YearToAvoid

2005 Mercury Mountaineer Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#4 most-complained of 6 Mountaineer years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Mercury Mountaineer has 82 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 40 out of 100 — #4 highest of 6 Mountaineer model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is structure & body (27 complaints, 33% of the total). Complaints report 6 crashes and 1 injury.

Complaints
82
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
6 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13 city / 18 hwy

Top 2005 Mercury Mountaineer problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body27 (33%)
  2. Engine22 (27%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain19 (23%)
  4. Brakes6 (7%)
  5. Other6 (7%)
  6. Electrical System5 (6%)
  7. Steering5 (6%)
  8. Airbags3 (4%)
  9. Fuel System3 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (4%)
2005 Mercury Mountaineer complaints: complaints filed per quarter72005 Q22007 Q22008 Q42010 Q32012 Q12014 Q32016 Q22018 Q4
103 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q2 to 2023 Q3; peak 2009 Q2 (7).

2005 Mercury Mountaineer recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2005 Mercury Mountaineer fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13 MPG
Highway
18 MPG
Combined
15 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Mountaineer years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092010
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good4082015
2006Avoid100117115
2007Caution6081015

All Mercury Mountaineer years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer ranks #4 of 6 among Mountaineer model years (Complaint Index 40/100, verdict: Good). It has 82 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (27 complaints), engine (22 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (19 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 56,750 miles.
Does the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer?
EPA rates the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer at 15 MPG combined (13 city / 18 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.