8.9
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$2,433.00
Average Mileage:
96,780 miles
Total Complaints:
32 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace transmission (23 reports)
- rebuild tranny (4 reports)
- not sure (3 reports)
- replace intermediate band (1 reports)
- replace transmission gasket (1 reports)
transmission problem
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2011Sep 13
Mountaineer
- Automatic transmission
- 140,000 miles
Started losing pressure in reverse. Let this be a heads up to you out there happening on this. Bought the car 5 months ago. Had a friend of a friend take a look. Solenoids were good, but thought it needed total rebuild. Last day of checking out and it turns out it was a gasket. (Thankfully). After reading the reports, probably will never buy American made again. No wonder why American auto companies needed the bailouts.
2011Apr 05
Mountaineer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 120,000 miles
Ive had two trannys put in this truck and im not happy i have lost business behind this man telling me he fixed it and now i found out something else is wrong im so hurt but i love my truck is there any way i can get my money back from this man.i was stuck several times at night and was afraid and every time he fixed it i had to go back more then 5 times please tell me what to do.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2011Jul 01
Mountaineer 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 80,000 miles
No dipstick and no service interval listed in the owner's manual associated with the 5 speed automatic without a dipstick. What could go wrong there. There is only one reason that a vechicle would be manufactured without an automatic transmission dipstick. Ford Motor Company is hurting for business so bad in their maintenance shops that they feel they have to revert to fraud ,waste and abuse on a criminal scale to make more money? I just forked out $3800 on a transmission rebuild and find out that the auto transmission in my 2002 Mountaineer is truly a POS. The aluminum alloy is so cheap in the case as well as the valve body that the servo shafts and control valves elongate in their respective bores and fail prematurely.
This problem is so out of control that AAMCO has a bushing kit that is installed with the rebuild process and claim it fixes the problem. You don't get the bushing kit upgrade when you get it repaired via your Ford Dealer. The college boys at Ford Motor Company either knew or should have known about the lack of quality control in the manufacture of this transmission. Either way they should stand up and take responsibility for this mess they have created or forced to take responsibility and pay for any and all damages and inconvience to their customer base. Selling vechicles and parts are only part of being sucessful in an open market. The most important segment on success is customer satisfaction that causes your customers to return. This is not the way to stay in business.
2011Jul 08
Mountaineer LX 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 93,000 miles
have a tranny o/d flash and keep flashing and found a part in the transmission for the band's in it like the old c4 transmission you hvae two bolt on the out side to adjust the clutche same exact setup but the one for the third gear one is completly off of it the modis scanner said the third gear is gone but it run fine slip's here and there but still work when it does it just let off the gas and go into gear on it own so you dont have to rebuild the transmission but it due time it will need a new tranmission but whoever built these transmission need's to go back to school cause they are so cheap made im 25 been around cars since i was a kid
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2009Dec 11
Mountaineer 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 116,689 miles
2002-2005 Ford Trannys Suck!!!! Why in the world would you make a car that you cannot change the fluid out from. My tranny died just 4 days after my son was born. We were on the way to the peds when it happened. Talk about a lot of headache and financial heartache. Ford should step up and off a refund for work like they did with the manifolds (which I missed out on and had to replace that too which I will have another complaint to file). Do the right thing ford. You say you stand behind your quality? Then why do I see more foreign cars offer recalls for mistakes they own up to then you or gm. Instead you want to blame the people who keep you in business, us the paying customers.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2010Nov 10
Mountaineer 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 68,000 miles
Purchased this car new. This is my 5th Ford product. Currently have 2006 Expedition as well. Got a check transmission warning in the info center. Car starting shifting 1-2 at longer rpm's than normal. Put a scanner on the warning light and got a code telling me to change the PCB solenoid. Purchased part and installed. No fix. That is due to the fact that when that warning comes on it is just telling you that there is an issue with the gear that the solenoid controls. Duh! Anyway, looks like going to go for a rebuilt tranny which if you look on line you can find pretty reasonable. They will ship it anywhere without a core charge and then you can put the core on Craigs List or Ebay and sell it. I did take it to the dealer and they did have a careless attitude. The mileage is low for a tranny to blow but the car is 8 years old and relatively problem free. As I mentioned above, this is my 5th Ford product and I am not going to give up on them yet. Some mention the JAP cars are better but my 2003 Acura needed a tranny after 20k miles and was replaced under warranty. Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw. I will say that Ford should back up their product if it is a chronic defect.
2010Nov 03
Mountaineer
- Automatic transmission
- 79,000 miles
The transmission has failed on this car with less than 80000miles on it. It has the same transmission as the Explorer which is known to have had transmission issues.
The repair shop we took this car to told us that we are the 7th vehicle in the early 2000 year from ford that has had premature transmission failures. There should be a recall on this problem from Ford.
Complaint has been filed with Ford Customer service.
2010Jun 17
Mountaineer 4.6L
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
ford should be ashamed ,02 Mountaineer transmission junk JUNK and JUNK.Cant even make 90,000 miles.I preach to my kids everyday BUY AMERICAN.Now I am ashamed.MY GIFT TO MY SON 02 mountaineer.THANX alot ford my son loves his gift of AMERICAN JUNK that he cant afford to fix and what I have read it will happen again because all you have to offer is nothing.A real big Thanx.Thanx to NAFTA are AMERICAN car really isnt AMERICAN . The least you could do is admitt you "ford" have a bad transmission,no recall,no nothing, And a big thanx keep buying half AMERICAN made products there GREAT!
2007Nov 15
Mountaineer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 130,000 miles
So I SOLD MYSELF a Mercury Mountaineer V8 2002 with 54,000 miles on it(and I kick myself in the ass everyday for it). The first red flag was I couldn't shift the truck out of park when it was in my driveway, well got that fixed, then I had to replace 5 wheel bearings in the past three years and I think I have ANOTHER one going (lets figure $350 to fix each one!), I also had a spark plug shoot out of my engine ripping out the heli coil pack, that was $240 to fix plus the $400 tow charge since I was conveniently an hour from home. Well at around 130,000 the transmission took a crap, I had it rebuilt for $3000, which I'm still paying for because all those other repairs add up as well. Well 30,000 miles later guess what...its happening again, the transmission is failing. The dealership said my "perfect condition truck w/ new paint job" before the trans problem was only worth $1500, now why the hell would I fork over another $3000 into this truck when its only worth 1500? No thank you, Ill take my 3000 and put it towards a "reliable" vehicle. Thanks a lot Ford, I have to say you've stranded me in some crappy places. My truck was stolen last April and I cant believe how upset I was, I'm now realizing it was a blessing in disguise, except they found it! And in Newark! The thieves probably drove it and said wtf is this, and bailed!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2010Jul 09
Mountaineer AWD 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 108,562 miles
this is the third time I have to fix this damn transmission!!! the first time was around 76000 miles then one moth after still under warranty from initial repair, and now!!! I am soo sick of this vehicle. I wish we could hire a lawyer and sue Ford for such a faulty part. I am done with Ford!!
2010Apr 30
Mountaineer LX 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 89,500 miles
I bought this 2002 Mountaineer from Advantage Ford, Lincoln, Mercury in Duarte, California in 2003. I took the car in for this past weekend for its 90,000 mile major service, which included a transmission service. When I got the car back, I noticed there was a delay in the transmission when it shifted from 1st to 2nd gear. Moreover, in stop and go traffic there is an abrupt "clunk" when it changes gears. Advantage Ford has little else to offer but a new transmission. They examined the car and determined that I was suffering from the same defect that some many Ford SUV owners have already written about. Ford should be ashamed! I have always bought Japanese, and after I get rid of this piece of "junk," I will buy Japanese again. I have NEVER had a transmission problem in any car of mine with only 90,000 miles. My Honda has 162,000 miles and still runs strong. Ford, this ain't "American."
2010Jan 15
Mountaineer V6
- Automatic transmission
- 87,000 miles
Ford has the worst customer relations in the world! this vehicle first lost its transmission at 74000 miles a year and a half ago. Ford delarship said they fixed it and put a 1 year warranty on it. 1.5 years later, it went out again. Dealership and Ford customer service said to bad for us! told them that I owned five fords in ten years and that this is unacceptable. they told me to pound sand! I will never own an other ford product in my lifetime. I will by anything but just on how bad they treat their consumers!!!! to all that read this, this could be you. tell your friends not to buy Ford products.
2004Apr 19
Mountaineer Junk Junk
- Automatic transmission
- 18,000 miles
2002 mountaineer junk, had enough with the American made crap. 43k on car needs new transmission for a cost of 2800.00. dealer couldn't care less always the same answer and attitude no good. will not buy American any more. junk junk and more junk
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2010Feb 01
Mountaineer
- Automatic transmission
- 125,000 miles
This car was better for the trash and I will never buy a Ford car again. I bought it to save American jobs, but I will never do it again...........Transmission failed, leather seats ripping at the seams, paint chipping off and cracking, locks opening when they feel like it and my back window just opening while driving!!!!!!!!!!!! Never buy one again
2009Dec 16
Mountaineer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 193,000 miles
WILL NEVER PURCHASE A FORD EVER AGAIN, THEY MAKE AND SELL JUNK, AND WE WONDER Y PEOPLE BUY FOREIGN
2008Jul 01
Mountaineer AWD V8
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
Have had transmission problems with this SUV for the last 2 years. Had it in shop twice finally they recommended rebuilding transmission, at cost of 2500-3500 dollars.
2009Jul 27
Mountaineer
- Automatic transmission
- 143,000 miles
I left work on the 27th to go to the bank and it acted fine. I got to the bank and handle my business, came out got in my vehicle and started to back out the space. At first it wouldn't move, then it jumps into gear and rolls back, but then it sounded like something had broken in my engine area. I looked at the dash and there was no lights say service anything. I had no idea what was going on I called my brother he told me to call the recker.
It now sit over in the repair shop yard, and to make matters worse at first I had no idea when I bought the truck that it didn't have a dip stick for the transmission. I also heard from the repair man that mercury on made these vehicles for six months at first. The repair man called it mercury's mistake, because there was a lot of problems with the engineering of this vehicles. He told me he's put in 18 transmissions in the last year a lone on this brand of vehicle. He also told me that he thinks my vehicle is an 01 instead of 02 what I was sold because of the parts.
Personally I will never purchase another vehicle like this, Ford or Mercury.
2006Apr 05
Mountaineer
- Automatic transmission
- 106,000 miles
This crappy transmission died on me 3 years ago and had it replaced for $2,400, now it has died again and if I fix it will be my third transmission. Ford stinks and I will NEVER buy another vehicle from them.
2009Apr 02
Mountaineer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 100,008 miles
I will never buy another Ford vehicle. I purchased 3 in an effort to show my patriotism. 3 times I was bit in the ass. The transmission gear box went bad, bearings went out in both the front tire hubs, and cost me $300 each. The gear box was $950, plus, the check engine light has been on since I purchased it. 2002 Mercury Mountaineer sucks, sucks, SUCKS!!!
2009Jan 11
Mountaineer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 45,000 miles
Transmission started slipping, steadily got worse. FORD doesn't want to know anything about it. The vehicle only has 45,000 miles on it!!! I had to pay $2200 to have the transmission rebuilt. Now my mechanic says the catalytic converter is going!! He claims it costs $2400 to fix. I've owned FORD's all my life, I'll never buy another. FORD you won the battle but I'll win the war. FORD you should be ashamed of yourself!!!
2008Oct 10
Mountaineer 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 74,000 miles
2002 Mercury Mountaineer 4.0L 74k miles: Transmission replaced for $2,058. 3 different mechanics told me this is a Ford design flaw. Aluminum valve body housing wears out, leaks fluid, and causes solenoids to fail. OD light started flashing, check transmission light started flashing, lost 3rd gear, then 2nd gear and OD started slipping.
THIS SHOULD BE A FORD RECALL.
I knew I should have bought a Chevy Trailblazer...
2008Aug 07
Mountaineer 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 122,123 miles
Took the vehicle in the shop because check engine light was on and od light was flickering off and on. Replace sensor in engine cost me about 300.00 was told then that the solenoid in the transmission was going bad had to replace or the transmission would burn up. That was to the tune of 1200.00. The Ford dealership here that i took it to said that they fixed the problem. Picked the vehicle up from the shop drove for one day and the problem came back, put the vehicle back in the shop for the same problem then i was told that it was misdiagnose and that it needed the transmission repaired to the tune of 3999.00 and would not give us the money back for repairs that it really didn't need. I called the Ford Corporation and they said that it wasn't anything that they could do. I contacted the manager of the dealership and he said that if we get it fixed there than they would knock off 600.00 in labor, but i couldn't get my money back. i had to eventually had to call the owner of the dealership to get something done. the manager then called and pretty much want to sell me a vehicle. i guess this would make the problem go away. If this how ford treats it's loyal customers i don't want another for product.
2006Nov 08
Mountaineer V8, AWD 4.6L
- Automatic transmission
- 59,000 miles
click to see larger images
Yep, Ford Sucks. I bought a 2002 Mountaineer with only 49K miles so my wife would have something nice to drive. I also bought it so that I wouldn't have to fix it!
After 10K miles, it had all the usual problems others write about regarding their transmission failure. OD light flashing, harsh shifts bypassing 3rd gear, slipping. I went to a Ford dealer in Sanford, FL. (not going to "mention" their name). First off, I went to get a transmission filter, so I could change the fluid. I thought that might be it. The dork in the parts dept told me that it was impossible for a person to change the fluid himself without a machine. That is a flat out lie! It's inconvenient to crawl under the vehicle, but it's very easy to do. Well, changing the fluid didn't work. I then had my wife bring it in. They told us the band was broken and it would cost ~$3500 to fix. I wasn't about to spend that kind of money. I did notice, however, that they left the band adjustment completely loose after doing their test! I tightened it back up so the band tensioner parts wouldn't fall into the moving parts. (That would be a real disaster) I bought a code scanner at WalMart and it kept giving me errors about the solenoid pack not working, so I went and wasted a couple hundred bucks on a solenoid pack. Anyway, after that, I keep researching and bought a couple books. The band actually was broken. I decided to fix it myself. The intermediate band was about $20, the rebuild kit was a couple hundred, but all I used were a couple gaskets. I also bought the intermediate servo (a fancy hydraulic piston and rod). Anyhow, it's been working since - for about a year and half and 15000 miles. The biggest problem is getting that big transmission out and back in the truck. I think I spent about $400, but could have got by for about $100 if I knew what I was doing. FORD, you should own up to this problem!
2007Nov 01
Mountaineer AWD 88000
- Automatic transmission
- 88,000 miles
I have owned this Mountaineer for 3 years. Last year, the O/D light started blinking. I did a search online and was amazed at the number of complaints.
In order to fix it, the transmission "specialist" states that there is an aftermarket fix that has been out for about 1 1/2 yrs. This will put the transmission to the state that it was before, but no promises that it won't happen again since you cannot truly fix the problem with these transmissions. There are many factors involved and the wear on the piston is what is causing the problem.
On top of this, the timing chain rattles at 2500 RPM. I am still debating whether tto fix these, as it will reach about $4000 in repairs. Unfortunately owners of 2002 Explorers and Mountaineer got the rotten end of the deal. I have no faith in car manufacturers anymore.
2008Jan 19
Mountaineer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 76,069 miles
I have a problem with the fact that my extended warranty just ended July of 2007. It never fails that major fixes happen after paying for an extended warranty. I had no idea there was a huge problem with Ford/Mercury transmissions until I took it to a local trans company. They had numerous Explorers/Mountaineers on the rack. I went with the dealership because I wanted a factory warranty. I didn't have the new transmission in my car a month before feeling and hearing problems. Ford had to provide another transmission. American cars are being beat out in sales by foreign makers because they don't care. It's always the quick fix that is an additional cost to the consumer. Seems like when you know there is a problem, the cost should burden the automaker.
2008Mar 13
Mountaineer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 64,000 miles
This is my second Mountaineer, so you can call me a two time loser. The first one 1997 I had various small repair issues that didn't add up to much, but this 2002 transmission is a complete joke. When I first bought the suv less than a year later the linkage was slipping and the dealership tightened it up and told me there was no problems, all it needed was an adjustment. Should have know that the worst was yet to come. Now 45,000 miles later the OD light blinks and Check Trans lcd read out stays on. Have no 3rd gear and the shift from 1st to 2nd. intermittently works. Somehow made the 7 mile trip crawling 25 mile per hr. only to find out that Lawernce Lincoln Mercury charged me $100.00 to diagnose that I need a replacement Transmission at a cost of $3,999.00.
I have come to conclusion that Not only will
2008Feb 06
Mountaineer 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
My 2002 Mountaineer started bucking and the revs would spike up instead of changing gears. The Check Transmission light came on. I drove to my dealer the next day who said they need to rebuild my transmission and the expected cost is $2,400-3,600. After searching the internet, I found this site and called Ford Cust Care and gave them the particulars of my car (incl. the mileage). They told me they could help me, but first I needed to authorize the repair at the dealer. I didn't feel this was fair as I had to authorize the work, not knowing how much they would help with or if at all. In any event, the rep called back a few minutes later stating that they cannot help me as my car has 70,000 miles on it and is out of warranty. WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP...If the car was still under warranty they would be required to fix it. Ford was of no use and obviously will not stand behind their products.
I took the car to AAMCO and had a complete rebuild for $2,641.
Ford, doesn't believe in customer appreciation or retention and they just lost me as a repeat customer.
2008Jan 02
Mountaineer Limited 4.2V8
- Automatic transmission
- 150,000 miles
this car has been nothing but trouble. I need to register the other problems and how many time I had to repair them. The transmission stated slipping, holding in second gear, the od light flashing and the check transmission light coming on
2007Dec 17
Mountaineer AWD 4.6L
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
This transmission is a complete lemon, I will never buy another f.o.r.d. product.
2007Nov 02
Mountaineer 4.6ll V8
- Automatic transmission
- 106,000 miles
Transmission needs a rebuild, $2400. I purchased a clean 2002 Mercury Mountaineer from Des Moines Chrysler. Drove it home on Friday, the next morning the "Check Transmission" light is on and OD light is flashing. Torque converter is shot due to problems inside the trans. The dealer will not help fix, even though they admit they trans was bad off their lot. Watch out for 2002 Explorer's and Mountaineer's, and avoid Des Moines Chrysler at all costs.
2007Jan 24
(reported on)Mountaineer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 59,000 miles
I just had to have the transmission completely rebuilt on my Mercury Mountaineer 2002 (basically the same engine at the ford explorer). The car had 59,000 miles on it and this type of problem at this point in the car's life is inexcusable. Of course, I had to fix the car and it not only cost us 3000.000 but also a week of a car rental. I had this done a Aamco because I'll be damned if I give Ford anymore of my money. One mechanic we called even guessed that we had a Ford model car early 2000 and said that he has seen alot of these type of SUV cars with this particular problem. Ford should be held accountable for this. PLEASE go to www.safercar.gov and report your problems. If enough people do this then maybe Ford will be forced to issue a recall for this problem. From what I've seen and heard. there are quite a few of us with the same problem!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2012Mar 02
Mountaineer V6
We've only had this Merc less than 6 months and bought it because we felt that 142,000 was not high mileage for this machine. Next thing we know the OD off light starts to flash. Thought we had enough time to get it to the garage but then the next thing we know it shifts straight from 1st to 3rd. Now it requires a complete rebuild to the tune of $2,000.00 I've had Ford products in the past but from now on I think it' s back to GM or Chrysler. Don't know if we'll get if fixed. Perhaps we'll send it to Ford. It would make a great looking boat anchor.
Jim T.
Ashtabula, Ohio, USA
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