1998 Mercury Mountaineer Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 8%of 236 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 69,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer, 8% of the 236 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 69,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 6 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My check engine light has been coming on. I have had various shops use their computer to find out why the light was on and have paid for cleaning valves, sensors, and hoses as well as having new sensors installed. The first instance occurred at 65, 475 mileage on my vehicle. Today, the shop where I now take my vehicle for servicing used their computer to see why the check engine light was on yet again and it generated a TSB from ford, article 04-7-5 which supersedes article TSB 03-25-1. …”
NHTSA complaint #10142306, filed 2005-11, 65,475 miles“Moved my truck to let another car out of the drive way. Pulled back in turned the truck off came in the house and heard a loud boom. Looked out the window and fire was shooting up by the wheel.”
NHTSA complaint #10395782, filed 2011-04, 75,000 miles“1998 Mercury Mountaineer transmission repairs. There was no third gear and the transmission had to be replaced. Engine light stayed on and the EGR sensor had to be replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10025095, filed 2003-06, 33,568 miles“When the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer was running on hwy 121 south merging into hwy 114 west in grapevine, tx, the 1998 Mercury suddenly became out of control at a speed less than speed limit. The car was being accelerated even if the accelerator pedal was off. The driver applied break to stop the car but the break did not work. Then the driver had to steer the car into the bush off road to avoid collision to other cars. The driver changed the at to p (parking) to stop the car. The engine surged and started fire underneath of the car. Then the driver removed the key and evacuated from the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10150766, filed 2006-02, 58,000 miles“My check engine light has been coming on. I have had various shops use their computer to find out why the light was on and have paid for cleaning valves, sensors, and hoses as well as having new sensors installed. The first instance occurred at 90,000 mileage on my vehicle. Today, the shop where I now take my vehicle for servicing used their computer to see why the check engine light was on yet again and it generated a TSB from ford, article 04-7-5 which supersedes article TSB 03-25-1. …”
NHTSA complaint #10162208, filed 2006-07Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 | 3% |
| 2007 | 4 | 5% |
| 2006 | 43 | 37% |
| 2005 | 5 | 6% |
| 2004 | 11 | 5% |
| 2003 | 10 | 7% |
| 2002 | 33 | 9% |
| 2001 | 1 | 5% |
| 2000 | 5 | 4% |
| 1999 | 12 | 8% |
| 1998 | 20 | 8% |
| 1997 | 14 | 4% |
Other parts of the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer
95 complaintsVehicle speed control
36 complaintsElectrical system
21 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
12 complaintsSeats
12 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsSuspension
11 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsEquipment
6 complaintsFuel system
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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