3rd Dec 2008, 15:01
Following up to my previous comment, YET AGAIN another costly expense. My heater core has to be replaced (price tag of $800). Sad thing is, I love the way this vehicle drives in the winter (I live in the lovely midwest) and it is very roomy.. But what's next? With all of the comments on replaced trannys, bearings, I will be in the poorhouse if I keep this lemon!
This hunk of metal isn't worth all of the expense. I was raised to only buy American, but at this rate, my next purchase will be from across seas. I support America to the fullest but this is ridiculous!! Now I know why I hear this phrase too often.. FORD = Fixed or Repaired DAILY!!!
4th Dec 2008, 13:19
Wow, I'm really surprised! I have a 2002 Ford Explorer, which I thought was essentially the same vehicle as the Mountaineer, and I have had 0 problems with it and it just passed 100,000 miles. I get all the regularly scheduled maintenance done, like transmission fluid/filter changes, cooling system flushes, etc., so maybe that helps.
7th Dec 2008, 21:35
I too have an '02 Mountaineer. I have loved it for the past 5 years. After I had it for about 2 weeks, I had (surprise) transmission problems. It felt like someone hitting you in the rear, very hard shift. I took it back to the dealer and they "reprogrammed" the transmission. Over the next 5 years I felt this problem maybe 1/2 a dozen times until one day... I had that hard shift & then my car would not go over 20 mph. I have 76,000 miles. I went to a guy who has been fixing transmissions for 23 years and found out about the flaw in these transmissions. he has rebuilt 7 of them (only 2 have held up) My choice was a new one from Ford (with all the updates they now have) for $2600.00 plus labor of $1200.00 or rebuilt mine and take my chances for $2000.00. I had no choice but to go for the cheapest way I could. I have a 1 year warranty, so I guess I'll have to dump it in 11 months...
10th Dec 2008, 18:57
I have said vehicle, bought late 01. It now has about 89000 on it.
I have replaced the brakes, tires, did olf as recommended, the shocks, the springs rear and the passenger side F R bearings and the ABS sensor light is still on. Only 3 more to go according to the book.
I do want the ABS to work, which it doesn't, but I still like the vehicle. I know there are going to be repairs and recalls, but overall my vehicle's American; they all are doing good. Some family members have foreign and they're about the same. Remember, the more the weight in a vehicle, the more the problems you will encounter (shorter life span)
31st Dec 2008, 10:25
The transmission on our 02 Mountaineer died the day before we were to trade it in for an 09 Honda Pilot. Thank the good lord it happened around the corner from our home. The truck had 56K miles and had been a problem from 25K miles onward. Broken springs, tranny slippage and shuddering.
Wake up Detroit. I feel for the American auto workers. The companies they work for have no problem trying to sell substandard vehicles. I'm happy that our new Honda was assembled in Alabama.
31st Dec 2008, 17:45
I bought my 2002 Mountaineer brand new and have not had a problem with it until a rear seal bearing leak at 80,000 miles. At 101,000 miles though, the overdrive light came on and the overdrive kicked out on the way back home from a trip. When we arrived back home, the transmission started slipping and first gear would take too long to shift into next gear. Didn't realize there were so many problems with this transmission until I researched after my problem. My transmission is being rebuilt at the cost of 2600.00 dollars. Just hope the transmission will hold out for another 100,000 miles without any more problems as I really have enjoyed this vehicle.
22nd Jan 2009, 23:11
We purchased our 2002 Mercury Mountaineer in 04 with 30,000 miles on it. It now has over 90,000 mile on it and the only thing that I have had to repair on it was a rear wheel bearing. After reading these horror stories, I think it is time to trade it in.
10th Feb 2009, 15:08
I too have a 02 Mountaineer bought with 30,000 miles on it in 03. I love my truck, even with the small problems.
I have had a lot of the same problems, ABS light has been on for over a year. Lived in Ohio, so of course had the cold weather, and at five in the morning on my way to work, I had to drive with my frozen door strapped in with my seat belt because the door would not close. I found out though even after running the car for a half hour, and still froze, that if I slammed it hard enough it closed! Had the rear hinge replaced, twice.
Drive north and truck tells me I am driving south, but I know where I am.
My air conditioning went out. Had to replace it for 1100 with only one year warranty.
And just before Christmas of 08, my trans did go out too. The only difference is I have over 130,000 miles on my truck. My problem was that when I told Ford dealership that my trans was slipping and I wanted it flushed, the service told me to wait because it was a sealed trans and not to worry until I really had problems.
Anyway, we are waiting to put my truck in the shop because my husband just found work and we know we would not be able to handle the big fix it bill. On the other hand my husband has a 300, and has had problems since it was pulled off the lot, including brakes; took it back twice for that, and they are still making noise, bought the car in August and the first heavy snowfall his sunroof broke in on him! The sensor for his trans went out on a 2000 mile trip, so we were stuck in a hotel because the closest dealer was closed all weekend. This car has less than 40,000 miles what next?
I will stick with Ford; even with my problems, I love my truck!
2nd Dec 2008, 13:58
I also own a 2002 Mountaineer AWD V8. I bought it used three years ago. A couple of months after I bought it my Ford Dealer rebuilt transmission at 60,000 miles under warranty. I told my wife to dump it then but she didn't and guess what? The transmission is toast again at 100,000 miles and I still owe a few grand on my loan. arrgghh. I have also replaced rear wheel bearings and shaft seals. Starting to make that familiar rumble noise again (wheel bearings again most likely).
My dad taught me to buy American and I have up till now but I'm frustrated. Hopefully our government won't bail out the car manufacturers, and a new American car manufacturer will emerge by building reliable products.