One problem related to manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe 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.
The exhaust pipe had some way bent which caused the pipe to get close to the rear fender. The rear fender was made of some sort of plastic which melted from the exhaust pipe. The owner was told "the only way that the pipe could have been disfigured if you ran over a speed bump". The owner does not recall doing that or over loading the truck. Ts reconditioned bumper, absorber, reflector had to be replaced.