I just finished getting gas. I turned on the ignition and put the car in reverse and the gear shift snapped off in my hand. It is just dangling. I had to put the emergency brake on and turn the car off immediately so that it would roll back and crash into someone else car or just a pedestrian. I paid to have the car towed to my home for $59. Upon going home, I called several Ford dealerships who clearly were familiar with the problem because I was given a quote for the part and labor immediately after I told them about the issue. I took it one step further and went online to check for recalls. There weren't any recalls however, I have read several forums online and this seems to be an ongoing issue with the 2002 Mercury Mountaineer and 2002 Ford Explorer. This is ridiculous and I am outraged and I feel Ford needs to take ownership regarding this issue.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

Changing gear and gear shift broke off in hand.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

Drove to grocery store and attempted to place car in park and unable to get it into park. It will go in every other gear but will not go into park. Already had to replace gear shift after the gear shift arm broke off in my hand while trying to get it out of park a few months ago. Now looking at more money on this piece of junk car. Now must leave car in gear and leave keys in the car. This is just an accident waiting to happen with young children around.

- Spokane, WA, USA

2002 Mercury Mountaineer - drove my daughter to school and parked the car. Came back a few minutes later to go home. Started the car and found that the SUV was stuck in park. Tried to push break and pull back gear shift to place car in drive and the gear shift broke in hand. Currently at shop. Told car will need entire new steering column. Also SUV has been having problems shifting. Major delay when placed into gear until it actually goes in gear. There is usually a pause and then car will jerk into place.

- Spokane, WA, USA

I was parked in the driveway at my babysitter's home. I attempted to put the car from park to reverse and the entire gear shift lever fell off in my hand. I had no warning of any problem prior to this happening and was very much shocked that I could break in two a metal object in a car that should last for many many years. At the time this problem occurred the vehicle had approximately 65,000 miles on it. This problem seems to be happening again, even after having the part replaced by gary crossley Ford in Liberty, mo. I am much more aware now of the problems that can happen and am noticing wear on the rubber casing around the gear shift lever. I do not want this problem to happen again to any one. It was very distressing to have the gear shift lever fall off!

- Liberty, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle began to jump and vibrate violently. The wheel bearings were replaced twice in eight months and a local mechanic also performed a diagnostic test. The mechanic removed the drive shaft because it caused the vehicle to stay in 4 wheel drive consistently which was why the vehicle experienced an uneven ride. The contact was concerned because the vehicle needed four wheel drive in the winter. The failure mileage was 90000 and the current mileage was 118000.

- Clayton, NC, USA

I had driven my 2002 Mountaineer to work, I gently pulled back on the gear shift, to put it into park, and it broke off in my hand. I had to leave it in drive and also had to leave my keys in the car. I didn't really worry about it being stolen because it won't go anywhere. I feel that Ford should have put a recall on this model of Mountaineer, do to so many problems. Transmissions, auto windows, gear shifts, wheel welds, and now a fire may start in the car even if it's not running. Really, I guess we will have to wait till one of them blows up, killing someone, before Ford will listen.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

Gear shift lever broke out of steering column. Totally broken metal piece.

- Bellevue, ID, USA

Transmission slips on my 2002 Mercury Mountaineer 6 cylinder AWD. There is a common problem with this transmission throughout 2002 Mercury Mountaineer owners. Why has there been no recall on this transmission.

- Dorchester, MA, USA

The issue with my car the transmission I was driving it one the interstate when I started to her a roar coming from my engine and that when I noticed my RPM was off the chart and I started to go slower by the minute and as I called up my mechanic he said it was my transmission and being from another state and only having 100 bucks in the pocket is not good so now im stuck in a town with no job now needing to get my transmission fixed and not having a car to drive I cant get a job not having a job makes me lose my car and having no home left for me that's just not right Ford should B the ones in my shoes.

- Rogers, AR, USA

2002 Mercury Mountaineer - gear shift mechanism failed when trying to shift out of park. Vehicle repaired by billy-howel Ford Lincoln Mercury, cumming, Georgia.

- Cumming, GA, USA

2002 Mercury Mountaineer transmission failure! common problem and should be a factory recall. Thousands to repair!!!!!

- Sandy Hook, CT, USA

Rear wheel bearings failing for a second time. First time was on 3/15/08.

- Coldwater, OH, USA

After reading other complaints regarding 2002 Mountaineer and Explorer, I can hardly type I am so frustrated. The number of power train complaints for this year, make and model are astounding. The transmission in my 2002 Mountaineer (aka money sucker) needs to be replaced. The car is currently being fixed at the Ford dealer for $3500. The car has always had a funny shutter when shifting from 2nd to 3rd as well as hesitation when dropping into reverse and drive. While driving in icy conditions yesterday my wife thought her tires were spinning when she was trying to proceed at a stop light. She thankfully avoided being rear ended by a semi that was able to swerve onto the apron and avoid contact with her. She was able to limp the car to the side of the road where she then called me. After I arrived, I attempted to get the car to the Ford dealership where it could be diagnosed. However, the car would only reach 30mph and the rpms were at 4,000 to 5,000 at that speed. The overdrive light flashed and the check engine light came on. I parked it and removed the battery cables for 10 minutes to see if the computer would reset itself " this did not help. In fact, the car would not even move in drive or reverse. Had the dealer pick it up to get it fixed. This car has 108,000 miles on it ? not exactly knew this is true, but it sounds like I was one of the lucky ones to get that many miles out of it " from the reports I've read on the internet. Have also experienced and replaced front left bearings, rear left bearing and have the problem with the steering that many have reported on this vehicle (binding, tension, can't make full turns, popping sounds).

- Mendota, IL, USA

Bought used from a dealer 10-05 with 71328 miles. Checked out by mechanic. No problems w/ drive train, tranny, or suspension, except to change fluids in differentials (rear & front). Did this first week we owned it & water found in rear differential. 1st owner's records came with car. All services were done (no mention of problems). I serviced it every 2-3000 miles. On 4-27-06 the tranny flushed, & the rear differential & transfer case serviced. Mileage was 85857. 2 new tires put on front on 5-25-06 (flat tire). On way home (18 mi. Into 35 mi. Drive), front end started to fail. Couldn't find source of leaking fluid. Drive home. Next morning, tried to return to mechanic with car. Made it about 25 of the 35 miles to town before front end failed. Mechanic showed us the gears from the differential--the "teeth" were sheared completely off 1/3 of it--remaining teeth sheared down by at least 50%. front differential was replaced, also 4 ball joints, seals for both shafts, brake pads (from differential fluid damage) were replaced. All 4 wheels had bearings repacked. 2 more tires bought. Within 1 week, began hearing noise again from drive train. Car back at mechanic on 6-20-06. The noise now from rear transfer case. It was flushed 2 times (fluid filled with fine metal fragments). The rear differential fluid also changed. Mechanic said 4-6 months until rear end failed. I've now lost the rear end--also have to replace all 4 sets of wheel bearings & replace all axles. Will re-assess front differential after rear is fixed. We've contacted Ford, no recalls for our car. They'll not make any repairs or reimburse for faulty equipment. I'm not original owner & warranty has expired. It doesn't qualify for state lemon law (mileage). There's at least 31 problems and 18 complaints on your website that I've had in the 1 year since I bought this car. This is a Ford issue. I just want to re-coup my $4000+ in repair costs & trade it off for a non-Ford SUV.

- Broadview, MT, USA

2002 2002 Mercury Mountaineer developed problems with the transmission. The transmission did not shift smoothly, but would hang up. The transmission would not shift from 2nd to 3rd gear without the consumer taking his foot off the gas and the engine would race to high RPM's.

- Villa Park, CA, USA

This is a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer with a V8 engine. The vehicle accelerates on its own with no driver input from a stop. It lurches both in drive and in reverse.

- Naperville, IL, USA

Drive train vibration.

- Cabot, AR, USA