2004 Mercury Mountaineer Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 5%of 210 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 44,422miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer, 5% of the 210 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 44,422 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
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.
“04 Mountaineer cluster gauge blacks out then meter gauge flickers. Waited for 10 min I'm parking lot then it comes on. Started to drive then about a mile into driving it shuts down. Mind you my SUV was still going but gauges shut down then my lights go off, then my windshield wipers go. By the grace of got I got home. While on road my engine was struggling. Help before that incident I had just replace thermostat housing because it cracked and I was loosing coolant.”
NHTSA complaint #10561082, filed 2014-01, 201,000 miles“On august 29, 2008, at about 9:30 p.m., I was going home from a vacation. I was going 55 miles per hour and the vehicle power completely stopped. I was able to get off the freeway safely and after several attempts the vehicle started up again. This was very frightening because we try our best to maintain the vehicle to its optimal I.e. Oil,tires. This needs to be investigated further by this agency as soon as possible. Thank you”
NHTSA complaint #10242083, filed 2008-09, 30,987 miles“I have a used 2004 Mercury Mountaineer I purchased in 12/2008 it had 53,000 miles. I have done all of the required maintenance oil changes,brake pads,fluid changes, and 60,000-mile service package. I have nothing but problems with the vehicle. The failures I have are as follows: 1. Front/rear brake pads,front/rear rotors,spark plugs,-defected parts 2. Battery 3. Tires-constant flats 4. Lug torque-driver front/rear 5. Hood shocks,tire pressure sensor light 6. Transmission fluid leak/ front pump seal leak 7. Noise at harmonic balancer 8. Roar noise and shakes at all speeds 9. …”
NHTSA complaint #10408434, filed 2011-06, 70,000 miles“I started my 2004 Mercury Mountaineer the other day, and the engine started making a horrible noise, like a lawn mower, right when it started. I shut it off immediately and eventually had to get a tow truck to bring me to the ford dealer. Luckily I wasn't driving this time when it happened. It turns out that the engine spat out a spark plug. This seems to be a chronic problem with ford motor company SUV's and pick-ups. The temporary solution is to plug the socket because the threads wore out. However the spark plug was factory-installed and the issue is definitely a ford problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10261334, filed 2009-03, 91,000 miles“2004 Mercury Mountaineer - harmonic balancer failed. It was noticed when a squeaky noise was coming from the engine. Although is was caught before any serious injury occurred, this failure may have LED to one. If the balancer had completely failed, it could have resulted in loss of steering and at highway speeds would have been catastrophic. Steering is lost because drive belt would have come lose. Unit was replaced at a cost of $475. Old part was saved for inspection.”
NHTSA complaint #10361549, filed 2010-10, 42,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10109070Sep 21, 2016The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to…
- 10023943Oct 1, 2007Some 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…
- 10018745Nov 14, 2005Wds cop kit diagnostic tip - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - engine misfire or rough running.
- 10017931Jun 7, 2005No start/hard start on cold soak - 4.0l engine.
- 10017882Apr 1, 2005No start/hard start on cold soak.
- 10012953Feb 21, 2005Mil on and/ or runs rough/misfire dtcs p0300-p0308 p0316 and or p0171/p0174 4.6l engine.
- 10012947Feb 21, 2005Maf diagnostic service tip - vehicles equipped with egr system module (esm).
- 10013399Dec 31, 2004Throttle pedal response on tip in vehicles built before 10/4/2004 equipped with a 4.0l engine.
- 10013383Nov 1, 2004Rough idle in drive.
- 10011162Aug 23, 2004Engine misfire or running - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - wds cop kit diagnostic tips. To include various 2005 models. * ar this article 04161 supersedes tsb 03-14-04.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 | 3% |
| 2007 | 4 | 5% |
| 2006 | 43 | 37% |
| 2005 | 5 | 6% |
| 2004 | 11 | 5% |
| 2003 | 10 | 7% |
| 2002 | 33 | 9% |
| 2001 | 1 | 5% |
| 2000 | 5 | 4% |
| 1999 | 12 | 8% |
| 1998 | 20 | 8% |
| 1997 | 14 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
79 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
64 complaintsVehicle speed control
21 complaintsElectrical system
16 complaintsAir bags
12 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsEngine
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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