2006 Mountaineer

[351mustang65]

Well I have been wanting to buy a 2006 Mountaineer and found the one I want but I am starting to think twice because a guy who owns a new car dealership told me some things about them and not just the trans reprogramming thing I then looked it up and found a lot of hate from Mountaineer owners so I wanted to post this up and see what you guys have to say.

Here is some of what the guy said.

call a transmission shop and ask how many they rebuild of the v8's..Almost everyone of them i have sold we have put a transmission in them...The transmission case needs to be rebored and they always need a new pump Also check all the strut springs....they break and have someone check the rear tie rod ends and ball joints...no one ever checks them as most dont have a set up like that.

Ive sold somewhere around 20 of them in the 2006 and up year range..I can honestly say ive had to pay to rebuild 14 of them...they have a transmission case issue where the bore wears out around 80k,the pump is also such tight tolerances it wears out quick...Im sure if you do google search or call a transmission shop they can fill you in also. Ive also done a tone of those rear tie rod ends and struts as the springs snap.

 

[thebrakeman]

Well, I just bought an '06 Mounty, and it has an original 84 month/100,000 mile Ford PremiumCare warranty. This was not an used car warranty purchased by a subsequent owner, but was purchased when the vehicle was new.

I say that because the service history on my truck is not extensive (thru 74,000 miles), and involves accessory items (like the power running boards, etc), not powertrain components. If the previous owners had any problems with engine, transmission, axles, transfer case (anything except wear items), they certainly would have gone to the dealer, since the warranty has been uninterrupted.

For everyone that posts a problem, there are probably 500 happy customers.

 

[351mustang65]

Well, I just bought an '06 Mounty, and it has an original 84 month/100,000 mile Ford PremiumCare warranty. This was not an used car warranty purchased by a subsequent owner, but was purchased when the vehicle was new.

I say that because the service history on my truck is not extensive (thru 74,000 miles), and involves accessory items (like the power running boards, etc), not powertrain components. If the previous owners had any problems with engine, transmission, axles, transfer case (anything except wear items), they certainly would have gone to the dealer, since the warranty has been uninterrupted.

Well I take it yours is around 80k so if what he said is true you should just now be starting to worry.

For everyone that posts a problem, there are probably 500 happy customers.

True but there just seems to be a lot more unhappy posters for this truck then normal.

 

[yoster]

This is the first I've heard of this. The tranny actually has the opposite reputation from what I've seen and read. The v6 version had issues of needing rebuilding due to a radiator leak, but that is a known issue and isn't the fault of the transmission.

The only transmission item I've experienced or have read about is the downshift bump, which is easily corrected via TSB 08-24-04. Other than that, the transmission has had a pretty bulletproof reputation. A few guys on here have had them rebuilt, but there has always been a common cause, towing decent loads in overdrive.

As far as the suspension concerns, I haven't heard or read anything of the sorts.

 

[adogg33]

I had a 2002 Eddie Buaer explorer a few years back. It had the v8 and I would say around 80000 to 100000 miles the trans went out. Sorry not sure when. But my family is on to there third and fourth explorers now and I think that they all are solid cars. If there is a trans problem I do not think that it affects the majority of cars.

 

[cableporter]

06 Mountaineer

I've had an 06 Mountaineer for 2 years now. I got it with 27,000 miles on it and have put another 40,000 on it since then. I love this vehicle. Rented an Edge as a possible replacement last month but decided to keep my Mountaineer. That being said. I have had issues. Both Exhaust manifolds replaced due to leakage from warping, left power runningboard not extending and I lubricate these suckers at least once a month. Heater control board was replaced. As to the transmission, As soon as I got this vehicle I had all the fluids replaced, Tranny, differentials, radiator etc. All filters, I also had the transmission reprogrammed to take the "thunk" out of it. If you buy one you will like the vehicle. But the exhaust manifolds are a weak spot as are the power running boards. Haven't known anyone with the V8 that has had real tranny problems however.

Good Luck.

 

[thebrakeman]

That's right. The exhaust manifold were done on this truck before I bought it, too.

No, I'm not worried. I transferred the warranty ($50), so it still has 26,000 miles or until Nov 2012. For the price of these trucks (with 7000 tow rating), compared to the newer crossovers, it was well worth the risk to me, even without the included warranty. Any of the newer style crossovers with 4500-5000 tow rating (Flex, Acadia, etc), are still $23k minimum. Being able to have anything fixed at the dealer for $100 deductible is just frosting to me.

 

[thebrakeman]

PS,
The guy at the trans shop...what year V8 trucks was he getting rebuilt in his shop? I'm guessing before 2006, which would be the 5-speed. The '06 V8 and newer gets the 6-speed. I took an '07 I was considering to a trans shop to investigate a shuddering feel (turned out to be a plug coil/misfire). He said they hadn't seen many 6-speeds in yet, since they were so new, but that this one had no codes thrown in the trans module, and felt great.