MercuryMountaineer2009Overview/mercury/mountaineer/2009/base/

2009 Mercury Mountaineer

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Mountaineer.

Body SUV

The 2009 Mercury Mountaineer is a mid-size body-on-frame SUV that requires 5.0 quarts of 5W-30 API-rated engine oil for maintenance, representing the penultimate model year before Mercury's discontinuation. With zero recalls issued and only six total owner complaints recorded across the Mountaineer's 1996–2010 model history, the 2009 iteration stands notably below the model's historical peak of 390 complaints in 2002 and significantly below even its earliest year of just three complaints. This complaint trajectory shows a general decline in reported issues through the latter half of the model's lifespan, suggesting improved component quality and build refinement in the final years of production. For researchers examining longitudinal reliability data, the 2009 Mountaineer offers one of the cleanest complaint records in the model's history, indicating a mature and trouble-free vehicle platform by this point in its development cycle.

Model year201020092008200720062005200420032002

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 · 650 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 · 650 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245-65R17OEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-140 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 19.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidFord Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-140 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.6 Pints, rear
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts8 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug17.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug19.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs14 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug9.0 if equipped with drain plug ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque9.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityLess auxiliary A/C, 1.70. With auxiliary A/C, 2.75. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil CapacityLess auxiliary A/C, 9.00. With auxiliary A/C, 16.00. oz
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Standard BCI Group Number65

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)30-40
RPM30-40 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)30-40
RPM30-40 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 ohms
Engine Oil Pressure15 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM2000 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure75 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket24 ft-lbs / 53 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle122 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.145 in / 0.456 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.122 in / 0.433 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
133 ft. lbs., step 2: 85 degrees SOHC33 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
189 ft. lbs., step 2: loosen one turn 37 ft. lbs. step 3: 9089 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep M12 bolts

19 ft. lbs.; M12 bolts9 ft. lbs
218 ft. lbs.; M8 bolts; 24 ft. lbs.; M12 bolts18 ft. lbs
390 degrees; M12 bolts90 degrees
490 degrees; Do not re-use old bolts.90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees; Do not re-use old bolts.90 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
110 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5210 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1install 6 new exhaust manifold stud9 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
11.5 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.41.5 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
125 ft. lbs., Step 2: 67-7525 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 90,000 mi; coolant every 45,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 45,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 90,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 90,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV Valve (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace) · Wheel Bearing (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2009 Mercury Mountaineer sits at the lowest point of the generation's federal complaint arc, recording just six complaints, zero recalls, and zero investigations — a sharp drop from 2008's 96 complaints and two recalls, and lower than the 13 complaints and one recall logged for 2010. Across the 1996–2010 span, complaint volumes peaked in 1997 (369) and 2002 (390) before entering a sustained decline after 2004, with 2009 representing the nadir for both complaints and technical service bulletins (17). The data doesn't specify root causes for the few 2009 entries, which span steering/service brakes, seats, electrical system/seats, and an unknown category, each with a single report; no crash or fire complaints were recorded. This positions the 2009 model year as the cleanest federal record in the platform's history. For a buyer prioritizing documented reliability, the 2009 Mountaineer is the strongest year to purchase in this generation.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
17
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
6
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Steering,Service Brakes1
Unknown Or Other1
Seats1
Electrical System,Seats1
Vehicle Speed Control1
Steering1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 17 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 524762024-04-24EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
TSB 19-20262019-02-07StructureSome 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
TSB 19-20262019-02-07StructureSome 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
DOR-S3J9G-112018-10-02SteeringThis SKU is a front upper ball joint. The Customer communication requested return of…
SSM 473312018-06-01EngineVarious vehicles equipped with a 4.6L, 5.4L, 6.8L modular 3 valve engine built on or…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Mountaineer. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 Mountaineer take?

5.0 qt of 5W-30 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C946-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 Mountaineer have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.