2003 Mercury Mountaineer Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 42about this part
- Share
- 28%of 152 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 73,974miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 42 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer, 28% of the 152 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 73,974 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. A few weeks after they put the tires on and refused to take them off and put my old o es back on and issue a refund well my transmission and transfer case failed I contacted them again and again they lied to me about someone contacting me . …”
NHTSA complaint #11349674, filed 2020-08, 172,800 miles“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 miles“Purchased the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer in 2007. We only drive the car locally for school and work and within 30 days of purchase, the car would not go into reverse. Was told the transmission was slipping and made the dealership/warranty pay for $1600 repair. Since then the check engine light comes on every 3 months. We get check fuel cap message, replaced that twice (last one from actual ford dealership) because they told us it wasn't the original from the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10319097, filed 2010-03, 78,898 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“I have a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer. I was stopped to get fuel. I put my SUV in park to get out. I was leaving my keys in it. When I stepped out and walked to the rear, my SUV started rolling backwards. I had to run back an jump in it and hit the brake. I looked at the gear shifter an it didn't go into park. It stopped in the middle of p and r. If I had locked the doors I would never been able to get inside before it hit the fuel pumps. It has been stopping at that spot every time I put it in park.”
NHTSA complaint #10317000, filed 2010-03, 102,100 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10028736May 1, 2009Ford: 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…
- 10014100Jan 1, 2006Limited slip axle chatter, shudder, binding sensation, or vibration during low speed turning maneuvers.
- 10012952Jun 7, 2005Driveline 1st order vibration/boom/drone.
- 10017892Apr 1, 2005Rear axle noise repair.
- 10014086Dec 13, 2004General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
- 10013398Nov 15, 2004Gear selector lever - increased effort to shift from drive to park.
- 10013369Nov 1, 2004General power train control module (pcm) programming procedures.
- 10013121Sep 6, 2004Front axle tube leak.
- 10011333Sep 1, 2004Updated rear halfshaft removal procedure.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 | 15% |
| 2008 | 9 | 9% |
| 2007 | 25 | 31% |
| 2006 | 39 | 33% |
| 2005 | 19 | 23% |
| 2004 | 64 | 30% |
| 2003 | 42 | 28% |
| 2002 | 144 | 39% |
| 2001 | 1 | 5% |
| 2000 | 15 | 12% |
| 1999 | 8 | 5% |
| 1998 | 9 | 4% |
| 1997 | 8 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
59 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsEngine cooling
10 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
6 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsSteering
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 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