1998 Mercury Mountaineer Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 36about this part
- Share
- 15%of 236 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 99,800miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 36 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer, 15% of the 236 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 99,800 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved and 9 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“Took in for throttle body repair and driver seat bolt recall 9-03. They said didn't need the throttle body repair..now that warranty is up I can't get this hazard to driving fixed. I have almost hit cars in parking lots and in my driveway. Why isn't this considered a safety issue and recall. Why does it have a mileage and time limit. I tried to get it done and they wouldn't do it now it's too late. The throttle hesitates and then surges. Ford identifies this as a problem, but won't fix it.”
NHTSA complaint #10102240, filed 2004-12, 1 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“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. I struck my own home doing considerable damage to the home (passenger side of vehicle) , bounced off the house (still accelerating) and hit a garbage dumpster (driver side of vehicle) , then bounce off the garbage dumpster and struck a basketball goal (front of vehicle). …”
NHTSA complaint #10096410, filed 2004-10, 98,000 miles“- the contact stated that while her 1998 Mercury Mountaineer was parked, the contact heard a loud noise coming from her vehicle. She noticed that her vehicle had flames coming from under the hood. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The contact feels that the cause of the fire was due to NHTSA campaign id number : 00v422000( vehicle speed control). The contact can provide pictures, as well as, copy of the incident report.”
NHTSA complaint #10178921, filed 2007-01, 100,000 milesRelated recalls
- 00V422000Dec 27, 2000Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4.0l sohc engines and still retain the original throttle body (part numbers 97jf-9e926ab or…Covers: Mercury Mountaineer 1997–1998, Ford Explorer 1997–1998
- 99V062001Mar 30, 1999Vehicle description: certain 1997-1999 rhd explorer equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc engines and cruise control built from may 29, 1996 through march 4, 1999…Covers: Mercury Mountaineer 1998–1999, Ford Explorer 1997–1999, Ranger 1998–1999 +6 more
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 4 | 31% |
| 2009 | 1 | 17% |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% |
| 2007 | 7 | 9% |
| 2006 | 3 | 3% |
| 2005 | 13 | 16% |
| 2004 | 21 | 10% |
| 2003 | 9 | 6% |
| 2002 | 18 | 5% |
| 2001 | 2 | 9% |
| 2000 | 28 | 23% |
| 1999 | 11 | 7% |
| 1998 | 36 | 15% |
| 1997 | 59 | 18% |
Other parts of the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer
95 complaintsElectrical system
21 complaintsEngine cooling
20 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 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