1997 Mercury Mountaineer Electrical system Problems

“I was at a gas station making a purchase with my disabled mother. We left the store, and got into my truck. I started my truck and proceed to dive towards the exit of the gas station when I smelled something like burning rubber. I said to my mother that something smelled funny and then looked and saw a thin steam of smoke coming up from in between my legs. I parked the truck and jumpers out leaving my om in the car. I then saw a fire inside of the metal track in which my seat moves mechanically underneath my seat, where the wires are. …”

“When I use the cruise control and then turn it off I can't seem to push my gas pedal when you are driving the vehicle. I have to keep putting extreme pressure on the accelerator pedal until something breaks or pops and then it allows me to push the pedal. I keep having problems with smoke coming from on top of the steering column like something is burning when you are driving, now I have electrical problems to where my horn will not work anymore. I keep having problems with the front frame of the SUV. …”

“The contact owns a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer. The vehicle caught fire while parked and without warning. The vehicle was completely destroyed and a fire report was filed. The contact has pictures of the failure. The cause of the failure has not been determined; however, a firefighter speculated that it may have been due to electrical failure. The failure and current mileages were 125,000. Updated 07/14/09 updated 07/15/09”

“As I parked the vehicle in the garage, I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I exited the vehicle and observed flames in the upper part of the left front wheel well. I put out the fire but was unable to open the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where it was determined the fire had started in the relay/fuse box located in the left rear of the engine compartment. I asked both the dealership and my insurance company (united services automobile association), if a recall or technical service bulletin and been issued by ford concerning this type of incident. …”

“If driving through a puddle right front wheel splashes water onto serpetine belt, resulting in temporary loss of power steering control/ alternator charge, and air conditioning. Vehicle has been checked by dealer, who advised consumer that since there was no recall it was not their problem.”