7.6
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $520
- Average Mileage:
- 80,550 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 22 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (18 reports)
- repair/replace by factory (4 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Mercury dealer.
If broke once ok, but this panel has been a pain. I am going on to my fifth replacement. I have had them crack and fall off, blow off and just crack and look like crap. I see that I am not alone. Everyone I see on the road has that same crack, tell tale of what year it is. Ford should have changes the lift gate to make this right. I now own a foreign suv and love it. I only use the Mountaineer to haul garbage in.
- John B., Texas, US
IT 'S ABOUT TIME FORD TOOK CARE OF THIS PROBLEM!!!!
THE PRICE WE ALL PAY FOR THESE VEHICLES IS TERRIBLE! ANYWAY MY REAR PANEL BELOW WINDOW CRACKED FOR NO REASON. IT WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND IF IT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF JUST SHUTTING THE LID IT WAS DEFECTIVE MATERIAL ANYWAY. WHY WOULD A COMPANY USE BAD MATERIAL? I DEMAND FORD OR MERCURY TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR ALL THE CUSTOMERS THAT LIKE AND BUY THEIR VEHICLES
- bbauer, Scottsbluff, NE, US
My husband went back to the Mercury dealership and was told that this was not under warranty and he would have to pay to have it repaired. He did not have it repaired. We have had a problem with the lift gate not opening or closing properly and had to pay for that, as it was a safety issue.
- Betty D., Bronx, NY, US
So the back panel cracked over a year ago and became a danger to other drivers so I ended up having to take the whole thing off or risk it flying off and hitting the person behind me. So now my car looks like ass and the replacement part is expensive and doesn't even match the color of my car. TIME TO STEP UP FORD!!!!!!!
- Gina F., Arvada, CO, US
Every other car Explorer or Mountaineer from this time period has a cracked rear tailgate.
- Ryan M., Lakeville, MN, US
Butt Heads finally figured out design problem after two attempts and me telling them that the crack would open and close according to the weather. They finally affixed the plastic panel at the two ends rather then all across which had caused it to crack. Now in the summer time it bellys out and looks awful. The 2nd time it cracked I had to pay for but they just replaced the plastic. My Brother in VA has a 2002 Mountaineer V6 and the same thing happened to him. I prefer American products but my experience with Mecury/Ford will certainly keep me from ever doing business with them in the future. They knew it was a design flaw and took no responsibility for it. The Ford dealer in Kingsport TN replaced the battery when my Truck broke down, It was only 6 months old but he insisted and I had to be towed again. Took it to a local mechanic who replaced the Starter Motor and it never again broke down. So much for Ford/Mercury!!!
- James Y., Johnson City, TN, US
Disappointed in Ford Motor Company's inattention to this almost universal Explorer/Mountgaineer/Aviator problem.
- jphuffs, San Diego, CA, US
This is a faulty auto body component. Come on now. did not even happen when the window was being shut, just walked out one morning and saw this panel cracked in half. Manufacturer dealership has no reasonable solution except to buy a new one and have them install.
- conceptiej, Wyoming, MI, US
When I first bought my Mountaineer I had to replace the cracked rear back panel at the cost of $500. Now that panel, a couple of months ago, just flew off the car as I was driving down the road! There is an obvious flaw in these panels on Mountaineers and Explorers because everywhere I look I see either a crack in the panel, half the panel is missing or in my case just gone. Ford/Mercury should man up and recall these because it is obviously a widespread problem.
- Wendy R., Chapel Hill, TN, US
I got the Mountaineer from a car lot in Detroit Michigan in October of 2009. Was out of work and I found a job in Alabama. Traveling down to Alabama, I noticed that in my rear view mirror that it looked like I ran over something. When I got to Alabama I notice that the part under the rear window was completely gone. When to the local dealership to find out about how much it will cost and they told me that it would be 599 dollars, and he told me that they had lots of these coming back because of cracking in the middle. Before I put 600 dollars into a small peice of plastic I will look at junk yards to find a peice, I think this part should be recalled, so a lot of people would have a peace of mind.
- Daniel B., Huntsville, AL, US
In 2008 I was also told by my dealer that Ford will not cover the cost of repairing the cracked hatch on my 2002 Mountaineer. I'M PISSED AND HERE'S WHY. I've been a LOYAL FORD/MERCURY owner my ENTIRE LIFE, and I stress the words LOYAL and ENTIRE. Here we go.....I'm 47 years old and here are all of the cars I've owned in my life (including my wife and 2 children): 1963 Ford Falcon, 1965 Ford Fairlane, 1974 Mercury Comet, 1977 Ford Pinto, 1985 Ford F-150 Pick-Up Truck, 1992 Lincoln TownCar; 1997 Ford Probe, 2001 Lincoln Towncar; 2002 Mercury Mountaineer; 2009 Smart Car (my parents owned an LTD,a Comet, a Granada, a Taurus and an F-150). See a pattern here? After explaining this to both my local dealer as well as Ford Customer Service in 2008, I was told "we're sorry, there's nothing we can do." Well Ford, here's what I reluctantly CAN/MUST do: 1. NEVER EVER EVER purchase another Ford/Mercury/Lincoln/Mazda/Volvo (no chance I would've purchased an Aston Martin, Jaguar or Land Rover anyway). 2. TELL EACH AND EVERY one of my friends, relatives, business associates etc. about your complete lack of product quality and more importantly, your failure to stand behind your product. 3. START A FACEBOOK AND MYSPACE PAGE whose soul purpose is to unite fellow owners of these vehicles. 4. FOLLOW Up with the BBB regarding my complaint. Do you realize how this action (inaction more appropriately) has and will continue to erode you LOYAL customer base? DO YOU NOT GET IT..... All for a $ 300-$ 400 repair for a DESIGN flaw. And yes, that's why my 2009 purchase wasn't a Ford. Thanks for listening guys and good luck with your vehicles.
- Cynthia L., Mohrsville, PA, US
Problem started with one minor crack on the rear deck just below the window, around the emblem and has gotten progressively worse. There now are a half a dozen cracks across the back running vertically from the base of the tailgate window. The longest is about 3-4 inches long.
Contacted the local dealer some time ago and he said "Never seen that before!"
Called Ford Service center to see if anything can be done. They said not in warranty, no recalls ... Suggested a take it back to the dealer for a diagnosis ... at my expense by the way.
Have decided to leave it be for now. Will certainly take it into consideration on my next purchase.
Update from Nov 12, 2014: Gotten worse over time. Now the rear window rod has come loose from the rear window
- Alan H., Naples, FL, US
Can anyone tell me if ford is covering this problem??? I noticed I am not the only one this happened to.
- eprien, Rhinelander, WI, US
The rear panel below the window cracked, and it really looks awful.I'm hoping to get this fixed by the manufacture or dealer. I'm not sure if they even cover this problem, although I noticed there has been several complaint pertaining to this type of vehicle and it is an on going problem.
- Valerie M., Kalamazoo, MI, US
This is so severe that is has almost cracked all the way through, right by the mercury emblem. I'm actually afraid I'm going to find that it has fallen out one day. They did have a recall on the latch on this vehicle, but my issue. I'm not happy. I have also seen some Ford Explorers with the exact problem.
Also, it has electrical issues...weird things, it's like a haunted vehicle. For example, I can't turn the sound down on radio, the AC and fuel gauge not working, then working again spontaneously.
- jenningsga, Acworth, GA, US
Don't know how it happened, but I notice there are several with the same problem here. I also notice several on the road, now that I look. Now I know why the 2006 & up got rid of this panel. It cracks all the time! This is definitely a problem that Ford doesn't want to deal with, and more than likely CAN'T AFFORD to in this economy. Just sucks.
- Mike S., Largo, FL, US
click to see larger images
One day it was a bit loose by the right hand end, the next day half of it was gone!
What do I do? Apparently Explorers suffer from the same manufacturers problem.
Can we petition a re-call???
What's the name of the part? anyone?
- Ramon V., San Antonio, TX, US
I am very unhappy with the whole situation. It has made it very difficult daily to open and close the back door. I think Mercury should stand by their product and fix it.
- Pam K., San Jose, CA, US
When rear window recall was issued I got out of the habit of using the rear lift for a while. Now that I have started using, I noticed the cracking starting, it is now on both sides with another crack starting near the bottom. I went to a body shop they took a look and said that when repaired, apparently it had been tightened too tight. I am gonna contact the dealer that repaired however I am not sure what the outcome will be since it has been so long since they repaired. I will update you as to what happens. In any event, somebody (perhaps a recall notice from Ford) really should fix this.
Update from Apr 29, 2009: I have noticed numerous vehicles with this same problem. I contacted the dealer, who really could care less and said they had never heard of this.
Since then, I am sure I have seen thousands of vehicles of this type with the same cracking issue.
Isn't there something that can be done?
- Ann H., Raleigh, NC, US
The crack is getting worse. It's causing moisture and the back glass is gonna break.
- Daniel O., Imperial, US