1997 Mercury Mountaineer Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 4%of 328 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 150,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the seat belts of the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer, 4% of the 328 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 150,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The contact owns a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that the front driver side seat belt buckle failed to latch. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000. The VIN was unavailable.”
NHTSA complaint #10693941, filed 2015-03, 170,000 miles“The contact owns a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer. He attempted to put the drivers side seat belt on and the buckle would not snap into place. The failure had been on going for one week. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The approximate failure and current mileage was 150,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10390198, filed 2011-03, 150,000 miles“I have a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer. In which just recently my seatbelt(driver) does not hold. It keeps on sliding out. There is no tension in the buckle. I took it in to ford to get it repaired in which I have to pay $87.24. They said that the mileage has a lot to do with it.I looked up some recalls on the internet and found that there is a recall on the navigators and the expeditions on the 1997-2000 models and also on the 2000 mountaineers . Which includes ford exployers f-150,ect. I feel that there in no difference in the seatbelts on these vehicles. Safety comes first. …”
NHTSA complaint #10000475, filed 2003-01“The contact owns a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that she was unable to latch the driver side seat belt because the release mechanism was stuck. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 103,000. Updated 01/07/08. Updated 12/31/07”
NHTSA complaint #10201791, filed 2007-09, 124,646 miles“The contact stated the driver side seat belt buckle assembly will not hold the seat belt buckle when inserted. The buckle assembly releases the seat belt buckle and does not lock. The vehicle has not been taken to a local dealer or independent repair shop for inspection.”
NHTSA complaint #10148228, filed 2006-01, 150,000 milesSeat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | 8% |
| 2008 | 4 | 4% |
| 2007 | 3 | 4% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 2 | 1% |
| 2002 | 7 | 2% |
| 2001 | 1 | 5% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% |
| 1998 | 3 | 1% |
| 1997 | 12 | 4% |
Other parts of the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
138 complaintsVehicle speed control
59 complaintsBrakes
40 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsEquipment
7 complaintsFuel system
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology