2001 Mercury Mountaineer Reliability Score: 9.3 out of 10

22 NHTSA Complaints

4 Recalls

1 Fire Reports

2 Crash Reports

Reliability Score

9.3 / 10

Reliability score

Very few owner complaints against similar compact sedans

A score of 7.0 means as many complaints as similar vehicles. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Owners filed 2 powertrain complaints. A typical compact sedan fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 14.

Scores this high have held: three years on they had moved 0.1 points in the typical case.

Breakdown

Complaints overall2 complaints against about 14 for similar vehicles

9.3

Last three years

n/aNot enough data

Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced

n/aNot enough data

Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating

n/aNot enough data

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is 7.0, as many complaints as similar vehicles. A line shows a number once similar vehicles would draw at least 5 of its complaints (20 for the last three years).

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

On the record

No serious powertrain recall covering 5% or more of this generation and no escalated investigation in NHTSA's files. Warranty extensions and settlements have not been researched.

Complaints by Engine Code

Every complaint of any kind (brakes, airbags, electrical and the rest) whose VIN names the engine, across all model years. The score above counts only engine, transmission and drivetrain complaints, so its figures for the same engine are smaller. Fire, injury and death figures count complaints that report one.

5.0-V8-Gas

5.0L 8-cyl / 215 hp

13 complaints 13.0 per year Gasoline

View details

Complaint Breakdown

body

suspension

brakes

other

interior

Show 2 additional engine variants with limited data

These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints. A low count can mean a clean record, and it can also be a VIN-decode anomaly in NHTSA's data.

Mercury Mountaineer Unidentified Engine

7 complaints 7.0 per year

1 fire report

View details

Complaint Breakdown

wheels tires

body

interior

other

engine

4.0-V6-Gas

4.0L 6-cyl / 207 hp

2 complaints 2.0 per year Gasoline

View details

Complaint Breakdown

interior

suspension

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Mercury Mountaineer, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Body/Trim: 5 owner complaints

Recalls (4)

07V336000Aug 3, 2007serious

Vehicle Speed Control

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

06E056000Jun 13, 2006serious

Fuel System

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.

03V281000Aug 5, 2003serious

Seats

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.

03V280000Aug 5, 2003cosmetic

Vehicle Speed Control

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL AND 4.0L SOHC ENGINES, IF THE STRAND COVER ON THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE BECOMES FLARED AT THE END, THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE MAY BIND WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS ACTIVATED.

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall Not Rated

Frontal Crash

—

Side Crash

—

Rollover

2/5

ESC: No FCW: No LDW: No

Overall Not Rated

Frontal Crash

—

Side Crash

—

Rollover

2/5

ESC: No FCW: No LDW: No

All Generations

20002000 20012001 2nd2002-2010

Alternatives in Compact Sedan

2 engines / 1,029 complaints

3 engines / 16 complaints

4 engines / 62 complaints

Lexus

2014-2025

9.5/10

5 engines / 177 complaints

1 engine / 285 complaints

2 engines / 132 complaints

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2001-2001 Mercury Mountaineer complaints?

Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001-2001 Mercury Mountaineer. The systems they name most often are the body and trim, the suspension and the interior.

Is the 2001-2001 Mercury Mountaineer a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001-2001 Mercury Mountaineer. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001-2001 Mercury Mountaineer have?

NHTSA has 22 owner complaints on file for the 2001-2001 Mercury Mountaineer as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2001-2001 Mercury Mountaineer?

NHTSA lists 4 recalls covering some 2001-2001 Mercury Mountaineer vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.

What should I check before buying a used Mercury Mountaineer?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the body and trim, the suspension and the interior, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Mountaineer?

The 2001 Mercury Mountaineer received an overall N/A-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: N/A stars. Side crash: N/A stars. Rollover: 2 stars. Electronic Stability Control: No. Forward Collision Warning: No. Lane Departure Warning: No. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 22 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: low. Last updated: 2026-10-18.