Complaints
271
Crashes
20
Fires
2
Injuries
17
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2004 Mercury Mountaineer Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#139 complaints
Body Structure
Avg mileage:78,881 mi
#236 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:53,738 mi
Crash-related:3
#321 complaints
Transmission / Drivetrain
Avg mileage:168,571 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Structure | 39 | — | — | 78,881 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 36 | 3 | — | 53,738 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 21 | 1 | — | 168,571 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate | 18 | — | — | 56,498 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 18 | 3 | — | 79,264 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 14 | 1 | — | 84,683 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments | 14 | — | — | 74,214 mi | |
| Airbags | 9 | 2 | — | 112,429 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 9 | 1 | — | 72,424 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 8 | — | — | 104,283 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 7 | 1 | 1 | 65,976 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | 1 | — | 80,500 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | 1 | — | 73,129 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Driveline | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 | — | — | — |
Body Structure
39
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,881
Automatic Transmission
36
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
53,738
Transmission / Drivetrain
21
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
168,571
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
56,498
Unintended Acceleration
18
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,264
Electrical Faults
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,683
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,214
Airbags
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
112,429
Structural Problems
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,424
Engine Problems
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
104,283
Engine & Cooling
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
65,976
Steering Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,500
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,129
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Driveline
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Side/Rear Glass
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mercury Mountaineer Years
2004 Mercury Mountaineer — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2004 Mercury Mountaineer has 271 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Body Structure with 39 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer?
Top reported problems: Body Structure (39 complaints, avg 78,881 mi); Automatic Transmission (36 complaints, avg 53,738 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (21 complaints, avg 168,571 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 2004 Mercury Mountaineer?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 83,483 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer include 20 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 17 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 2004 Mercury Mountaineer have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2004 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 2004 Mercury Mountaineer?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.
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 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
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