IllustrationACCELERATOR: SPEED CONTROL CAR LURCHED OUT OF CONTROL IN REVERSE AND FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY. *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 reportsTHE PAINT ON THE ROOF OF MY 2005 MOUNTAINEER IS CRACKING AND FLAKING OFF IN CHUNKS. WHEN I NOTICED, IT WAS 3 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY. FORD ADMITTED IT WAS DEFECTIVE PAINT, BUT WILL ONLY REPAINT THE ROOF. THIS WOULD BE FINE, BUT THE COST WILL BE $980 AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY $200 OF IT. WHILE THIS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A BAD DEAL, THE P…
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THE PAINT ON THE ROOF OF MY 2005 MOUNTAINEER IS CRACKING AND FLAKING OFF IN CHUNKS. WHEN I NOTICED, IT WAS 3 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY. FORD ADMITTED IT WAS DEFECTIVE PAINT, BUT WILL ONLY REPAINT THE ROOF. THIS WOULD BE FINE, BUT THE COST WILL BE $980 AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY $200 OF IT. WHILE THIS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A BAD DEAL, THE POINT IS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BARELY OUT OF WARRANTY, I PAID FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (DOES NOT COVER PAINT), THE PAINT WAS DEFECTIVE ON FORD'S PART, AND THIS PROBLEM DID NOT JUST HAPPEN WITHIN THE THREE WEEKS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. IT WAS A PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM, BUT SINCE I'M SHORT, I DID NOT NOTICE THE ROOF OF MY VEHICLE. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE REST OF THE PAINT FLAKES OFF? FORD SAID IT WOULD HANDLE THAT IF IT HAPPENS. SO, I GUESS I JUST KEEP PAYING FOR A DEFECTIVE PAINT JOB OUT OF MY OWN POCKET BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT CORRECT ITS MISTAKES. KEEP IN MIND, THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND IS STORED IN A GARAGE BOTH AT HOME AND AT WORK. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND VERY POOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES SINCE 2006. THE FAILURE IS MOST COMMON WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE AND WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING DOES NO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES SINCE 2006. THE FAILURE IS MOST COMMON WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE AND WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 18, 2006, JANUARY 19, 2007, AND DECEMBER 4, 2007. ON EACH DATE, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE FOR THIRTY DAYS AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH FUEL IN THE TANK. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IF THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BEFORE ATTEMPTING A RESTART. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE. THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT FILED WITH NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,327 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 01/24/08 *BF UPDATED 01/24/08 *TR
REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID CAN BE DANGEROUS. I SEE THAT THESE FORD/MERCURY'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. COST TOO MUCH TO FIX, YET I HAVE WIFE AND KIDS IN THAT CAR. *TR
THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT. THE 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND IT ACCELERATED TO OVER 80 MPH. THE GAS PEDAL WAS PULLING ITSELF DOWN.*AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED TO AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,000.
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. ON 11/20/06 THE CONTACT'S HEATER ON/OFF SWITCH WOULDN'T ALLOW HER TO TURN THE HEATER OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. WHILE DRIVING ON 12/18/06 AT 3…
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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. ON 11/20/06 THE CONTACT'S HEATER ON/OFF SWITCH WOULDN'T ALLOW HER TO TURN THE HEATER OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. WHILE DRIVING ON 12/18/06 AT 35MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT READ CHECK ENGINE, LOW PRESSURE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON 1/19/07. EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT WAS USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AND FOUND THE VEHICLE TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE MECHANIC HAS ALSO DRIVEN THE VEHICLE TO DIAGNOSE IT SINCE THE LAST FAILURE AND HAS EXPERIENCED NO FAILURES. SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WOULD CONTACT HER RE: THE FAILURE AND AFTER THE INITIAL CONTACT, SHE HASN'T RECEIVED ANY CALLS FROM HIM. AFTER 15 TO 20 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION WITH A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IF THIS REOCCURS. THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. THE MECHANIC ALSO ASKED IF A LIGHT WAS PRESENT ON THE WINDSHIELD AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE DASH LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PRO…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE DASH LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER V6 WITH AWD WAS PLACED IN "PARK" , ENGINE TURNED OFF AND KEY REMOVED FROM IGNITION. THE CAR SLIPPED INTO REVERSE AND ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY STRIKING MAILBOXES ACROSS STREET. *JB
HAD WARPED ROTORS WITHIN FIRST 2,000 MILES. FORD WOULD ONLY GROUND ROTORS BUT DEALER REPLACED THEM AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOUD, THUMPING NOISE WHEN I AM MAKING A SHARP TURN TO LEFT OR RIGHT AT A VERY LOW SPEED. ALSO, OFTEN WHEN PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE MANY TIMES THERE IS A LARGE THUMP AND VEHICLE APPEARS TO S…
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HAD WARPED ROTORS WITHIN FIRST 2,000 MILES. FORD WOULD ONLY GROUND ROTORS BUT DEALER REPLACED THEM AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOUD, THUMPING NOISE WHEN I AM MAKING A SHARP TURN TO LEFT OR RIGHT AT A VERY LOW SPEED. ALSO, OFTEN WHEN PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE MANY TIMES THERE IS A LARGE THUMP AND VEHICLE APPEARS TO SHIFT HARD. FINALLY, WHEN STOPPED ON A STEEP HILL, AFTER REMOVING FOOT FROM BRAKE, VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS MANY TIMES. *JB
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.