Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Mercury Mountaineer has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 372 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09V399000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/OVERHEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E104000 CURVED TEMPERED AUTOMOTIVE REPLACEMENT GLASS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V171000 FORD/TIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01I010000 FORD/LIFTGATE GLASS BRACKET NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 144 complaints
- Structure 70 complaints
- Suspension 36 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 33 complaints
- Visibility 31 complaints
- Steering 23 complaints
Of the 372 complaints on file, 17 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 372 complaints, owners report 38 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Mercury Mountaineer has a high number of powertrain and structural complaints, alongside issues with suspension and engine cooling. These indicate potential reliability concerns, especially as it ages. Although some recalls address critical problems, owners report frequent and costly issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| powertrain | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,500 | common |
| suspension | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| engine cooling | 90,000–130,000 miles | $400–$900 | occasional |
| steering | 80,000–110,000 miles | $300–$800 | occasional |
| brakes | 60,000–90,000 miles | $200–$600 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake fluid replacement
- Coolant system service
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Transmission fluid change
- Timing belt replacement
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Transmission slipping
- Coolant leaks
- Clunking noises from suspension
- Steering wheel vibrations
- Overheating engine
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.