IllustrationABS LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF. BRAKES ARE STARTING TO FAIL WHEN LIGHT IS OFF, NOT WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS ON. I AM GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION.*AK
2003 Ford Mountaineer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mountaineer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reports2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS REAR DIFFERENTIAL ISSUES. LOUD HUMMING COMING FROM BACK END. POTENTIAL FAILURE IS POSSIBLE AT ANYTIME WHICH CAN RESULT IN LOCKING OF BACK WHEEL.
MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAD A LIFT GATE RECALL. LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER IN HYANNIS, MA REPLACED PARTS TO FIX. THIS WAS LAST YEAR. THIS WEEK THE LATCH BROKE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW AND THE GLASS FELL AGAIN. LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER IN HYANNIS CHARGED ME FOR THE PART! THIS ALL IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE EARLIER RECALL I…
Read full complaint
MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAD A LIFT GATE RECALL. LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER IN HYANNIS, MA REPLACED PARTS TO FIX. THIS WAS LAST YEAR. THIS WEEK THE LATCH BROKE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW AND THE GLASS FELL AGAIN. LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER IN HYANNIS CHARGED ME FOR THE PART! THIS ALL IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE EARLIER RECALL I WOULD BELIEVE. THE DEALER SAYS NO. THE ORIGINAL RECALL SAID LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY DISENGAGE OR HINGE MAY FRACTURE, ALLOWING GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK. AM I WRONG? AND IF IT NOT PART OF THE RECALL THEN I GUESS IT SHOULD BE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
Official recalls
104V442000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge And Attachments
Sep 13, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED OR THE HINGE MAY FRACTURE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE HINGE SHOULD FRACTURE, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE GLASS TO FALL AND ULTIMATELY BREAK AND PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT BRACKETS AND GLASS HINGES REPLACED. FOR THE VEHICLES BUILT FROM AUGUST 1, 2000 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2002, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HINGES AND LIFTGATE STRUT BRACKET. ON VEHICLES BUILT FROM MARCH 3, 2002 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2003, THE DEALERS WILL ONLY REPLACE THE HINGES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. A POSTCARD WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 27, 2004, ADVISING THEM THAT PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.