Operating the tailgate window hinges broke off screws appeared to have severe corrosion vehicle was stationary

- Chicago, IL, USA

1. paint coming off of roof and driver's door. 2. rear passenger side and driver side power windows not working. 3. cracks in plastic area of rear lift gate around wiper arm. 4. almost lost control and potential accident on interstate when right rear wheel came loose.

- Harlan, IA, USA

Rear tailgate window hinge broke while having the window only open and putting away groceries. Upon closing the window, the right hinge broke causing the window to almost fall off of the car. I attempted, with assistance from others in the parking lot, to push the window back into the frame and have it lock at the center latch. The latch is no longer engaged and I have attempted to push on the window to connect with the latch. I am not strong enough to do so. The window is at a point where it could fall off of my car. There was a recall on this part for 2000-2003 vehicles of this make and model. Ford is not carrying over the recall to 2004 stating the defect is not the same (with the details) as the recall itself. It is still the same defective part! I am of short stature and do not have the strength to push the window the 1" or so to get it into the frame to lock successfully. I have contacted my local Ford dealership for advice but have been told I would need to pay out of pocket. I am at risk of having the window fall off the back of my car and do not currently have the money to pay for this repair at this time. There have been several complaints noted for this equipment failure on this site for the 2004 Mountaineer. Just not sure what to do next. My vehicle is my bread and butter in order to work.

- Westport, MA, USA

The rear liftgate cracked near the Mercury emblem. This occurred about two years after purchasing the vehicle new. I took it to two different Ford dealerships and was told by both the Ford would not fix this problem on the 2004. One stated the 2003 model had the same problem, but that Ford repaired those. I did not receive a response to my email I sent to Ford. This is a substantial expense to the owners of this vehicle. If you look around you can tell if you are behind a 2004 Explorer or mountianeer, they all will have at least one crack around the emblem.

- Goodlettsville, TN, USA

Rear lift gate window hinges rusted/corroded. Hinges have broken causing window to shift and move.

- Seymour, CT, USA

Transmission solenoids three times, paint coming off, passenger seat trim came off, cracked rear lift gate, passenger front and rear door windows, and driver side rear door window do not work.

- Harlan, IA, USA

I took my children to daycare came home and parked in the driveway. I came back out two minutes later and there is glass all over. The back hatch window exploded, it looks like it got really hot as some of the plastic trim is melted.

- Gilbertsville, PA, USA

Rear hatch hinge broke while opening back glass of hatch, nearly fell on spouse while opening.

- Fairfield, CA, USA

Plastic/fiberglass liftgate cracked around emblem. This problem started a few years ago and has completely cracked in half. Ford Explorer had the same problem and half of it flew off while driving vehicle in commute traffic....seems this would potentially open family member up to legal litigation if this part caused an accident. This is an ongoing problem with this vehicle and similar with different name plate. This is the second vehicle that this has happened to in our family. First a Ford Explorer XLT and now the Mercury Mountaineer. Ford is aware of this problem and has elected to address this issue. Body flex at the liftgate causes great stress to plastic/fiberglass liftgates. Just look around at Ford and Mercury and look at lift gate.....not hard to miss....

- Fairfield, CA, USA

Info copied from website is what happened to me while I was unloading my car in my garage. The best we can tell is that the right strut/arm seized and the hinge pins broke, causing the hatch to fall off. We don't have it in the shop yet. It will have to be towed. ********* NHTSA action number : rq08003nhtsa recall campaign number : N/a vehicle make / model: Model year(s): Mercury / Mountaineer 2004 manufacturer(s) : Ford Motor Company component(s) : structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device visibility:glass, side/rear summary: This investigation was opened on June 23, 2008, based on 34 complaints involving eight injuries in which the rear liftgate glass hatch on model year 2004 Ford Explorer or Mercury Mountaineer broke off and fell, usually while individuals were operating the glass hatch or loading or unloading items from the rear of the vehicle. Ford conducted recall 04V-442 in 2004 to address similar problems on model year 2002 and certain model year 2003 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer. The information Ford provided in response to ODI's information request letter indicated that failures with 2004 vehicles were primarily liftgate glass hatch hinge failures related to corrosion at the hinge pin, whereas the failures that prompted the recall with the earlier models were primarily related to problems with the glass hatch's struts or fracture of a prior hinge design at the boss/bolt connection at the glass. ODI's review of Ford's warranty, complaint, and injury data for the 2004 vehicles indicates that these rates are significantly lower than those for the recalled population. A potential defect trend has not been identified at this time. ODI will continue to monitor complaints and take appropriate action as necessary. This investigation is closed.

- Blaine, WA, USA

Was looking at my vehicle when I noticed the crack from the top to bottom of lift gate, next to Mercury emblem. No accident or collision, it was sitting in my driveway. After reading online there are numerous reports of the same exact occurrence on the lift gates of Ford, Mercury and Lincoln. Please issue a recall in fairness so that we may all have our vehicles repaired!

- Palacios, TX, USA

On the liftgate, cracked between bottom of glass and the edge of the window hatch. It cracked after a few years, and continues to deteriorate. Now we have constant warning beeps, this is a real problem.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the rear lift gate hinges were fractured and as a result, the lift gate fell onto the contacts right foot. The contact was not taken to the hospital. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for inspection of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 96,000.

- Los Banos, CA, USA

Rear hatch panel cracked and large piece broke off and blew into traffic. Luckily traffic behind me was far enough back that the piece did not hit the car following. I had this panel replaced on two prior occasions due to it cracking. I believe it must be due to a defective design in the rear hatch panel that caused it to happen 3 times.

- Clearwater, FL, USA

I purchased a 2004 Mercury Mountaineer first the rear liftgate plastic broke and there's a crack by the emblem on some occasions when put in reverse it makes a loud bang noise or when starting to accelerate but the biggest problem is that on the highway up to 50mph and over there seems to be a rattle under the engine and it gets louder when mph is higher im not sure what it is but im really worried that it maybe a transmission problem and if this problem isn't recalled me and my family plus others are in really big danger its a family car so im starting to worry for my family and there safety these vehicles need to go on inspection and soon so these doesn't lead to any accidents.

- Blue Island , IL, USA

Premature rusting and paint bubbling on rear quarter panel under fueling door (continues to get worse.) I have observed several other Lincoln/Mercury vehicles with same problem....updated 12/09/15

- Detroit, MI, USA

The left rear hinge pin on the glass lift gate failed.

- Des Moines: , IA, USA

Rear lift gate is fractured from the window down around and through the emblem. There is no recall for this problem.

- Clifton, CO, USA

The hinge pin on the rear lift gate window on my 2004 Mercury Mountaineer snapped. Fortunately, the right side hinge held, preventing the entire window from falling to the ground. I did manage to get it closed despite the fact that the entire lift gate slipped downward from its proper position. This seems like a very dangerous defect, especially since the added stress could easily break the other hinge.

- Mokena, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the rear lift gate was fractured around the emblem up to the middle of the rear window. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the failure. The manufacturer was notified who stated there was no recall and to contact NHTSA. The failure mileage was 63,725. Updated 03/01/13

- Williamsburg, PA, USA