IllustrationBack rear windshield keeps exploding on its own I’m not the only person to complain about this
2005 Mercury Mountaineer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 117.
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
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
2125–50K
1250–75K
775–100K
15100–150K
2150K+
69 reports with mileage · 13 unknown
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.
- Structure. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
82 reportsThe truck bearing keep going out the spark plugs overloaded and I can’t accelerate at times when I’m driving it slows down then starts back up
The Transmission won't shift into 3rd and 4th gear, hitting hard into gears at starting, slipping begins after 35 mph..replaced torque converter.
started losing power ,did not want to go pas 30 miles per hr ,then it ramed up and came to a stop with no acceleration ,i shut it off then start it again and was able to get home at a low rate of speed while continuing to have these problems, another day while far away from home the engine rammed up again minimizing my speed as …
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started losing power ,did not want to go pas 30 miles per hr ,then it ramed up and came to a stop with no acceleration ,i shut it off then start it again and was able to get home at a low rate of speed while continuing to have these problems, another day while far away from home the engine rammed up again minimizing my speed as the transmission was slipping and not go fast then my O/D over drive went on flashing a light ,while the engine kept steady at 20-30 miles per hour while accelerating increasing no speed ,now my SUV will not run wright, it will kick into gear at times constantly and cause problems driving safely ,this is a common problem I'm hearing and reading in the internet with the ford/ mercury mountaineer the manufactory does not want to accept responsibility with this problem ..... this is clear a RECALL ISSUE that needs to be addressed before someone gets killed on the highway by getting rammed by a semi-truck which it almost happened to me !!!! a multi-million dollar law suit is in order if they do not acknowledge and fix this problem
THE PLASTIC THAT HOLD THE VISOR ARM ON PLACE CRUMBLES. BOTH SIDES WERE AFFECTED. THE OUTER SHIELD PLATES SEEM OK IT'S ONLY THE PIECE THAT I CAN ONLY GUESS, 'STABALIZES' THE VISOR WHEN YOU MOVE IT FROM FRONT TO SIDE OF THE CAR. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ABOUT $30-$80 EACH TO REPLACE. THIS IS A 3RD HAND VEHICLE HOWEVER THE MILEAGE IS…
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THE PLASTIC THAT HOLD THE VISOR ARM ON PLACE CRUMBLES. BOTH SIDES WERE AFFECTED. THE OUTER SHIELD PLATES SEEM OK IT'S ONLY THE PIECE THAT I CAN ONLY GUESS, 'STABALIZES' THE VISOR WHEN YOU MOVE IT FROM FRONT TO SIDE OF THE CAR. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ABOUT $30-$80 EACH TO REPLACE. THIS IS A 3RD HAND VEHICLE HOWEVER THE MILEAGE IS FAIRLY LOW FOR THIS YEAR AT 127,408. THESE ARE NOT PLASTIC PIECES THAT ARE IN THE SUN A LOT, THEY AREN'T AT ALL BUT CRUMBLE LIKE PLASTIC CAN BECAUSE OF SUN EXPOSURE. THERE IS GLUE IN THE PHOTO THAT I PUT ON AS A TEMPORARY FIX BUT IT PEELS OFF EASILY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER EQUIPPED WITH FOUR COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, SIZE: 245/65R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES RUMBLED AND RODE ROUGHLY INSTEAD OF PROVIDING A SMOOTH, STABLE RIDE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE FACILITY MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, BUT THE CAUSE OF TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER EQUIPPED WITH FOUR COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, SIZE: 245/65R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES RUMBLED AND RODE ROUGHLY INSTEAD OF PROVIDING A SMOOTH, STABLE RIDE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE FACILITY MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT HAD NOT REQUESTED THAT THE TIRES BE SENT TO THEM FOR TESTING. THE CONTACT WAITED OVER TWO YEARS FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TIRES ON HIS OWN. ONCE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, THE RUMBLING STOPPED. THE DOT NUMBER, VIN, AND TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK PANEL WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (FIVE STAR FORD, 6618 NE LOOP 820 AT RUFE SNOW, NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX 76180-7844, 817-500-0097) AND WAS INFORMED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK PANEL WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (FIVE STAR FORD, 6618 NE LOOP 820 AT RUFE SNOW, NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX 76180-7844, 817-500-0097) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I PURCHASED A USED 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER LAST MONTH, WITH 135,400 MILES, WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AND TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ROAD WENT FROM LEVEL TO A VERY SLIGHT DOWNGRADE. THE CAR THEN JUST SHUT OFF AFTER AUDIBLE WARNING BELL WAS HEARD. NOTICED DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ALL LIT AND BATTERY GAGE WAS NORMAL. I LOST…
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I PURCHASED A USED 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER LAST MONTH, WITH 135,400 MILES, WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AND TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ROAD WENT FROM LEVEL TO A VERY SLIGHT DOWNGRADE. THE CAR THEN JUST SHUT OFF AFTER AUDIBLE WARNING BELL WAS HEARD. NOTICED DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ALL LIT AND BATTERY GAGE WAS NORMAL. I LOST POWER STEERING, BRAKES AND OIL PRESSURE. AFTER PULLING SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I RESTED FOR 30 SECONDS BEFORE RESTARTING THE CAR, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY OPERATED NORMALLY. AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND SAFETY CHECK, I WENT ON A 450 MILE WEEKEND TRIP AND HAD NO ISSUES, RESTRICTING CRUISE CONTROL TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE OTHER DAY, I WAS TRAVELING ON A DIFFERENT STRETCH OF LEVEL ROAD IN MY TOWN WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROX. 35 MPH. AFTER HEADING INTO A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE, I AGAIN HEARD THE WARNING BELL, FOLLOWED BY ENGINE SHUT OFF. A "CHECK GAGE" LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING, OIL PRESSURE AND BRAKES. THIS TIME, I GENTLY SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND WHILE COASTING AT 15-20 MPH I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF BEFORE RESTARTING WITHOUT ISSUE. THE CAR HAS SUBSEQUENTLY OPERATED NORMALLY, BUT I HAVE NOT ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AT ANY SPEED.
THE MOUNTAINEER IS A 2005. I LOVE THE VEHICLE BUT, THE PAINT IS ALMOST GONE ON THE HOOD AND IS STARTING TO BUBBLE IN OTHER AREA. THIS IS MY DAILY CAR, HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT UNTIL MAY 2018. I CANNOT THINK OF ANYTHING WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PANEL WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE REAR WINDOW WAS COMPROMISED DUE TO THE CRACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DICK SMITH FORD (9505 E STATE RTE 350, RAYTOWN, MO) WHERE THE CRACKS WERE CONFIRMED. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PANEL WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE REAR WINDOW WAS COMPROMISED DUE TO THE CRACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DICK SMITH FORD (9505 E STATE RTE 350, RAYTOWN, MO) WHERE THE CRACKS WERE CONFIRMED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT ADHESIVE MATERIAL NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO THE CRACKS TO REINFORCE THE PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THE CONTACT WERE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE INDEPENDENTLY, SHE MAY BE REIMBURSED IF A RECALL WERE ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,354. *TT *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1EA09013 · Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
Opened Aug 18, 2009 · Closed Feb 12, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift; Steering; Steering:column; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering:column
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.