Complaints
220
Crashes
8
Fires
7
Injuries
11
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2003 Mercury Mountaineer Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#126 complaints
Body Structure
Avg mileage:87,128 mi
#219 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:57,356 mi
Crash-related:3
#315 complaints
Transmission / Drivetrain
Avg mileage:127,280 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Structure | 26 | — | — | 87,128 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 19 | 3 | — | 57,356 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 15 | 1 | 1 | 127,280 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate | 15 | — | — | 61,686 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 10 | — | — | 75,825 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 9 | — | — | 79,886 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | — | 1 | 94,850 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 6 | — | — | 78,531 mi | |
| Airbags | 5 | — | — | 129,922 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 5 | — | 1 | 75,250 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | — | — | 96,419 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments | 5 | — | — | 60,374 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | — | — | 83,226 mi | |
| Suspension:Rear | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl) | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — |
Body Structure
26
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,128
Automatic Transmission
19
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
57,356
Transmission / Drivetrain
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
127,280
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,686
Electrical Faults
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,825
Structural Problems
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,886
Unintended Acceleration
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
94,850
Engine & Cooling
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,531
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
129,922
Hydraulic Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
75,250
Steering Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,419
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,374
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
83,226
Suspension:Rear
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mercury Mountaineer Years
2003 Mercury Mountaineer — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2003 Mercury Mountaineer has 220 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Body Structure with 26 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer?
Top reported problems: Body Structure (26 complaints, avg 87,128 mi); Automatic Transmission (19 complaints, avg 57,356 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (15 complaints, avg 127,280 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 83,545 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer?
NHTSA complaints for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer include 8 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mercury Mountaineer reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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