I have owned my 1997 Mercury Mountaineer since 1998. Within a year after purchase one of the rear door mechanisms broke. Since it is rare for anyone to ride in the back seat, I didn't bother fixing it. This past weekend the other side broke. It is impossible for a rear passenger to exit the vehicle in an emergency without someone opening the doors from outside. I noticed this same complaint has been filed in your database by numerous customers. I phoned Ford/Mercury at their toll free number and was told there was no factory recall on this issue. I phoned my local dealer and was told this was a reoccuring problem with my model vehicle and that Ford had made design changes to subsequent model years but had refused to recall the earlier models. This is a danger to anyone riding in the back seat of these vehicles, as the door breaks without warning. When you try to exit you just can't. once again, Ford has received numerous complaints and has refused to act in the welfare of its customers.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

Pulling handle on either door while locked will not unlock door. Instead handle breakage is likely to occur, trapping occupants inside vehicle. This has happened to me on two separate occasions. Door can only be opened from exterior of vehicle afterwards.

- Trumbull, CT, USA

Rear driver's side automatic door locks when vehicle is in gear. Door locks, and has to be opened from the outside in order to get out of vehicle. Dealer has not seen vehicle.

- New Boston, NH, USA

Two rear doors won't open from the inside. Handles stick out and wont move from the outside. In event of an emergency occupant may be stuck. Common problem.

- Walerboro, SC, USA

The back doors lock automatically, the inside doors handles on both sides have broken, and no one in the back seat can get out of the vehicle without opening the door from the outside. If the vehicle caught fire, no one in the back could get out quickly.

- Kimball, TN, USA