1998 Mercury Mountaineer Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the tires it came with, particularly the Firestone Wilderness AT tires that were subject to a large recall, and about fires that started in the engine compartment, many of which were attributed to the cruise control switch. Other recurring reports cover a stuck or surging throttle, a broken accelerator pedal bracket, and dim or dead radio displays. Many of these reports come in between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles, and several involve vehicles parked for a while before the fire was noticed.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Under-hood fire traced to cruise control / speed control

   • 94 complaints (40%)
   • median 101,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 28 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2017

   Complaints describe vehicles catching fire while parked, sometimes an hour or more after being shut off, with flames reported from the driver's side of the engine compartment or fender well. In several cases a fire investigator or mechanic attributed the fire to the cruise control deactivation switch; some owners note the vehicle was not covered by the speed control campaign by VIN. A few also describe the engine surging and fire starting after the vehicle was brought to a stop. Mostly reported between about 100,000 and 190,000 miles, typically while parked or shortly after driving.

   Recall 00V422000Recall 99V062001

   What to check: Ask whether the cruise control recall work (including the deactivation switch and any added harness) was done under the applicable campaign, and have the switch area near the brake master cylinder inspected for fluid contamination or melted wiring.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Under my hood started smoking, I popped my hood to find flames under it. I had to get my kids out the truck and put the flames out with and extinguisher. That's when I noticed that my brake fluid reservoir was melted and so were the wires that connect to the cruise control switch. Not I am without a vehicle to get to work and get my children to school.”

   NHTSA complaint #11047281, filed 2017-11, 190,000 miles

   “At 2 am we smelled smoke and saw it coming from garage, when I opened garage door flames were coming out of front of car. My mothers car burnt and it is a total loss. We had to call fire dept. My garage was wrecked. My house has smoke damage.”

   NHTSA complaint #10458793, filed 2012-05, 102,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Sticking or surging throttle; accelerator pedal breaks

   • 27 complaints (11%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2007

   Owners describe the throttle hesitating and then surging, or sticking after a stop and needing extra force to move, sometimes worse in cold weather or at first start. Some report unexpected acceleration and having to pull the pedal up by hand or use the brake hard to stop. Others report the accelerator pedal separating from its linkage or the mounting bracket breaking, leaving the pedal dangling or dropping under the brake pedal. Reported from very low mileage up to about 117,000 miles, several complaints noting cold temperatures or the first start of the day.

   Recall 00V422000

   What to check: Test the pedal feel from a stop and after using cruise control, and look at the pedal bracket and linkage for cracks, loose welds or play. Ask whether the throttle body campaign (00V422000) applied to this vehicle and was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have been having problems with throttle sticking upon depression on 1998 5.0 Mercury Mountaineer. Seems to be worse when first starting vehicle or when the temperature outside is colder. Last night when I left to go to work, I put the vehicle in drive, the throttle stuck and I could not control the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10096410, filed 2004-10, 98,000 miles

   “While turning right through a cloverleaf interstate entrance ramp at approximately 35-40 MPH I attempted to accelerate and merge with on-coming traffic. The accelerator pedal popped and went under the brake pedal. I was able to pull to the side of the road and visually verified that the accelerator pedal bracket had broken. This is the metal bracket that was spot welded to the cowl panel/( firewall ). This left 3 holes in the cowl panel, each being approximately 7/32 in diameter. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10020561, filed 2003-05, 99,600 miles
3. 3
   Tires

   Tire failure and blowouts (recalled Firestone tires)

   • 92 complaints (39%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2013

   Complaints describe blowouts, sidewall bubbles, cracking, tread separation and tires that repeatedly lose air, often on the Firestone Wilderness AT tires fitted from new. Some owners say mechanics told them the tires were cracking like the recalled ones, and several describe a blowout at highway speed followed by loss of control. Owners also report difficulty getting tires replaced or reimbursed under the recall, with inspections at different shops giving different answers. Reported across a wide mileage range, mostly on the original tires from new through about 150,000 miles.

   What to check: Check the DOT date codes and brand on any tires still on the vehicle and ask whether the original Firestone Wilderness AT set was replaced under the recall. Look for sidewall cracks or bubbles and confirm the spare is sound.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife was driving back to work at lunch, clear day, unlimited visibility, clear road conditions, when the driver side rear tire sidewall blew out. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The tire was put on the vechicle by the ford dealership during the firestone recall. A passerby helped my wife change the tire. This is a goodyear wrangler rts, p235/75/15.”

   NHTSA complaint #10073076, filed 2004-05, 56,400 miles

   “Noticed a rocking/rolling motion on smooth pavement. Left rear tire had a bubbled area which had worn and burst a hole in the tire. Steel thread showing. I put the spare on and when got back home I bought 5 new tires . I think I caught the problem just in time to avoid a possible accident.( DOT number: vnhl tire size: p235/75r15 )”

   NHTSA complaint #730635, filed 2000-09
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Radio and display lights fade out

   • 10 complaints (4%)
   • median 63,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2014

   Complaints describe the radio or clock display dimming in and out and then going dark entirely, sometimes with the unit getting very hot. Owners report dealers quoting several hundred dollars to send the unit out for repair, and several note the same complaint appears widely on owner forums. Other electrical reports cover intermittent wipers, power windows and interior lights. Usually reported between about 50,000 and 65,000 miles.

   What to check: Turn the radio on and watch the display for fading or dead segments, and feel the head unit for excessive heat after it has run a while. Check that wipers, windows and interior lights all work consistently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Cd radio display has gone out, first began to fade in and out and now I have no display. Many people have experienced this problem. There are forums on the internet that specifically discuss this issue. It has also occured with many explorers as well. How can ford/Mercury not recall an obviously widespread flaw? This really makes me doubt their customer service efforts.”

   NHTSA complaint #10045592, filed 2003-11, 60,000 miles

   “My display lights on my radio started dimming in and out. Now they are completely gone. I took it to my local ford dealer and they told me that it would cost at least $350 for them to send it off and have it repaired. There are several other same vehicles who have the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10018674, filed 2003-05, 52,000 miles
5. 5
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Hood latch corrosion and stuck-open latch

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the hood latch or its pivot corroding and sticking, and in one case the hood releasing while the owner was checking fluids. Owners also report door handles and locks that loosen or stop working, including a driver's door that would not unlock with the key or open from inside. Reported between about 60,000 and 105,000 miles.

   Recall 99V164000

   What to check: Open and close the hood several times and inspect the latch and pivot for corrosion or stiffness, and check that the secondary catch engages. Test every door lock and handle from both outside and inside.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1998 Mercury Mountaineer. The drivers door will not unlock from the outside with the key and most times will not open from the inside with the latch handle. I have heard that this problem exists with most 1998 - 2001 Mercury mountaineers, ford explorers and ford rangers. In the event of an emergency such as a crash, I might not be able to get out of the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10373161, filed 2010-12, 60,000 miles

   “I bought my vehicle about 3 years ago. It had 60,000 on the odometer. The back windshield wiper never worked, and does once in a while and the radio light never stays on. Once in a while it will show the station or the time. My drivers side door handle has always been loose. My engine light came on a year after I got it and it will not go off. It say EGR flow insufficient and yet I have replaced all of those and had the computer reset. The passenger side door does not lock unless I lock it by hand and then you can't open it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10164421, filed 2006-08, 63,000 miles

Buying note. Have any used example inspected for tire age and recall replacement, the cruise control switch area, and throttle and pedal condition, and ask for documentation of completed recall work. Records of the radio and electrical repairs are also worth asking about, since those fixes are usually handled at the owner's cost.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.