2010 Mercury Mountaineer

The defect

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, EXPLORER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND MERCURY MILAN AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINERS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINT." THE RECLINER GEAR PLATE TEETH MAY BE OUT OF DIMENSION SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LIMITED PAWL TO GEAR PLATE TOOTH ENGAGEMENT.

The risk

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEATBACK AND HEAD RESTRAINT MAY MOVE REARWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

The remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL RECLINERS FOR BOTH POWER AND MANUAL SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY · up to 33,256 vehicles across all model years covered

Closed audit query · opened November 18, 2010 · closed December 28, 2015

unknown or other

On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.

109,000 miles

The contact owns a 2010 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the computer had provided an incorrect error code. The vehicle was also diagnosed by an authorized Ford tech who confirmed the failure with the computer. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.

NHTSA complaint 11468066. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED TO SLIDE BACKWARDS AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT MADE A 360 DEGREE SPIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint 11292295. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

90,500 miles

DOORS LOCKING MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONING AND CODING NUMBERS NOT FUNCTIONING. BEING LOCKED OUT WHEN USING CODE #S. CHAIN CRANKIN HARSHLY BUT NOT UNLOCKING DOORS. WHEN USING KEY INSTEAD OF CODE KEY DOES NOT UNLOCK NOR LOCK ANY DOORS EXCEPT DRIVERS DOOR LOCK.

NHTSA complaint 11287792. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS FILLING WITH WATER PASS THE FILL PLUG. THIS IS A GARAGE KEPT CAR AND NEVER OFF ROAD NOR DIRVEN IN DEEP WATER. FIRST TIME DISCOVERED AT 22000 MILES AND THE DEALER REPLACE THE PINION SEAL AND OIL, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. DIFFERENTIAL NOW MAKING NOISE AND AGAIN FULL OF WATER PAST THE FILL PLUG. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH FORD PRODUCTS. DEALER CANNOT FIND OR NOT WILLING TO FIND THE CAUSE. CALLED FORD AND THEY OFFER LITTLE TO NO SUPPORT. GUESS THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE DIFFERENTIALS TO LOCK UP AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND KILL A DOZEN OF SO PEOPLE.

NHTSA complaint 11157272. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

65,000 miles

AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE CAR STALLS. IT ALSO STALLS AT STOP LIGHTS. THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY, AND FORD CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint 10876658. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

60,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LATCH BOTH OF THE SECOND ROW SEAT BELTS, THE BELTS FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint 10778536. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.