2002 Mercury Mountaineer AWD V8 - approximately January and May 2009 both rear hub bearings went bad at 87,000 and 90,000 miles, both sets of emergency brake shoes were disintegrated when taken off. Rear coil springs are broken. Front differential box has leaked for some time now. Rear end axle seal has been leaking for some time now. Going on 4th set of brakes on front. June 2010 at 109,000 miles transmission finally went out - after acting up from time of purchase at 37,000 miles - it would slip when put in drive at first morning startup and would jerk erratically at low speeds - we have never pulled anything with vehicle.

- Lucasville, OH, USA

Right rear parking brake pad fell apart as mechanic was attempting to do a rear brake job. Was told this was a common problem in both 2002 through 2004 Mercury Mountaineer and Ford Explorer. Can't believe a parking brake pad would just fall apart in pieces when the parking brake is never used.

- Shelbyville, KY, USA

I heard a scraping noise in the right rear brake when backing out of the garage, similar to the sound given when brake replacement was required. I took the 2002 Mountaineer to a certified mechanic for brake replacement. When the right rear rotor was pulled the front parking brake pad fell out. On inspection the metal area that attached the pad to the brake mechanism rusted through, allowing the pad to fall freely into the drum. The mechanic said the pad scrapping the drum when I was backing out of the garage was the noise I was hearing and it rotated with the wheel. He said the car could not pass NY state inspection because the emergency brake would not hold the car when applied, rendering the brake unusable in an emergency, and demonstrated that to me. My wife has driven the car 98% of the time since I purchased it new in January 2003. She never engaged the parking brake so the emergency brake pads, though rusty, were in good shape.

- Elmira Heights, NY, USA

2002 Mountaineer stalls, transmission control assembly, main control valve, and gasket had to be replaced. The lift gate was sticking, and while closing it, the glass shattered, the glass was recalled, and was suppose to have been fixed. The oil light illuminated. The trim on the front door fell off while driving. There was a grinding noise coming from the rear wheels, it was determined that there was severe rust on the brake componets, the park brake shoes fell apart due to corrosion, the rear wheel bearing and knuckle assembly had excessive rust.

- Silverdale, WA, USA