19 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Mountaineer 4WD FFV | 4.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel | 5-speed automatic | 14 | 19 | 16 | $4,200 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 39 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10156863Feb 7, 2019Body and structure, Equipment. Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white…
- 10155551Feb 7, 2019Body and structure. Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white…
- 10028736May 1, 2009Transmission and drivetrain. Ford: some vehicles may exhibit oil separation from the internal lube found in the unitized cartridge seal. Oil separation appears to be and is often misdiagnosed, as an axle lube leak.
- 10023943Oct 1, 2007Engine cooling. Some 1997-2008 vehicles equipped with a 4.6l 2v, 5.4l 2v, or 6.8l 2v engine--spark plug thread repair procedure--not covered under new vehicle limited warranty. *nj this includes f-53 motorhome…
- 10019800Apr 29, 2006Electrical system. Low oil pressure indication/warning, a/c compressor inoperative and/or no crank condition on 4.6l equipped vehicles.
- 10019384Jan 1, 2006Tires. Low tire indicator on - tpms system sensor wake up.
- 10019379Jan 1, 2006Fuel system. Malfunction indicator lamp on with pcm diagnostic trouble code p0463 and/or ic diagnostic trouble code b1201 - fuel gauge drops to empty or slow to update after refueling.
- 10014100Jan 1, 2006Transmission and drivetrain. Limited slip axle chatter, shudder, binding sensation, or vibration during low speed turning maneuvers.
- 10018745Nov 14, 2005Engine cooling. Wds cop kit diagnostic tip - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - engine misfire or rough running.
- 10013388Oct 31, 2005Fuel system. Fuel gauge slow to update after refueling.
Other model years of the Mercury Mountaineer
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 13 | 38,660 | 1 | — | 17 | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 6 | 47,000 | 0 | — | 17 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 96 | 65,800 | 1 | — | 16 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
| 2007 | 81 | 75,000 | 0 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2006 | 117 | 58,849 | 1 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 82 | 56,750 | 0 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2004 | 210 | 68,000 | 0 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 152 | 78,784 | 0 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 372 | 75,000 | 2 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 22 | 75,000 | 3 | — | 17 | — | Stable |
| 2000 | 123 | 70,000 | 6 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 151 | 70,000 | 7 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 236 | 85,000 | 5 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 328 | 124,000 | 6 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
All Mercury Mountaineer model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer?
Owners of this model year most often describe cracks in the plastic panel around the Mercury emblem on the rear lift gate, followed by transmission complaints — harsh or delayed shifting, slipping, and occasionally a shifter that will not move out of Park. The issues reported most often: Cracked rear lift gate panel around emblem; Harsh shifting, slipping and shifter issues; Rear lift gate glass and hinge problems.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer have?
NHTSA recorded 152 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer is reported most often?
Body and structure is named most often, in 59 complaints (39% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 42.
Has the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer get?
The EPA rates the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer (Mountaineer 2WD FFV, 4.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel) at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 19 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer reported?
Among the 117 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 78,784 miles and the middle half falls between 47,000 and 98,000 miles; 26% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.