2002 Ford Explorer vs 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Ford Explorer | 2002 Mercury Mountaineer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 3,294 | 372 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 258 | 247 |
| Investigations | 7 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 144 | 17 |
| Fire reports | 57 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–17 | 14–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 79,300 mi | 75,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Mercury Mountaineer |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 1,502 | 144 |
| Structure | 486 | 70 |
| Suspension | 421 | 36 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 163 | 33 |
| Air Bags | 162 | 20 |
| Steering | 155 | 23 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 152 | 18 |
| Electrical System | 148 | 19 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 138 | 21 |
| Shifting problems | 111 | 17 |
| Vibration / shaking | 98 | 16 |
| Hesitation / surging | 77 | 5 |
| Clunking / rattling | 74 | 13 |
| Airbag warning light | 66 | 9 |
| Check engine light | 61 | 8 |
| Rust / corrosion | 47 | 9 |
2002 Ford Explorer
2002 Mercury Mountaineer
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Mercury Mountaineer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.