1997 Mercury Mountaineer Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 2%of 328 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer, 2% of the 328 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
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.
“I had just gotten into the driver's seat of my parked 1997 Mercury Mountaineer at an auto repair shop lot when I remembered that I needed to retrieve an article from underneath the seat. I got out of the vehicle and knelt down next to it. As I reached under the seat, the car door hit me and dragged me along the ground. I then realized the vehicle was not only moving in reverse but was picking up speed, as it was on a slight incline. I knew I could not stop this heavy SUV; I also saw that its left front tire was heading right for me. …”
NHTSA complaint #10267532, filed 2009-05, 115,000 miles“Major and recurring issue with front drive shaft, and front differential, grinding, shaking, with near crash due to difficulty to handle (this was on the way to the mechanic).”
NHTSA complaint #10692300, filed 2015-03, 100,000 miles“I bought this Mercury in oct 98 .it is now jan of 99 and I have had quite a few problems .a warrenty came with this car, and we have been there twice ;one for the transfer case, and switch for the power seat , leak on rear hatch window. Now im returning it for throttle malfunction. I almost killed my children and myself .I made my children jump out of the car while doing aprox . 5 miles an hour. The more I stepped on the brakes the more the engine idled faster . I dont know anything about cars I am a housewife. …”
NHTSA complaint #701881, filed 1999-01“Consumer states the overdrive light was on and end of gear selector does not light up, dealer found blown fuse causing internal shift lever short, replaced shift lever assembly and re-routed wiring.”
NHTSA complaint #566209, filed 2002-06Related service bulletins
- 10017891Apr 1, 2005Front axle leaks fluid from vent tube - vehicles equipped with 4x4 or awd.
- 10014086Dec 13, 2004General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
- 10013369Nov 1, 2004General power train control module (pcm) programming procedures.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 | 15% |
| 2008 | 9 | 9% |
| 2007 | 25 | 31% |
| 2006 | 39 | 33% |
| 2005 | 19 | 23% |
| 2004 | 64 | 30% |
| 2003 | 42 | 28% |
| 2002 | 144 | 39% |
| 2001 | 1 | 5% |
| 2000 | 15 | 12% |
| 1999 | 8 | 5% |
| 1998 | 9 | 4% |
| 1997 | 8 | 2% |
Other parts of the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
138 complaintsVehicle speed control
59 complaintsBrakes
40 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsSeat belts
12 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsBody and structure
9 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 Oct 31, 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