Three problems related to rear suspension coil springs have been reported for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer based on all problems reported for the 2003 Mountaineer.
2003 Mercury Mountaineer recalls I have had to change the intake manifold, ignition coils, I'm having a gas smells now, transmission thumps hard when going into first gear, sounds like my rear end is about to fall out, my front seat is electric and doesn't move, the o/d light comes on, check engine light on, brake light on, I keep trying to fix everything the more I fix the more problems that come up, I have check the recall list for 2003 Mercury Mountaineer recall on transmission and also called the Ford CO they said there is nothing. The problem is getting worst and afraid I will be on the highway with my grandchildren when it breaks. I've had transmission level checked said it was fine. Getting ready to do a complete tune-up on it to see if that will help with the smell of gas and make it run better. It idles high. It's worst when I'm on the highway.
When replacing wheel bearings (another infamous Ford defect on these vehicles), noticed both rear coil springs broken in multiple places at top of spring, where coils dug into each other and created a stress riser. This can eventually cause a loss of vehicle control.
Rear coil springs on Mercury Mountaineer, 2003 just broke in to two pieces.