2001 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER Complaints

DEALER INSTALLED FORD TOWING HITCH AND WIRING ASSEMBLY. I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE PASSENGER'S REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE WRITER INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER'S REAR LEAF SPRING WAS SAGGING , AND THAT THIS WAS COMMON FOR THIS ERA OF EXPLORERS/MOUNTAINEERS. HE INDICATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO TOW AS-IS AND THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE SPRING. WHEN AT A BODY SHOP THIS WEEK I SHOWED IT TO THE MANAGER WHO SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON TO EXPLORERS/MOUNTAINEERS OF THE ERA AND HE RECOMMENDED HAVING FORD REPLACE THE SPRING UNDER RECALL OR CUSTOMER SERVICE/TECHNICAL BULLETIN, IF THERE WAS ONE. I CALLED FORD 800 NUMBER. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT OR RECALL ISSUE.*AK

THIS WAS AT MIDNIGHT, FRIDAY THE 23RD OF JULY. AFTER I WENT INSIDE MY RESIDENCE, I LOOK OUTSIDE THE WINDOW TO SEE IF THE MIRROR LIGHTS WERE OFF. AFTER A PERIOD OF 15-20 MINUTES, THE LIGHTS DIMMED OFF. AT 3 AM, I WENT OUT AGAIN TO THE CAR, TO RUN AN ERRAND, AND USING THE KEYFOB UNLOCK THE DOORS, AND GOT IN MY CAR. STARTING THE IGNITION, THE DOOR AJAR MESSAGE APPEARRED ON THE CONSOLE. ALSO I NOTICE THE DOME LIGHT WAS ON. WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE VEHICLE IN PARK, I GOT OUT THE CAR AND WALKED AROUND TO OPEN/CLOSE THE OTHER THREE DOORS, NOT THE GATE. BEING SATISFIED THAT THE OTHER DOORS WERE CLOSE, WENT BACK TO THE DRIVER SIDE GOT IN AND CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DOOR AJAR WARNING WAS STILL LIT, AS WELL AS, THE DOME LIGHT. THINKING THAT A SHORT HAD OCCURRED IN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, IT WAS MINIMAL. AFTER PULLING OFF AND GOING A DISTANCE OF 50 FEET IN THE COMPLEX RESIDENCE, I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND GOT OUT TO CHECK THE DOORS ONCE MORE, THIS TIME INCLUDING THE LIFTGATE. I UNLATCH THE LIFTGATE AND PULLED DOWN TO CLOSE IT. I NOTICE THE LEFT LIFTGEAR ARM JUTTING OUT BENEATH THE WINDOW. I NEVER REALIZED THAT THE LIFTGLASS ASSEMBLY IS SEPARTE FROM THE GATE. I PULLED THE LIFTGLASS UP AND SAW THAT THE LEFT LIFTARM WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE BRACKET AS WAS THE RIGHT LIFTARM. I TRIED TO DETERMINE IF THE ARM HAD BROKEN OFF THE BRACKET, BUT THERE WERE NO INDICATION OR SIGNS(SHEARED OR JAGGED EDGES, ONLY MINIMAL RUSTING) OF THIS HAPPENING. I CHECKED THE RIGHT LIFTARM ASSEMBLY TO SEE IF IT WAS ATTACHED TO ITS BRACKET, AND IT WAS. I PULLED THE GLASS DOWN, TO SHUT IT CLOSE. AT THIS POINT THE GLASS SHATTERED/EXPLODED, WITH THE ELECTRONIC/HYDRAULIC HOSE KEEPING THE GATE ASSEMBLY FROM FALLING OUT COMPLETELY. I TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MY DEARLERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MONDAY JULY 26, TO HAVE THEM TO ORDER THE FULL LIFTGATE ASSEMBLY, BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. *AK

VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHAKE WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH. NOISE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE GETS LOUD. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A LOUD NOISE OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *AK THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. *NLM

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED AND DESTROYED BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

THE INTERNAL DOOR LOCK MECHANISM LOCATED IN THE REAR DOORS BROKE. THE HANDLE TO THE LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL USE AND COULD BE A PROBLEM IN FUTURE MOUNTAINEERS. *PH

REAR SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WILL NOT WORK . REAR SIDE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE WILL NOT OPEN. I HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER 5 PLUS TIMES. EACH TIME THE DOORS HAVE BEEN SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, ONLY TO FAIL WEEKS AND MONTHS LATER. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03-V-281-000 CONCERNING DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BOLT. DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH RADIO, PAINT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER.*MR THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE ENGINE AREA, WHEN THE NOISE STOPPED, A CLOUD OF BLACK EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. *TS THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL, BECAUSE THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE HAD ACTIVATED FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE WEATHER STRIPPING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER TRAIN. *JB

VEHICLE'S REAR END "KICKED OUT" COUNTER CLOCKWISE ON STEEP DOWNHILL GRADES. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SPIN OUT ACCIDENT WHERE THE REAR END SPUN OUT CLOCKWISE ON A STEEP DOWNHILL GRADE OF SNOW. THE CONSUMER FOUND THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR SMALL FRAMED PEOPLE APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET 2 INCHES OF HEIGHT. THE SEAT BELT HAD COME OFF THE CENTER/STERNUM AND SLIPPED UNDER HER ARM PIT, AND DID NOT LOCK DOWN ON THE LAP. THE SEAT BELT CUT INTO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE NECK AND DURING THE ACCIDENT THE BELT SLIPPED OFF THE CONSUMER'S CHEST TO HER ARM PIT. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER USE A CLIP. *SCC *JB

WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL, THE REAR END WENT INTO A SPIN, THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER TO PUT SOME HEAVY ITEMS IN THE TRUNK TO WAY IT DOWN. *JB