YearToAvoid

2006 Mercury Mountaineer Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 6 Mountaineer years

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

The 2006 Mercury Mountaineer has 117 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 6 Mountaineer model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is engine (59 complaints, 50% of the total). Complaints report 6 crashes, 2 fires, and 7 injuries.

Complaints
117
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
6 / 2
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13 city / 19 hwy

Top 2006 Mercury Mountaineer problems

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

  1. Engine59 (50%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain39 (33%)
  3. Structure & Body12 (10%)
  4. Other11 (9%)
  5. Electrical System9 (8%)
  6. Fuel System5 (4%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (4%)
  8. Brakes3 (3%)
  9. Airbags1 (1%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (1%)
2006 Mercury Mountaineer complaints: complaints filed per quarter132006 Q42008 Q22009 Q42011 Q22012 Q42014 Q32017 Q12021 Q2
147 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2006 Q4 to 2022 Q4; peak 2011 Q1 (13).

2006 Mercury Mountaineer recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 05V520000Nov 9, 2005Visibility & Wipers199,942 vehicles

    Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor

    On certain trucks, passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease being applied to the output shaft gear.

    Risk: After a period of continuous use on the high speed setting, lack of grease on the output shaft gear may cause the gear to distort or fracture during operation resulting in a loss of wiper function. Inoperative wipers under inclement weather conditions could cause a crash due to impaired visibility.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiper motor for the presence of grease and grease the wiper motor gears if necessary. The recall began on november 22, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673 or lincoln/mercury at 1-800-521-4140.

2006 Mercury Mountaineer fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13 MPG
Highway
19 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.

2006 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
2008Avoid8096115.5

All Mercury Mountaineer years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer ranks worst among Mountaineer model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 117 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer?
The most reported problem areas are engine (59 complaints), transmission & powertrain (39 complaints), and structure & body (12 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 58,849 miles.
Does the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer, most recently reported 2005, covering visibility & wipers.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer?
EPA rates the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer at 15 MPG combined (13 city / 19 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.