NHTSA Complaint #10172051 — 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER

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. *NM