Mercury›Mountaineer›2010›Overview/mercury/mountaineer/2010/base/

2010 Mercury Mountaineer

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2010 Mountaineer.

Body SUV

The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer is a traditional SUV whose engine calls for 5.0 quarts of 5W-30 API oil. This final model year logged only 13 owner complaints—predominantly about service brakes—and a single recall, a dramatic improvement over the 390 complaints recorded for the 2002 version. That positions the 2010 Mountaineer as one of the most dependable entries in the nameplate’s history.

Model year2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

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 sizeP235-65R18OEM · 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 Fluid	Ford Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	11
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-140 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.6 Pints, rear
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	8 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	17.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	19.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	14 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	9.0 if equipped with drain plug ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-2-5-3-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	9.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing	10

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	Less auxiliary A/C, 1.70. With auxiliary A/C, 2.75. lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	Less auxiliary A/C, 9.00. With auxiliary A/C, 16.00. oz
Standard BCI Group Number	65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	650 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	65

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	30-40
RPM	30-40 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	30-40
RPM	30-40 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance	11-18 ohms
Engine Oil Pressure	15 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	2000 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure	75 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	24 ft-lbs / 53 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	122 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1.145 in / 0.456 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.122 in / 0.433 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

15 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

41 ft. lbs., step 2: 85 degrees SOHC

41 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

89 ft. lbs., step 2: loosen one turn 37 ft. lbs. step 3: 90

89 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep M12 bolts

1	9 ft. lbs.; M12 bolts	9 ft. lbs
2	18 ft. lbs.; M8 bolts; 24 ft. lbs.; M12 bolts	18 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees; M12 bolts	90 degrees
4	90 degrees; Do not re-use old bolts.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	90 degrees; Do not re-use old bolts.	90 degrees

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

10 ft. lbs., Step 2: 52

10 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

install 6 new exhaust manifold stud

9 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

1.5 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.4

1.5 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

25 ft. lbs., Step 2: 67-75

25 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 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 90,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 90,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)
At 105,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 150,000 mi	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 2010 Mercury Mountaineer sits at the end of a generation that saw complaint volumes peak dramatically in 1997 (369), 1998 (262), and again in 2002 (390), with recall counts highest in 1999 (nine) and TSBs peaking that same year at 344. From 2003 onward, federal activity declined steadily, reaching a generational low in 2009 with just six complaints, zero recalls, zero investigations, and 17 TSBs. The 2010 model year shows a modest uptick to 13 complaints, one recall, one investigation, and 20 TSBs — still among the lowest figures in the dataset but a measurable increase from the prior year. The data doesn't specify root causes for the 2010 recall or investigation, while the top complaint categories cite service brakes (two reports), electrical system (one), and a combined seats/interior lighting/service brakes entry (one), with no crash or fire complaints recorded. This final year benefits from the generation's long maturation curve but loses the absolute quiet of 2009. For a buyer prioritizing minimal federal activity, 2010 remains a strong choice, though 2009 edges it slightly on the numbers.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

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

’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09’10

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 13 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes2

Electrical System1

Seats,Interior Lighting,Service Brakes1

Unknown Or Other1

Power Train1

Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1

Seat Belts1

Steering,Vehicle Speed Control,Service Brakes1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

10V161000Seats:Front Assembly:ReclinerReported 20/04/2010

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 20 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
SSM 52476	2024-04-24	Equipment	All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
SSM 48130	2019-08-09	Visibility	Some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or…
SSM 47976	2019-05-10	Power Train	On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter…
TSB 19-2026	2019-02-07	Structure	Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
TSB 19-2026	2019-02-07	Structure	Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…

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.

Group 65 battery Vehicles taking 5.0 qt

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2010 Mountaineer take?

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

Does the 2010 Mountaineer have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.