2005 Mercury Mountaineer

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

67/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Structure	21	26%
Power train	12	15%
Vehicle speed control	10	12%
Unknown or other	4	5%
Engine	4	5%
Electrical system	3	4%
Steering	3	4%
Power train	3	4%
Visibility	2	2%
Engine and engine cooling	2	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

Back rear windshield keeps exploding on its own I’m not the only person to complain about this
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

The truck bearing keep going out the spark plugs overloaded and I can’t accelerate at times when I’m driving it slows down then starts back up
NHTSA complaint: Power train

The Transmission won't shift into 3rd and 4th gear, hitting hard into gears at starting, slipping begins after 35 mph..replaced torque converter.
NHTSA complaint: Power train

started losing power ,did not want to go pas 30 miles per hr ,then it ramed up and came to a stop with no acceleration ,i shut it off then start it again and was able to get home at a low rate of speed while continuing t
NHTSA complaint: Power train

THE PLASTIC THAT HOLD THE VISOR ARM ON PLACE CRUMBLES. BOTH SIDES WERE AFFECTED. THE OUTER SHIELD PLATES SEEM OK IT'S ONLY THE PIECE THAT I CAN ONLY GUESS, 'STABALIZES' THE VISOR WHEN YOU MOVE IT FROM FRONT TO SIDE OF TH
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER EQUIPPED WITH FOUR COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, SIZE: 245/65R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES RUMBLED AND RODE ROUGHLY INSTEAD OF PROVIDING A SMOOTH, STABLE RIDE
NHTSA complaint: Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK PANEL WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (FIVE
NHTSA complaint: Structure

I PURCHASED A USED 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER LAST MONTH, WITH 135,400 MILES, WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AND TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ROAD WENT FROM LEVEL TO A VERY SLIGHT DOWNGRADE. THE CAR THEN JUST SHUT OFF A
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Visibility:glass 07E104000

CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDER

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.

Fix: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIM

The seven scores

Reliability raw	72	good
Longevity est.	74	good
Maintenance	71	good
Depreciation	67	good
Performance	65	good
Efficiency	31	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 39% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 47% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 48% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 69% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 72: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 74: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2005 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 71: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer?

Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 21 of them (26%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 72/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2005 Mercury Mountaineer last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2005 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2005 Mercury Mountaineer?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.