One problem related to automatic transmission park/neutral start switch has 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.
I had problems getting the key to turn on the steering wheel after I inserted the key into the keyhole. I hear a vibrating noise coming from the steering wheel. After a while I could not hardly get the shifter to go into reverse, neutral, or drive. I experienced the noise for a while. I was parked on a slight hill and the shifter was hard to go into any gear. I finally got the gear shifter to go to drive. The next time the steering and shifter locked up was while I was with my family at the local store. It locked up and would not go to any gear. I turned the key off and tried it again, then the shifter fell off in my hand. I had to get it towed to charlie henderson Ford (the local dealer). I feel this is a problem in a lot of these models. I have another relative who had this problem too. Please check into these 2002 Mercury Mountaineer vehicles.