IllustrationI HAVE A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, AND I TURNED THE KEY AND WENT TO MOVE FROM R TO DRIVE AND THE HANDLE (GEAR SHAFT) JUST SNAPPED OFF. *TR
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 reportsI HAVE A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WHICH HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND ONLY 20,000 MILES. I NOTICED THE PAINT PEELING FROM THE ROOF OF THIS VEHICLE AND RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO REFERRED ME TO THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE, WHO REFUSED TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS OVER THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL AUTO …
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I HAVE A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WHICH HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND ONLY 20,000 MILES. I NOTICED THE PAINT PEELING FROM THE ROOF OF THIS VEHICLE AND RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO REFERRED ME TO THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE, WHO REFUSED TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS OVER THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL AUTO SHOP WHO TOLD ME THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND HE TOLD ME THE ENTIRE CARS PAINT CAN PEEL BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY WAY IT WAS PAINTED. HE SHOWED ME THE UNDERCOAT WAS NOT PREPARED PROPERLY AND THE PAINT IS JUST NOT ADHERING TO THE UNDERCOAT. I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND NOW FIND THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND AN EXPENSIVE FIX AS IT MEANS REMOVING THE PAINT AND UNDERCOAT AND REDOING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. WHAT CAN I DO SHORT OF SEEKING LEGAL REMEDIES? *TR
THE BACK LIFTGATE HAS A CRACK AROUND THE CIRCULAR MERCURY EMBLEM. I NOTICED IT ON MINE, AND HAVE SEEN THE SAME THING ON OTHER MERCURY SUV'S. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED, OR HAD ANYTHING HIT THE BACK LIFTGATE. PROBLEM WITH THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE PLASTIC USED IN THE LIFTGATE? *TR
CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES AFTER DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, USUAL A TRIP OVER 90 MINUTES IN LENGTH. IT WORKS FINE UNTIL YOU HAVE TO APPLY BRAKE FOR A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, OR OF RAMP, ETC. WHEN YOU PUSH RESUME NOTHING HAPPENS. TURNING IT OFF AND TRYING TO TURN IT BACK ON STILL DOES NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. AFTER TURN…
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CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES AFTER DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, USUAL A TRIP OVER 90 MINUTES IN LENGTH. IT WORKS FINE UNTIL YOU HAVE TO APPLY BRAKE FOR A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, OR OF RAMP, ETC. WHEN YOU PUSH RESUME NOTHING HAPPENS. TURNING IT OFF AND TRYING TO TURN IT BACK ON STILL DOES NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN, BUT THAT ISN'T REALLY USEFUL WHILE ON A LONG TRIP. IT FIRST HAPPENED TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT HAS ONLY TEST DRIVEN FOR 20 MINUTES. *TR
VEHICLE PAINT PEELING FROM FRONT HOOD. MERCURY DEALER (NORTHGATE LINCOLN MERCURY, TAMPA, FLORIDA) AT FIRST SAID A ROCK HIT IT. ANOTHER SERVICE PERSON SAID ITS A DEFECT. THEY ONLY WANT TO COVER HALF THE COST OF GETTING HOOD PAINTED. VEHICLE BOUGHT NEW FROM THE DEALER. TSB ISSUED BY FORD CONCERNING THE ISSUE. DEALER OVERESTIMAT…
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VEHICLE PAINT PEELING FROM FRONT HOOD. MERCURY DEALER (NORTHGATE LINCOLN MERCURY, TAMPA, FLORIDA) AT FIRST SAID A ROCK HIT IT. ANOTHER SERVICE PERSON SAID ITS A DEFECT. THEY ONLY WANT TO COVER HALF THE COST OF GETTING HOOD PAINTED. VEHICLE BOUGHT NEW FROM THE DEALER. TSB ISSUED BY FORD CONCERNING THE ISSUE. DEALER OVERESTIMATED ESTIMATE TO REPAINT HOOD ($1000 DOLLARS) WANTS ME TO PAY A LOST $500 DOLLARS FOR A DEFECT THEY KNOW ABOUT.*TR
LEAKING EVAPORATIVE EMISSION FUEL TUBE, THAT RUNS ACROSS THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK, VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER THE SUV HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ROOF HAS PAINT PEELING ON IT AND A LARGE RUST SPOT. I TOOK TO THE MERCURY DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT RUSTED THROUGH THE BODY. I SAID NOT NOW BUT IT WILL THE SERVICE MANAGER REPLIED YES BUT HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY BY THEN ( HE WAS SO HELPFU…
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I HAVE A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER THE SUV HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ROOF HAS PAINT PEELING ON IT AND A LARGE RUST SPOT. I TOOK TO THE MERCURY DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT RUSTED THROUGH THE BODY. I SAID NOT NOW BUT IT WILL THE SERVICE MANAGER REPLIED YES BUT HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY BY THEN ( HE WAS SO HELPFUL ) THE FORD REP CAME TODAY AND REJECTED THE CLAIM DO TO HER BUYING THE SUV USED EVEN THROUGH SHE BROUGHT IT FROM THIS DEALER. I WILL TRY TO APPEAL IT WITH FORD LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS ????? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. ON THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING ONTO HER GARAGE FLOOR. SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PINION SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL A…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. ON THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING ONTO HER GARAGE FLOOR. SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PINION SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE HOME. AFTER WORK ONE EVENING, SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. AFTER 20 MINUTES, HER FATHER ARRIVED AND WAS ABLE TO FORCEFULLY START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL OR THE STALLING. ON JUNE 16, 2008, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A FUSE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THEY IDENTIFIED A BUSHING THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. ALL OF THESE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHIN FOUR MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND WITH LESS THEN 4,000 MILES PLACED ON THE VEHICLE BY THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,177 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,600. UPDATED 07/15/08 *BF WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE POWER SEATS AND POWER LOCKS FAILED TO WORK. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR. THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/15/08
THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE MOUNTAINEER OR SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CAR CHANGING GEARS. MY CAR IS ONLY A WEEK OLD (2005) AND IT JERKS WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES. OTHER MOUNTAINEER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. *TR
MINIMAL EVENTS LEAD UP TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ODD SHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING OCCURRED THE DAY OF THE FAILURE AND POSSIBLY SEVERAL TIMES OVERT THE TOW YEARS, BUT VERY INFREQUENTLY. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 74,000 MILES OF PRIMARILY HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH PERHAPS TWO REVERSES A DAY RESULTING AT MOST 2,000 REVERSES FOR THE LIFE OF THE…
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MINIMAL EVENTS LEAD UP TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ODD SHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING OCCURRED THE DAY OF THE FAILURE AND POSSIBLY SEVERAL TIMES OVERT THE TOW YEARS, BUT VERY INFREQUENTLY. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 74,000 MILES OF PRIMARILY HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH PERHAPS TWO REVERSES A DAY RESULTING AT MOST 2,000 REVERSES FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE SAME DAY AS SHIFTING PROBLEMS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE WAY HOME REVERSE GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WOULD STAY IN GEAR FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS BEFORE GOING BACK INTO NEUTRAL. NEVER WOULD GO INTO REVERSE AGAIN. FAILURE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE SOLENOID SHIFTERS AND VALVE BODIES. THIS IS THE SAME FAILURE THAT WAS A CAUSE FOR A RECALL OF SEVERAL PREVIOUS YEAR'S, INCLUDING 2004. *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.