2003 Ford Explorer vs 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Ford Explorer | 2003 Mercury Mountaineer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,131 | 152 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 122 | 120 |
| Investigations | 3 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 60 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–17 | 15–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 74,000 mi | 78,949 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Mercury Mountaineer |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 354 | 59 |
| Power Train | 335 | 42 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 69 | 10 |
| Suspension | 63 | 10 |
| Electrical System | 54 | 11 |
| Visibility | 57 | 6 |
| Wheels | 56 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 50 | 9 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 65 | 12 |
| Vibration / shaking | 36 | 6 |
| Rust / corrosion | 31 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 25 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 22 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 20 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 18 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 7 | 0 |
2003 Ford Explorer
2003 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.