YearToAvoid

2010 Mercury Mountaineer Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#5 most-complained of 6 Mountaineer years

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

The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer has 13 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 20 out of 100 — #5 highest of 6 Mountaineer model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is engine (6 complaints, 46% of the total).

Complaints
13
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 19.5 hwy

Top 2010 Mercury Mountaineer problems

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

  1. Engine6 (46%)
  2. Brakes5 (38%)
  3. Electrical System2 (15%)
  4. Fuel System2 (15%)
  5. Steering2 (15%)
  6. Structure & Body2 (15%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain2 (15%)
  8. Other1 (8%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (8%)
2010 Mercury Mountaineer complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2012Aug 2013Mar 2014Mar 2015Jun 2016Dec 2019
23 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2012 to Jun 2022; peak Dec 2019 (4).

2010 Mercury Mountaineer recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 10V161000Apr 20, 2010Structure & Body33,256 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:recliner

    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.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, the seatback and head restraint may move rearward, increasing the risk of injury.

    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.

2010 Mercury Mountaineer fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
19.5 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,050
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.

2010 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
2008Avoid8096115.5
2009Best06016
2010Best2013116

All Mercury Mountaineer years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer ranks #5 of 6 among Mountaineer model years (Complaint Index 20/100, verdict: Best). It has 13 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 2010 Mercury Mountaineer?
The most reported problem areas are engine (6 complaints), brakes (5 complaints), and electrical system (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 38,660 miles.
Does the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer, most recently reported 2010, covering structure & body.
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer?
EPA rates the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer at 16 MPG combined (14 city / 19.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,050. 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.