2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER Electrical System Problems

REAR DOOR LATCH IS INOPERATIVE. ALSO RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK IS INOPERATIVE.

Mileage: 101,489

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS ALSO DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.

Mileage: 155,000

I WAS DRIVING DON THE ROAD TO AN INTERSECTION GOING 45 MPH AND NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PROCEEDED TO PULL OVER AND GOT MY FAMILY OUT THE CAR BEFORE THE ELECTRICAL WAS COMPLETELY FRIED. I TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH TWO EXTINGUISHERS AND HELP FROM FELLOW BYSTANDERS. THE BLAZE UNDER THE HOOD HAD TO BE PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I RECEIVED A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT. THE AREA THAT THE FIRE HAD ORIGINATED FROM WAS THE FUSE BOX. I KNOW THIS WAS A FACTORY PROBLEM BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO ANY WORK IN THOSE AREAS. I WOULD LIKE COMPENSATION FOR MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I'M NOW OUT 6500 DOLLARS AND I SEARCHED ONLINE AND READ ABOUT OVER A 100 EXPLORER AND MOUNTAINEER FIRES UNDER THE HOOD. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE AND I OWNED IT OVER 10 YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 183,345

I WAS DRIVING TO AN INTERSECTION WITH MY FAMILY WHILE GOING 45 MPH. I NOTICED BLACK COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. I PULLED OFF TO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT. I PROCEEDED TO USE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS UNDER THE HOOD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME PUT IT OUT. THEY DID A LOOK THROUGH AND DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED AT THE FUSE BOX. I WENT HOME AND RESEARCHED THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I'M NOW OUT THE 6500 I USED TO PURCHASE IT. I CANT FIX IT OR TRADE IT IN NOW. *TR

Mileage: 183,345

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS BECAME INOPERABLE AT TIMES AND TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE LATCH WOULD OPEN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

I AM DISABLE ON JUNE 11, 2014 I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY FLAMES GUSHED FROM THE DASH I STOPPED THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF FIRE WIPPED MY RIGHT SIDE AND I BROKE MY ANKLE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. *JS

Mileage: 199,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY FORTY-FIVE MINUTES WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

Mileage: 119,000

THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS DO NOT WORK ON ALL THE DOORS. I'VE HAD THESE LOCKS WORKED ON, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO NOT WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WHEN YOU TRY THE AUTO-LOCKS, AND THE LOCK CANNOT BE MANUALLY PULLED UP, THUS LEAVING THE REAR-SEATED OCCUPANT TRAPPED IN THE CAR. THIS OFTEN TIMES WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER AS WELL. IT ALSO HAPPENS WITH THE REAR HATCH. *KB

Mileage: 70,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH HOUSING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. ..UPDATED 09/29/11 *BF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/07/11

Mileage: 117,000

FIRE UNDER HOOD WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE ENGINE, WIRING, BATTERY, FRONT TIRES, ALL RUBBER PARTS, BELTS DESTROYED. LOOKS TO BE TOTALED/BURT BEYOND REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE REAR WIPER WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE ARM, MOTOR, AND WIRING WERE REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE FRONT WIPERS WOULD NOT RECEIVE WIPER FLUID. THE DEALER CORRECTED THE FAILURE AND THE WIPERS WORKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4 WEEKS. CURRENTLY, THE FRONT WIPERS ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT FUNCTION. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND WERE NO LONGER INVOLVED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V072000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

Mileage: 126,000

SMOKE COMING FROM TURN SIGNAL WHEN BEING USED. HAPPENS ONLY WHEN YOU ARE TURNING LEFT. BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS FOR A FEW WEEKS THEN NEEDS MOTOR TO BE REPLACED. STEREO LIGHTS QUITE WORKING WILL COME ON ONLY IF YOU ARE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. *JB

Mileage: 50,000

2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 2WD. CAUGHT FIRE IN A PARKING LOT WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. SPARKS FELL FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPT. RESPONDED TO FIRE. *JB

Mileage: 102,000

LCD DISPLAY ON STEREO/CLOCK ONLY WORKS OCCASIONALLY MOST OF THE TIME THERE IS NOT A TIME DISPLAY AVAILABLE. AND WE HAVE VARIOUS GAUGES THAT WILL NOT WORK AND THEN WILL WORK FOR A BRIEF TIME AND THEN AGAIN STOP WORKING. *JB

Mileage: 36,001

OCTOBER 18, 2005 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION NVS-210, 400 7TH STREET SW WASHINGTON, DC 20590 DEAR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: I AM WRITING BECAUSE OF A SAFETY CONCERN WITH MERCURY 2000 MOUNTAINEER. MY MOUNTAINEER, VIN #[XXX], HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A DESIGN DEFICIENCY. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHES SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN COMES ON STEADY. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD. THEY SAID THAT TESTS SHOWED THAT THE HARNESS WAS CORRODED. SINCE THE HARNESS RUNS UNDER THE CARPET ON THE FLOOR, WATER AND SALT HAD PROBABLY ENTERED THE HARNESS AND CORRODED IT. THEY SAID THAT MY AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS UNRELIABLE. I BELIEVE IT IS UNREASONABLE AND DANGEROUS TO INSTALL A CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM COMPONENT IN A KNOWN LOCATION OF CORROSIVES AND MOISTURE, UNLESS THAT COMPONENT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT AGAINST THOSE HAZARDS. IT APPEARS THAT THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS IS NOT SO DESIGNED. AS THESE VEHICLES AGE, THIS COULD BECOME MORE AND MORE OF A PROBLEM. THE REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE, I WAS QUOTED $970. THE TRADE IN VALUE OF MY VEHICLE IS ABOUT $8600. AS THESE VEHICLES AGE THEY WILL HAVE LESS AND LESS VALUE AND THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BECOME A LARGER AND LARGER PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLE VALUE. I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD QUERY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND FIND OUT HOW PREVALENT THIS PROBLEM IS AND SEE IF THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM IS INCREASING. IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED AS THESE VEHICLES AGE. PERHAPS MERCURY SHOULD ACT TO REPLACE THESE HARNESSES BEFORE THEY BECOME INOPERATIVE. [XXX] *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 64,000

CONSUMER LOST USE OF ALL ACCESSORIES IE. LIGHTS, MIRRORS, POWER DOOR LOCKS, WIPERS POWER WINDOWS ETC. THE CONSUMER HAD GEM MODULE AND WIPER MOTOR REPLACED. *TS *NM

THIS HAS TO BE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. THE RADIO DISPLAY GOES ON WHEN IT WANTS, IT MAKES TERRIBLE NOISES, RIDES TERRIBLE AND IT DEPRECIATES TERRIBLE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. THIS IS A TERRIBLE CAR. ANYONE THAT WANTS TO BUY ONE SHOULD NOT, IT LOOKS LIKE A CLASSY SUV BUT IT IS A BIG PIECE OF JUNK.*AK

NO POWER SWITCH, WIPERS, WINDOWS, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, ETC... *PH RECALL#00V072000. THE CONSUMER COVERED THE COST OF THE WIPER MOTOR MODULE. *SC

ENGAGING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL CAUSES SMOKE TO BE EMITTED FROM THE EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH HOUSING ON TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *TT

Mileage: 85,000