Five problems related to air bag light on have been reported for the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer based on all problems reported for the 2002 Mountaineer.
While driving on a straight road going 20-25 mph, my driver and passenger side/curtain airbags deployed for no reason. I pulled over and called my insurance company still confused as to why this happened. They informed me to call Ford and report it and cut the airbag enough to see. With no luck on getting help from Ford or my insurance company, I'm now dealing with failing inspection due to my airbag light. I feel this is a manufacturer problem as I haven't made any modifications to the vehicle.
2002 Mercury Mountaineer v8 awd 4. 6 transmission failure. Vehicle had under 60,000 miles, but had surpassed extended warranty time frame. Reverse vehicle would not move. Shifted very hard through gears. Sometimes tacking at 3000 rpm. Took to a transmission specialist. Repaired at a cost of 2600. 00. Have since returned vehicle to same place for same issues plus transmission overheat light and leaking transmission fluid. Seat belts locked down for no reason. Would not retract. Called dealer, could not do anything because I was over restraint warranty by 3000 miles. Have replaced all 4 seat belt restraints. Front air bag light stays on or blinks, or is off. Called dealer, stated repair would not be covered due to mileage. I purchased this vehicle brand new June 2002. Today it has 65,00 miles on it. Is driven primarily on the highway for vacations. Have had several small repairs that were covered under extended warranty. I am very disappointed in the performance of this vehicles drive train and safety restraint system to include seat belts and air bag issues. With as many complaints I see on line about the transmission and front air bag issues, seems to me something should be done to help those of us that purchased in good faith what should have been a great vehicle. I have been a Ford/ Mercury owner since 1971. This is the first vehicle I have had that had major issues.
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated she was at the dealer purchasing the vehicle when she noticed the air bag light was illuminated. The technicians repaired the vehicle. The contact was not sure of the repairs made. After the repairers were made, the contact was parked when the front driver side air bag deployed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the technicians replaced the air bag and the restraint control module. However, the air bag deployed a second time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised her to contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted and stated they would have to perform a diagnostic test on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000.
01/18/07 when truck shifts gears it vibrates. Solution: flush automatic transmission fluid. (also changed oil) helped for a few months but problem is back. ($198. 95) 5/29/07 air bag light stays on. Solution: replaced drivers side pretensioner. (also changed oil). $273. 19 6/26/07 heard very loud clunking noise. Solution: replaced front differential (internal damage to clutches), both rear axle seals (because of leakage) $1580. 23 11/07/07 truck makes loud noise from the rear and seems to jump while turning. Solution: front end alignment and replace seals in rear. $482. 97 still have the loud noise and jumping. 12/13/07 take truck to different place with same problem. Solution: replace left front hub bearing. $401. 73. 02/18/08 still have same problem with loud noise and jumping. Solution: left rear hub bearing, drums in rear, and now mechanic tells me I need clutch packs in rear to solve problem. Tells me I should take it back to the dealer. ??? $380. 00. Now I can add all of this up 198. 95+273. 19+1580. 23+482. 97+401. 73+380. 00=$3017. 07 to finally get my truck fixed---------priceless!!!!!!!!!.
Three sets of goodyear, eagle LS tires, size p24570r16 (no dot # mentioned) with less than one hundred miles had to be replaced because knots were found on sidewall and tread. Dealer has been contacted. Engine light illuminated due to faulty dpfe sensor; air bag light on, air bag module replaced; loose rear center console; vibration and popping noise over bumps, replaced and balanced all four tires, replaced stabilizer bar links, rims were out of round; scrunching noise while turning, rack and pinion replaced; experiencing whistling noise; hard jerk and popping noise when shifting, gear selector slippage; a/c vent squeaking, a/c vent readjusted.