2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK IN THE REAR LIFTGATE PANEL OF HER VEHICLE. THE CRACK CURVES AROUND THE MERCURY LOGO LOCATED ON THE REAR PANEL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HER 20% OFF THE REPAIR SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 03/12/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/13/09. *JB

MY 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS A CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE THAT APPEARED A YEAR AFTER I BROUGHT IT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING I MIGHT HAVE DONE BUT EVERY ONE I RAN ACROSS HAS THE SAME IDENTICAL CRACK IN THE SAME AREA. PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH SAID IT JUST SHOWED UP ONE DAY. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT? *TR

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I NOTICED WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT JERKS REAL HARD INTO GEAR. ALSO COMING TO A STOP AND WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP THE TRUCK WILL JERK. *TR

THE FAILURE IS FOR A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND THE FAILURE IS A CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE THAT OCCURS RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE MERCURY EMBLEM OR LOGO ON THE BACK OF THE TAILGATE OR LIFT GATE. THIS CRACK HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES ON ONLINE FORUMS AND TO ME SEEMS LIKE A DEFICIENCY IN THE MATERIAL THAT MAKES UP THE LIFT GATE OR TAILGATE. (I.E. - THE LOGO IS SO BIG AND THE MATERIAL AROUND THE LOGO EMBLEM SO THIN THAT IT CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE AND CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE) I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE FORD EXPLORER HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT TYPE OF PROBLEM, YET MERCURY HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE MOUNTAINEER. THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE INCURRED THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM HAVE BEEN AROUND THE SAME YEARS (2004-2006 MODELS - OR AT LEAST THE VEHICLES THAT I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM OCCUR IN.) 1. THE EVENTS THAT HAVE LED UP TO THIS FAILURE INCLUDES: MERCURY AND FORD ARE SOLELY TO BLAME FOR PRODUCING A FAULTY TAILGATE OR LIFT GATE ON THESE VEHICLES AND SHOULD RECALL THEM. THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE ALONG WITH AVERAGE USAGE OF SHUTTING OR CLOSING THE TAILGATE WOULD CAUSE A VIBRATION TO PROMOTE THE TAILGATE TO CRACK. I NOTICED MY FAILURE OR CRACK IN MID-AUGUST OF 2008, I'VE OWNED MY VEHICLE SINCE 2004 BUT IT HAS BEEN GARAGED ALL OF THOSE YEARS EXCEPT FOR LAST YEAR, WHICH COULD EXPLAIN WHY IT HAPPENED LAST YEAR (CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE MORE SEVERE). 2. I HAVE NOTED HOW THE FAILURE OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE A CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS AESTHETICALLY NON-APPEALING, AND THIS COULD LEAD TO A LARGER CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE THAT COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS CRACK (WHICH IS NOT MINOR, 3 - 5 INCHES USUALLY) COULD ALSO REDUCE OR LEAD TO COMPROMISING THE VEHICLES STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND REDUCE CRASH TEST RATINGS. THIS IS A BIG CONCERN FOR YOUR SAFETY. 3. I PERSONALLY SPENT OVER $400 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE LIFT GATE. I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AND MERCURY SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM. *TR

CRACK APPEARED IN BODY OF VEHICLE IN THE BACK ABOVE AND AROUND THE MERCURY EMBLEM. IT CONTRACTS AND EXPANDS DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE. THERE WAS NO CRASH, IMPACT OR ANYTHING THAT CAUSED THIS FAILURE. IT IS A DEFECT IN THE BODY. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ARE THE INABILITY TO USE THE HATCH, THE REPAIR BILL AND THE DEPRECIATION OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER REAR WINDOW PANEL CRACKED AND HINGES WILL NOT STAY TIGHT. FORD DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT FORD WILL NOT REPAIR IF VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE HAS 53,000 MILES BUT I HAD DEALER CHECK VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID ALL IT NEEDED WAS ADJUSTING. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND RECENTLY WITHIN THIS MONTH NOTICED A CRACK IN THE LIFTGATE AND THE LIFTGATE WILL NOT RISE FULLY. *TR

CRACK ON REAR HATCH FROM TOP OF HATCH DOWN AND AROUND THE EMBLEM (UNDER THE REAR WINDOW). VEHICLE IS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH 75K MILES. *TR

WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE MY OFFICE DOOR THE BACK LIFTGATE WINDOW AND LIFTGATE BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. GLASS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. HAD THE CHILDREN BEEN SEATED IN THE 3RD SEAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. FORD MOTOR CO REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY, THE INSURANCE COMPANY HANDLES IT AS A COMP CLAIM AND I WAS OUT $250. AND WITHOUT AN ANSWER AS TO WHY IT HAPPENED AND WOULD IT HAPPEN AGAIN!?? *TR

MY WIFE WAS CLOSING THE REAR WINDOW PORTION OF THE REAR HATCH AND THE 2 HINGES SNAPPED OFF AND THE WHOLE WINDOW FELL DOWN TO THE BUMPER SHE HAD TO GET A CHAIR TO PUT UNDER IT SO IT DIDN'T CRASH TO THE FLOOR ALL THIS BY HERSELF TRYING TO TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL SHE COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE I THINK WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS THE STRUTS ARE BAD AND THEY ARE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *TR