2004 Mercury Mountaineer Body & Structure Problems

OPERATING THE TAILGATE WINDOW HINGES BROKE OFF SCREWS APPEARED TO HAVE SEVERE CORROSION VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY

REAR TAILGATE WINDOW HINGE BROKE WHILE HAVING THE WINDOW ONLY OPEN AND PUTTING AWAY GROCERIES. UPON CLOSING THE WINDOW, THE RIGHT HINGE BROKE CAUSING THE WINDOW TO ALMOST FALL OFF OF THE CAR. I ATTEMPTED, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM OTHERS IN THE PARKING LOT, TO PUSH THE WINDOW BACK INTO THE FRAME AND HAVE IT LOCK AT THE CENTER LATCH. THE LATCH IS NO LONGER ENGAGED AND I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PUSH ON THE WINDOW TO CONNECT WITH THE LATCH. I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DO SO. THE WINDOW IS AT A POINT WHERE IT COULD FALL OFF OF MY CAR. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR 2000-2003 VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. FORD IS NOT CARRYING OVER THE RECALL TO 2004 STATING THE DEFECT IS NOT THE SAME (WITH THE DETAILS) AS THE RECALL ITSELF. IT IS STILL THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART! I AM OF SHORT STATURE AND DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PUSH THE WINDOW THE 1" OR SO TO GET IT INTO THE FRAME TO LOCK SUCCESSFULLY. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR ADVICE BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD I WOULD NEED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I AM AT RISK OF HAVING THE WINDOW FALL OFF THE BACK OF MY CAR AND DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AT THIS TIME. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS NOTED FOR THIS EQUIPMENT FAILURE ON THIS SITE FOR THE 2004 MOUNTAINEER. JUST NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT. MY VEHICLE IS MY BREAD AND BUTTER IN ORDER TO WORK.

REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW HINGES RUSTED/CORRODED. HINGES HAVE BROKEN CAUSING WINDOW TO SHIFT AND MOVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT DISENGAGED AND THE GLASS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. ...UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF!..UPDATED 08/13/15 *BF UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN

REAR HATCH HINGE BROKE WHILE OPENING BACK GLASS OF HATCH, NEARLY FELL ON SPOUSE WHILE OPENING. *TR

PLASTIC/FIBERGLASS LIFTGATE CRACKED AROUND EMBLEM. THIS PROBLEM STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO AND HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED IN HALF. FORD EXPLORER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HALF OF IT FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN COMMUTE TRAFFIC....SEEMS THIS WOULD POTENTIALLY OPEN FAMILY MEMBER UP TO LEGAL LITIGATION IF THIS PART CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SIMILAR WITH DIFFERENT NAME PLATE. THIS IS THE SECOND VEHICLE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO IN OUR FAMILY. FIRST A FORD EXPLORER XLT AND NOW THE MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ELECTED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. BODY FLEX AT THE LIFTGATE CAUSES GREAT STRESS TO PLASTIC/FIBERGLASS LIFTGATES. JUST LOOK AROUND AT FORD AND MERCURY AND LOOK AT LIFT GATE.....NOT HARD TO MISS.... *TR

REAR HATCH HINGE BROKE WHILE CLOSING BACK GLASS OF HATCH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LATCH ON THE HATCH BACK FRACTURED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE DOOR AND THE DOOR CAME DOWN AND STRUCK HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.

INFO COPIED FROM WEBSITE IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS UNLOADING MY CAR IN MY GARAGE. THE BEST WE CAN TELL IS THAT THE RIGHT STRUT/ARM SEIZED AND THE HINGE PINS BROKE, CAUSING THE HATCH TO FALL OFF. WE DON'T HAVE IT IN THE SHOP YET. IT WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED. ********* NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : RQ08003NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : N/A VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): MERCURY / MOUNTAINEER 2004 MANUFACTURER(S) : FORD MOTOR COMPANY COMPONENT(S) : STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR SUMMARY: THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 23, 2008, BASED ON 34 COMPLAINTS INVOLVING EIGHT INJURIES IN WHICH THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH ON MODEL YEAR 2004 FORD EXPLORERS OR MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS BROKE OFF AND FELL, USUALLY WHILE INDIVIDUALS WERE OPERATING THE GLASS HATCH OR LOADING OR UNLOADING ITEMS FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. FORD CONDUCTED RECALL 04V-442 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON MODEL YEAR 2002 AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 FORD EXPLORERS AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. THE INFORMATION FORD PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER INDICATED THAT FAILURES WITH 2004 VEHICLES WERE PRIMARILY LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH HINGE FAILURES RELATED TO CORROSION AT THE HINGE PIN, WHEREAS THE FAILURES THAT PROMPTED THE RECALL WITH THE EARLIER MODELS WERE PRIMARILY RELATED TO PROBLEMS WITH THE GLASS HATCH'S STRUTS OR FRACTURE OF A PRIOR HINGE DESIGN AT THE BOSS/BOLT CONNECTION AT THE GLASS. ODI'S REVIEW OF FORD'S WARRANTY, COMPLAINT, AND INJURY DATA FOR THE 2004 VEHICLES INDICATES THAT THESE RATES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THOSE FOR THE RECALLED POPULATION. A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AS NECESSARY. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. *TR

EVERY TIME IT RAINS, EVEN JUST A SPRINKLE, WATER COMES IN FROM TOP OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR/ROOF. IT ALSO COMES IN THROUGH THE DOME LIGHT AND VISOR. MY FLOORBOARD IS FLOODED WITH WATER. I HAVE TRIED TO USE A CAR COVER AND IT DOES NOT WORK. I CAN NOT AFFORD AT THIS TIME TO BRING INTO A DEALERSHIP. THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO DESTROY THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGES WERE FRACTURED AND AS A RESULT, THE LIFT GATE FELL ONTO THE CONTACTS RIGHT FOOT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

REAR HATCH PANEL CRACKED AND LARGE PIECE BROKE OFF AND BLEW INTO TRAFFIC. LUCKILY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WAS FAR ENOUGH BACK THAT THE PIECE DID NOT HIT THE CAR FOLLOWING. I HAD THIS PANEL REPLACED ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS DUE TO IT CRACKING. I BELIEVE IT MUST BE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE REAR HATCH PANEL THAT CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN 3 TIMES. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE THAT HOLDS THE LIFTGATE, CRACKED WHEN OPENING IT. THE SCREWS AR ALL STILL ATTACHED TO THE DOOR AND THE GLASS, AND THE ACTUAL HINGE FRACTURED AND SPLINTERED OFF. THE GLASS LIFTGATE IS NOW INOPERABLE AND HANGING BY A SINGLE HINGE. *TR

THE LEFT REAR HINGE PIN ON THE GLASS LIFT GATE FAILED. *TR

REAR LIFT GATE IS FRACTURED FROM THE WINDOW DOWN AROUND AND THROUGH THE EMBLEM. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE HINGE PIN ON THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW ON MY 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SNAPPED. FORTUNATELY, THE RIGHT SIDE HINGE HELD, PREVENTING THE ENTIRE WINDOW FROM FALLING TO THE GROUND. I DID MANAGE TO GET IT CLOSED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE LIFT GATE SLIPPED DOWNWARD FROM ITS PROPER POSITION. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE ADDED STRESS COULD EASILY BREAK THE OTHER HINGE. *TR

WAS LOOKING AT MY VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED THE CRACK FROM THE TOP TO BOTTOM OF LIFT GATE, NEXT TO MERCURY EMBLEM. NO ACCIDENT OR COLLISION, IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER READING ONLINE THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME EXACT OCCURRENCE ON THE LIFT GATES OF FORDS, MERCURY AND LINCOLNS. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL IN FAIRNESS SO THAT WE MAY ALL HAVE OUR VEHICLES REPAIRED!

AS I WENT TO SHUT THE BACK LIFT GATE WINDOW HATCH, THE HINGE BROKE LEAVING THE WINDOW TO FALL. LUCKILY I CAUGHT IT, BUT IT CAME DOWN HARD. THE SHEAR PIN BROKE STRAIGHT OFF. *TR

REAR HATCH BACK GLASS BODY-SIDE HINGE BROKE ON RIGHT SIDE IN NORMAL OPENING OF GLASS. HINGE IS COMPOSED OF A BLACK PLASTIC OR NYLON RETAINING CLIP WITH A METAL PIN. THE PLASTIC APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED FROM FATIGUE. RECENT HIGH HEAT (100+ DEGREES FOR SEVERAL DAYS) MAY BE A FACTOR. PLASTIC BROKE THROUGH OVER THE PIN CHANNEL, ALLOWING THE PIN TO POP OUT. THE GLASS IS HEAVY AND TORQUED BY THE REMAINING HINGE AND TWO HYDRAULIC LIFTS. NO INJURIES, BUT EASILY COULD HAVE FALLEN, BROKE OR SHATTERED ON THE OPERATOR. THE HEAVY GLASS IS A DANGER ESPECIALLY TO CHILDREN OR SMALLER ADULTS. THE OPERATOR FORTUNATELY HAD A WOOD SLAT IN THE BACK BIG ENOUGH TO PROP UP THE GLASS AND SUPPORT IT UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. EVEN WITH TWO ADULTS IT WAS HARD TO HOLD AND CONTROL THE GLASS TO CLOSE IT AND TAKE TO THE DEALER. RETENTION CLIP REALLY SHOULD HAVE EMBEDDED METAL REINFORCEMENT AROUND THE PIN.(THE LARGER EXPEDITION APPEARS TO HAVE JUST THAT IN THE EQUIVALENT PART.) READING ONLINE THERE ARE MANY CASES OF SIMILAR FAILURE THAT INCLUDED DAMAGE AND OR AT LEAST MINOR INJURIES. REPAIR WAS $270 AT A FORD DEALER. APPEARS TO BE COMMON ENOUGH FAILURE TO BE A DESIGN FLAW NOT TO BE REPEATED. ADMITTEDLY THIS APPEARED ON A HIGH MILEAGE NINE YEAR-OLD VEHICLE WHICH HAS OTHERWISE PROVIDED VERY GOOD SERVICE, BUT THE WEIGHT OF THE FALLING GLASS AND TORQUE INVOLVED WERE BOTH DANGEROUS AND COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY. OPERATOR FELT LUCKY TO CATCH AND CONTROL IT WITHOUT BREAKING THE GLASS OR GETTING HURT. *TR

CAME OUT ONE MORNING TO DISCOVER THE REAR HATCH HAD A CRACK AROUND THE EMBLEM OF MY 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND WAS NOT HIT OR INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. STARTED NOTICING THAT EVERY MERCURY MOUNTAINEER OF THE SAME BODY TYPE HAD SIMILAR CRACKS IN THE SAME LOCATION. CONTACTED FORD BUT DID NOT HAVE VIN #. EVENTUALLY CONTACTED FORD AGAIN WITH VIN # AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT FORD WAS NOT ACCEPTING ANY RESPONSIBILITY . I TOLD FORD THAT IT IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT TO NO AVAIL. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT IF THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND FORD SHOULD REPAIR THIS DEFECT. THE VALUE OF MY CAR HAS DECREASED BECAUSE OF THIS. I GOT A $500.00 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR IT BUT WAS TOLD IT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR