Mercury Mountaineer Transmission Problems & Cost | 4R70 | 5R55S | 6R60

What Transmission Do I Have?

The Mercury Mountaineer was equipped with the 5R55S transmission and the 6R60 in V8 models and 4R70W in early models.. But they aren’t without their problems though, so let’s look at some of the most common Mercury Mountaineer transmission problems, look at cost estimates and figure out what you can do about them.

Mercury Mountaineer Transmission Models

Mercury Mountaineer: 5R55S Transmission
Mercury Mountaineer: 6R60 Transmission (V8 Only)
Mercury Mountaineer: 4R70W Transmission (Early Models)

Mercury Mountaineer Transmission Replacement Cost Estimate

Pricing varies by model. To be 100% sure on pricing, have your VIN# handy and use our Get An Estimate feature to look up your transmission by VIN#.

Replacement Mercury Mountaineer Transmission Prices:

What are the DTC codes related to Mercury Mountaineer transmission problems?

Mercury Mountaineer Transmission Recalls

None Found

Mercury Mountaineer Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)

TSB 01-10-2 – Fluid leak from the transmission cooler lines at the transmission case connection
2002 Ford Explorer – 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
Problem – On vehicles built from 11/13/2000-4/2/2001, there may be a transmission fluid leak at the cooler line-to-case connection. This can be caused by contamination of the tube nut, threads, flare, or improper installation torque.
Solution – The transmission cooler line and tube nuts will need to be cleaned and an O-ring installed in the case fitting.

TSB 01-10-7 – Transmission control indicator lamp On with P0713 DTC, along with other OBDII codes
2002 Ford Explorer – 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
Problem – On vehicles built between 11/13/2000-3/8/2001, various transmission trouble codes may appear due to water intrusion into the transmission solenoid body connector
Solution – Install an updated transmission wiring harness – part number 1L2Z-7C078-AB

TSB 01-22-3 – Buzzing noise from the transmission when the converter is engaged
2002 Ford Explorer 4.6L – 2002 Mercury Mountaineer 4.6L
Problem – On vehicles produced between 11/15/2000-11/11/2001, equipped with the Ford 4.6L engine and the 5R55W transmission, a buzzing noise may be heard when the torque converter engages, due to a higher fluid velocity inside of the valve body / main control unit.
Solution – Install updated 5R55W valve body

TSB 01-20-7 – Ticking noise coming from the front or intermediate servo cover area
2002 Ford Explorer 5R55W – 2002 Mercury Mountaineer 5R55W
Problem – A ticking noise may be present when the vehicle is idling in Park or Neutral.
Solution – The separator plate or valve body may need to be replaced.

TSB 02-08-03 – Transmission fluid leak at servo cover
2001 – 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac – 2001 – 2002 Ford Explorer Sport – 2001 – 2002 Ford Ranger
Problem – On vehicles equipped with the 2.3L, 3.0L or 4.0L engine with the 5R55E transmission, operating in cold climates may cause a transmission fluid leak at the servo cover.
Solution – Install updated servo cover(s).

TSB 02-13-8 – Low line pressure at wide open throttle (WOT), slipping and or delayed gear engagement
1995 – 2001 Ford Explorer – 1999 – 2002 Ford Explorer Sport – 2001 – 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac – 1995 – 2002 Ford Ranger – 1997 – 2001 Mercury Mountaineer
Problem – Vehicles built prior to 12/1/2001 may experience a number of transmission problems including; no 2nd gear, no 3rd gear, no engine braking when in manual 1st, slipping and/or delayed gear engagements, DTC’s P0732, P0733 and/or P1762
Solution – Modify or install updated valve body

TSB 03-25-4 – No 3rd gear or slipping on the 2-3 shift
2002 Ford Explorer 5R55W – 2002 Mercury Mountaineer 5R55W
Problem – Certain vehicles may exhibit no third gear, slipping on the 2-3 shift and P0733 and P0745 DTC’s due to a broken intermediate band inside the transmission.
Solution – Install new 5R55W intermediate band, OD band and pistons. The direct clutch drum will also need to be inspected for signs of damage, cracking etc.

TSB 05-21-8 – Delayed or harsh reverse engagement – 5R55S Transmission
2004 – 2005 Ford Explorer – 2004 – 2005 Ford Thunderbird – 2004 – 2005 Lincoln LS – 2004 – 2005 Lincoln Aviator – 2004 – 2005 Mercury Mountaineer
Problem – Some vehicles may experience a delayed or harsh reverse gear engagement due to improper pressure control
Solution – It may be necessary to place the solenoid body assembly, valve body and/or an in-line filter

TSB 06-25-10 – Shifter requires manual override to get the vehicle out of Park – 6R60 Transmission & 5R55S Transmission
2006 – 2007 Ford Explorer – 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac – 2006 – 2007 Mercury Mountaineer
Problem – Some vehicles may experience an intermittent condition where the shifter gets stuck in the Park position, requiring the use of the manual override function to shifted out of Park. This transmission problem may be caused by chemicals from the shifter lubricants corroding the shifter switch contacts.
Solution – If no electrical problems are found, a new transmission selector lever will need to be installed.

TSB 05-21-8 – Delayed or harsh reverse engagement – 5R55S Transmission
2004 – 2005 Ford Explorer – 2004 – 2005 Ford Thunderbird – 2004 – 2005 Lincoln LS – 2004 – 2005 Lincoln Aviator – 2004 – 2005 Mercury Mountaineer
Problem – Some vehicles may experience a delayed or harsh reverse gear engagement due to improper pressure control
Solution – It may be necessary to place the solenoid body assembly, valve body and/or an in-line filter

TSB 07-6-3 – DTCs related to the Mechatronic assembly – with or without the wrench light on – 6R60 Transmission
2006 – 2007 Ford Explorer – 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac – 2007 Ford Expedition – 2006 – 2007 Mercury Mountaineer
Problem – Some vehicles may experience transmission problems, along with the following diagnostic trouble codes: P0658, P0657, P0972, P0973, P0974, P0975, P0976, P0977, P0978|, P0979, P0980, P0981, P0982, P0983, P0961, P0962, P0963, P2763, P2764, P0985, P0986, P0711, P0712. This can be caused by contamination at the Mechatronic assembly (i.e. the valve body).
Solution – Install new protective barrier strip on the valve body

Common Mercury Mountaineer Transmission Problems

TCC Application in 2nd Gear – 4R70 Transmission

Problem – A lack of power after the 1-2 shift can be caused by an un-commanded torque converter clutch application / TCC apply. The P0742 and/or P1742 DTCs may also be stored.
Solution – The #7 check ball inside of the valve body may have worn down to an incorrect size, allowing the torque converter clutch to apply after the 1-2 shift. Replacement of this check ball may solve the problem.

Lack of Response
Leaking Fluid
Low Fluid
Burning Smell
Grinding or Shaking
Whining, Clunking or Humming
Refuses to Go Into Gear
Torque Converter Issues
Valve Body Issues
Transmission Noisy in Neutral
Gears Slipping
No 3rd or 4th Gear
No 1st or 2nd Gear
No Reverse
Dragging Clutch
Trouble Codes / Check Engine Light

Mercury Mountaineer 3rd gear slipping

Common on 2001 and later vehicles equipped with the 4R70W/4R70E or 4R75E transmission, this Mercury Mountaineer 3rd gear slip is often accompanied by a lack of engine braking when the transmission is manually shifted down into 2 gear.

Cause of Mercury Mountaineer 3rd gear shift problems

If your Mercury Mountaineer is shifting into neutral during the 3-4 shift, it can be due to a broken overdrive servo retaining snap ring or overdrive servo ‘E’ clip. These Mountaineer shifting problems are often due to a broken overdrive servo retaining snap ring or overdrive servo ‘E’ clip. If this happens, the debris from those broken transmission parts can work their way down into the overdrive servo regulator valve, which will prevent the overdrive band from making a full apply. If you elect to go with a rebuilt transmission, the mechanic will need to remove the overdrive servo regulator valve assembly from the valve body and repair any damage caused by the debris. This step is often overlooked by many transmission rebuilders and it can lead to more transmission problems in the future. But if you upgrade to a reman Mercury Mountaineer transmission from Street Smart Transmission, you can be sure they will completely remanufacture every part of the valve body, which will keep you from having additional problems in the future.

How much is it going to cost to fix my 4R70W/4R70E or 4R75E transmission?

Unfortunately, the problem described here will require the removal and disassembly/partial disassembly of your transmission. Given the labor time involved to remove the transmission from the vehicle (this is not a simple task), most repair shops will recommend that you go ahead and rebuild the entire transmission while it’s out. Since they already have to tear it down to replace the 4R70W/4R70E or 4R75E transmission, it sort of makes sense to spend the extra money to do that. After all, you should get a lot more mileage out of your transmission once it’s rebuilt. And since they’ve already got the transmission apart, might as well, right?

Can I drive with a transmission problem?

If your Mercury Mountaineer can still make it up and down the road, you might say “It’s fine, I’ll just drive it until I can get it fixed”. But that is not always a good idea, depending on the symptoms. You see, there are a lot of (very expensive) moving parts inside of a transmission, and if something isn’t right, continuing to drive with a transmission problem could damage something else.

How often does a Mercury Mountaineer transmission need to be replaced?

The overall lifespan of a Mercury Mountaineer transmission largely depends on how well it was maintained. Factory design flaws also factor into this equation, along with how/how hard you drive. But on average, we’ve seen the Mercury Mountaineer transmission last for between 130,000-180,000 miles. A high quality replacement transmission however, can last considerably longer if all of the factory design flaws have been addressed and the vehicle has been maintained.

How are Mercury Mountaineer transmission issues diagnosed?

It is fairly easy to guesstimate what the root cause of your Mercury Mountaineer transmission problems might be, but you won’t truly know unless you have the right tools and experience. A good mechanic or transmission repair center will be able to connect your truck to a computer and find out which diagnostic trouble codes (DTC’s) have been stored. Once they know what to look for, they can perform a visual inspection to verify the problem.

How is a Mercury Mountaineer transmission replaced?

In order to replace your Mercury Mountaineer transmission, the truck has to be lifted from the ground in order to gain access to all of the parts that will need to be unbolted. Then the transmission can be lowered to the ground (typically with a transmission jack), so the new transmission can be installed. Once it is in place, for the 6L80, the vehicle PCM will have to be reprogrammed / reflashed to accept the new transmission using the latest GM subscription.

Recommendations for Mercury Mountaineer transmission issues?

To save time and get back on the road faster, have your 17-digit truck VIN# handy and you can get an online quote for a reman Mercury Mountaineer transmission here, then find a local shop using our Find a Shop guide to install it for you.

How to Solve Mercury Mountaineer Transmission Problems

Solution A: Buy a Used Mercury Mountaineer Transmission

The quickest way to fix your transmission problems is to simply buy a used transmission or used transmission. These can be found at most junk yards, and they often come with a 30-90 day warranty. However, there’s no way to determine the actual condition of the internal components, so you could be spending a bunch of money to have the exact same problems. Plus, that warranty only covers the transmission if it’s defective, not the labor costs that you’ll have to pay.

Solution B: Buy a Rebuilt Mercury Mountaineer Transmission

Another option would be a rebuilt transmission or rebuilt transmission. A local repair shop will remove your transmission, then install a bunch of new parts during the rebuild. The problem here is, the skills and experience of each transmission rebuilder will vary widely from shop to shop, so you could have problems from something that wasn’t adjusted properly. And the 1-2 year warranty might only cover you at certain transmission repair shops, in a specific geographical area.

Solution C: Buy a Remanufactured Mercury Mountaineer Transmission

Many owners depend on their vehicle to commute and get things done. Their gasoline engines are designed to go 100’s of thousands of miles, so it makes sense to invest in a remanufactured transmission.

What Problem Does Your Mercury Mountaineer Have?

Let us know the year, mileage and problem you’re having as well as any trouble (OBD) codes you’ve found. If you’ve been given a quote or paid for a repair, we’d like to hear about that too!