IllustrationTHE REAR LIFT GATE IS CRACKED. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN FORDS MANUFACTURING AND THEY SHOULD FIX 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 reportsON TWO OCCASIONS THE ENGINE CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, ALL THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. ONCE THE CAR WAS SAFELY OFF THE ROAD AND PLACED IN PARK IT WOULD START AND CONTINUE TO OPERATE. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOT FAULT CODE IN THE COMPUTER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY FAULT IN…
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ON TWO OCCASIONS THE ENGINE CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, ALL THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. ONCE THE CAR WAS SAFELY OFF THE ROAD AND PLACED IN PARK IT WOULD START AND CONTINUE TO OPERATE. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOT FAULT CODE IN THE COMPUTER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY FAULT IN THE ENGINE SYSTEM. FORD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES SAID I SHOULD GO A DIFFERENT FORD DEALER AND SEE IF THEY COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I FIND SIMILAR ENGINE FAILURES DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS GENERATION OF CAR. MORE CURRENT SIMILAR MODEL ARE NOT REPORTED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THUS I ASSUME FORD FOUND AND FIXED THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM TO TELL ME HOW THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. SO, I HAVE AN OTHERWISE GOOD CAR WHICH I CAN DO USE NOR IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL TO SOMEONE ELSE. PLEASE HELP! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD AND COLD AIR WAS BLOWING FROM THE VENTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE BLENDER ACTUATOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD AND COLD AIR WAS BLOWING FROM THE VENTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE BLENDER ACTUATOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,581.
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND HE WAS GOING LESS THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR ON A MAIN STREET AND GOT IN A ACCIDENT THE WOMAN STOPPED SHORT AND HE REAR ENDED HER. THE CAR TOTALLED UP BUCKLED UP AIR BAGS NEVER INFLATED THEY CAME OUT COMPLETELY DEFLATED. ISSUE WITH THIS CAR ALSO IS THE ELECTRIC DRIVER WINDOW DI…
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MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND HE WAS GOING LESS THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR ON A MAIN STREET AND GOT IN A ACCIDENT THE WOMAN STOPPED SHORT AND HE REAR ENDED HER. THE CAR TOTALLED UP BUCKLED UP AIR BAGS NEVER INFLATED THEY CAME OUT COMPLETELY DEFLATED. ISSUE WITH THIS CAR ALSO IS THE ELECTRIC DRIVER WINDOW DIES OUT MECHANIC COULD NOT FIGURE OUT BOUGHT NEW MOTORS STILL WOULDNT OPEN ELECTRIC SWITCHES THEY THOUGHT IT WAS FULLY ELECTRONIC THEY WHERE GOING TO RE WIRE VERY EXPENSIBE BUT CAR WAS TOTALLED. CAR HORRIBLE ON GAS ALSO. HAVE PICTURES OF DELATED AIR BAGS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSANGER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LIFTGATE WINDOW HANGING OFF THE HINGES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 06/…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LIFTGATE WINDOW HANGING OFF THE HINGES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ *TR
SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH, THE CAR WILL SEND AN AUDIBLE WARNING SIGNAL, MOST OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON AND THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY SHUTS OFF. IT NEVER HAPPENS WITH MY WIFE WHO IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE AND WAS MENTIONED TO OUR L/M DEALER (BEFORE THEY WENT OUT OF BU…
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SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH, THE CAR WILL SEND AN AUDIBLE WARNING SIGNAL, MOST OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON AND THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY SHUTS OFF. IT NEVER HAPPENS WITH MY WIFE WHO IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE AND WAS MENTIONED TO OUR L/M DEALER (BEFORE THEY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS). I JUST MADE THE CORRELATION WITH THE SPEED CONTROL LAST WEEKEND. IN FACT, I CAN DUPLICATE THE ISSUE NOW. THE SHUTOFF OCCURS DURING DECELERATION WHEN SPEED CONTROL IS ENGAGED AROUND 35 MPH. SINCE MY WIFE ONLY USES SPEED CONTROL ON THE INTERSTATE, IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO HER.
"TAKATA RECALL" PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 158,000 MILES ON IT. OWNED FOR ONE MONTH. BARELY DRIVING EVEN 12 MILES A DAY AS I HAVE BEEN LAID OFF FROM JOB. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, SITTING. OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE TO RETRIEVE GROCERIES AND CLOSED GATE. REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT INTO A MILLION PIECES WITH THE CENTER PIECE THAT…
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"TAKATA RECALL" PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 158,000 MILES ON IT. OWNED FOR ONE MONTH. BARELY DRIVING EVEN 12 MILES A DAY AS I HAVE BEEN LAID OFF FROM JOB. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, SITTING. OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE TO RETRIEVE GROCERIES AND CLOSED GATE. REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT INTO A MILLION PIECES WITH THE CENTER PIECE THAT IS PLASTIC? TWISTED AS WELL. DID NOTICE CRACK IN PANEL NEAR THE EMBLEM SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE AND I THOUGHT THAT THE PRIOR OWNER MAY HAVE BACKED INTO SOMETHING , ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO DENT OR PAINT MARKED UP NEAR THE CRACK, SO I WAS STUMPED AS TO HOW IT GOT THAT WAY). AFTER INQUIRING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LIFT GATE PANEL AND GLASS FALLING OUT. I HAD SEALED THE CRACK WITH CLEAR SILICONE JUST A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING IN ORDER TO KEEP THE WATER OUT OF THE LIFT GATE. DEALER RAN MY VIN AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. I PURCHASED A VEHICLE REPORT THIS MORNING FOR MY VIN AND IT INDICATES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON GLASS THAT STATES THE #DOT430 IS DEFECTIVE GLASS. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE STAMPING ON MY GLASS AS THE DEALERSHIP/BODYSHOP REMOVED THAT PANEL AND THREW OUT THE PANEL IN THE GARBAGE. THEY SEALED THE REAR LIFT GATE WITH PLASTIC WHILE THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER EVALUATES. I KNOW THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING BY ALL THE REPORTS THAT I HAVE READ ONLINE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD OR WHATEVER MANUFACTURER WHO SUPPLIED PARTS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER TO FIX. MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD ME LAST WEEK THAT I MAY BE RESPONSIBLE SINCE I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN CAR ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR!
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES. TOOK IT TO A GARAGE, WAS TOLD IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STALLED. FOUND ELEVEN (11) SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE! PERHAPS THERE IS SOME VALIDITY TO THE COMPLAINTS. ALL PARTS OF THE VEHICLE RELATED TO SAFE DRIVING WERE RENDERED USELESS. SOUNDS LIKE A SAF…
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WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES. TOOK IT TO A GARAGE, WAS TOLD IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STALLED. FOUND ELEVEN (11) SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE! PERHAPS THERE IS SOME VALIDITY TO THE COMPLAINTS. ALL PARTS OF THE VEHICLE RELATED TO SAFE DRIVING WERE RENDERED USELESS. SOUNDS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE LEAVING A DRIVE-THRU, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, NECK, AND SPINE WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE LEAVING A DRIVE-THRU, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, NECK, AND SPINE WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
MY TRANSMISSION WENT ONLY AFTER 1 YEAR OF HAVING CAR, SPEND OFVER $3,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING AGAIN. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I DON'T EVEN DRIVE THAT MUCH.
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.