AI Damage2003 Ford Mountaineer: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Ford Mountaineer filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about latches, locks, linkages and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Latches, locks, linkages 33% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 33% of all complaints
- Latches, locks, linkages: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Abs light comes on and goes off. Brakes are starting to fail when light is off, not when the abs light is on. I am going to take it to the dealership for inspection.
2003 mercury mountaineer has rear differential issues. Loud humming coming from back end. Potential failure is possible at anytime which can result in locking of back wheel.
This week the latch broke on the outside of the window and the glass fell again. Lincoln mercury dealer in hyannis charged me for the part! This all is directly related to the earlier recall I would believe. The dealer says no.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mountaineer has 5 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford Mountaineer?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: latches, locks, linkages, service brakes, suspension. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (33%), windows, sunroof (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Ford Mountaineer?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2003 Ford Mountaineer from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2003 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.