1997 Mercury Mountaineer complaints

IF DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPLASHES WATER ONTO SERPETINE BELT, RESULTING IN TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL/ ALTERNATOR CHARGE, AND AIR CONDITIONING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.*AK

ABS SYSTEM FAILED AT 72,000 MILES AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. *MJ

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. *YD

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS FAILED MORE THAN ONCE; THEREFORE, LEAKING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUUNT OF CARBON MONOXIDE WHICH CAUSES PASSENGERS AND DRIVER TO BECOME SLEEPY.*AK

REAR END IS LEAKING FLUID, AND IS MAKING A ROARING SOUND.*AK

GAS PEDAL KEEPS STICKING, AND IT IS TOO HARD TO STOP VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCH MAY BE DEFECTIVE. NO MATTER WHAT CONSUMER PUTS TEMPERATURE ON AIR COMES OUT HOT. *AK *TT

PROBLEM MENTIONED ON VISIT IN DECEMBER 01. MY SON AND I EXPERIENCED CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING ON A TRIP TO CHICAGO 3/15/02. THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR VEHICLES IN THE RURAL AREA IN WHICH I LIVE. I FEEL A SERVICE ALERT SHOULD BE SENT FOR SIMILAR AGE MAKE VEHICLES THAT COME IN FOR SERVICE. ESPECIALLY IF THEY MENTION A TICK IN THE ENGINE. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF CRACKED EGR TUBES? NLM

WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS WILL COME OFF AND ON BY THEMSELVES THIS HAS HAPPENED AT NIGHT AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. *AK CUSTOMER ADDS HEAT BLOWS COLD AIR. DEALER FOUND BLEND DOOR MOTOR AND BLEND DOOR TO BE FAULTY. *TT

CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENTLY WORK, NONE OF THE SPEEDS EXCEPT HIGHEST SPEED WILL WORK, CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING, THE HIGHEST SPEED HAS FAILED WITH OUT WARNING, MAKING OPERATORS VIEW IMPOSSIBLE. *JG *AK

POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 1997 I VIEW WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE AS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT FORD HAS REPLACED A PARTICULAR PART 4 TIMES DUE TO PART FAILURE. I HAVE ALL OF THESE PART NUMBERS IF NEEDED BUT IT DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO TYPE THEM IN HERE IF NOT WANTED. EVERY TIME I GO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED IT COST OVER $100 IN LABOR ALONE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. WHEN IT IS RAINING ETC. AND YOUR WIPERS FAIL IT IS NO "PIECE OF CAKE"!!!*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH A RATTLE / SHAKING WOULD START COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A LOUD THUMPING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING BATTERY TO GO DEAD. BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASHBOARD. PLEASE PROVDIE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING BATTERY LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON DASHBOARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASHBOARD, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR LEAKS, HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, AND CONTINUES TO LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR, WHICH IS INSIDE THE HEATER AIR PLENUM, BROKE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. TWO DIFFERENET DEALERS QUOTED ME $700-$800 TO MAKE THE REPAIR SINCE IT INVOLVES REMOVING THE DASH. I CANNOT BRING MYSELF TO PAY THAT MUCH MONEY JUST TO HAVE HEAT IN THE CAR, BUT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN WINTER WEATHER SINCE I CANNOT KEEP THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTED.

THE PROBLEM I,M REPORTING HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND I REFUSE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT . AFTER COMING TO A STOP , THE VEHICLE MOVES AHEAD AND AS HARD AS YOU BRAKE THE FASTER IT MOVES . HAS ALMOST CAUSED 2 ACCIDENT THE BOTH TIMES ITS DONE IT . MY FEARS ARE THE DEALERSHIP (MANUFACTURER ) WILL NOT OWN UP TO THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM . WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MY LEGAL RIGHTS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM AND ALSO REPORT WHAT I BELIEVE IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION .

ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE PEDAL. THIS CAUSES SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE BOTH PEDALS ARE BEING APPLIED. APPOINTMENT FOR DEALER HAS BEEN MADE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH AND BRAKING VEHICLE ACCELERATED. BRAKE PEDAL FELT NORMAL. DURING BRAKING VEHICLE SLOWED A BIT, ENGINE REVVED AGAIN. CONSUMER UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES. $ AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. *AK

VEHICLE IS MAKING A NOISE IN FRONT END DUE TO DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THAT ALL THE FIRESTONE TIRES BE REPLACED, TWO OF THE ORIGINAL WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAT CONSUMER HAD ON HIS VEHICLE WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL, THERFORE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT.*YH

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AT 70MPH, AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND WRAPPED AROUND THE REAR AXLE. WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING FOR ONLY AN HOUR AND 25 MINUTES AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 85 DERGREES. *AK

WHILE TURNING INTO AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE STARTED TO REV AND TAKE OFF. MOTOR ON VEHICLE WAS GOING FASTER AND FASTER. FOOT WAS ON BRAKE, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER 10 SECONDS MOTOR WAS BACK TO NORMAL. *AK THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARTE OCCASIONS, ONE TIME THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE CONSUMER HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM, THERE WERE NO INJURIES, CONSUMER FOUND SERVICE BULLETING 97S67 AND STATES THAT THIS EXACTLY DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING. *SLC

TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT UP WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY TURNED OFF DUE TO SHORT IN THE IGNITION. (DETERMINED BY THE FIRE DEPT.)*AK

I WAS ONE OF THE FORTUNATE FORMER OWNERS OF FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. ON JANUARY 28,2000 I VISITED A LOCAL TIRE KINGDOM INC TIRE DEALERSHIP IN CLEARWATER FLORIDA FOR A POSSIBLE FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TIRE BALANCING BECAUSE I WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A VIBRATION IN MY FRONT END OF MY 97 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. I DO MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING @ 60-70MPH AT THE TIME I HAD 34K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WHEN THE MECHANIC STARTED WORKING ON MY CAR HE BEGAN REMOVING THE TIRES FROM MY SUV TO ROTATE AND BALANCE MY TIRES. HE NOTICED THAT TWO OF MY TIRES HAD SIGNS OF BELT SEPARATION AND THE TIRES WERE NO LONGER USABLE. I ACTUALLY WITNESS THE CONDITION OF THESE TIRES . IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE TIRES BE REPLACED. WHICH I IMMEDIATELY APPROVED THEM TO DO. I ACTUALLY REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. AT A COST OF APPROX. $400.00. AS WE ALL KNOW FIRESTONE BEGAN THE RECALL OF WILDERNESS AT TIRES PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR PLANT EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED RATE OF TREAD SEPARATION CLAIMS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRESIZE: P235X15)

THE TIRES FAILED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL FIRESTONE RECALL. NEITHER FIRESTONE NOR FORD IS WILLING TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF REPALCING THE TIRES. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THROTLE STICKS IN THE CLOSED POSITION. SIMILAR TO NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 00V422. WHEN THROTTLE CLOSED, STICKS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP. CAME CLOSE TO HITTING CAR IN FRONT. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE AT DEALERS EXPENSE.

WHEN FIRST PRESSING DOWN CONSUMER WAS IN A COAST MODE, AND THROTTLE WOULDN'T BUDGE. DEALER WANTED $300 FOR REPAIR. RECALL 00V422000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S568 DIDN'T APPLY TO CONSUMER BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD A 5.L ENGINE, AND RECALL WAS FOR A 4.L ENGINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A DRY ROAD IN CLEAR CONDITIONS, THE CAR HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TILT TO THE DRIVERS SIDE, SLIDING FOR ABOUT 60 FEET ON ITS SIDE THEN FLIPPING OVER ONTO THE ROOF SLIDING FOR ANOTHER 40 OR SO FEET BEFORE STOPPING. THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE TAKEN OFF IN AUGUST OF 2000 AND REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND. I HAVE FORGOTTEN WHICH THEY ARE BUT CAN FIND OUT. I HAVE THE FULL POLICE REPORT IF YOU SHOULD REQUEST IT. I FEEL THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT THE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE DESIGN ITSELF IS THE PROBLEM.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE IN MOTION. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

WHEN APPROACHING STOP SIGN, AT INTERSECTION, VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, CAUSING A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE ENGINE ROARED AS IF ACCELERATING. WE HAVE HAD ONE OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE BRAKING. DEALER EXPLAINED THAT DRIVER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT SAME TIME. IN SECOND INCIDENT, I AM SURE THAT I HAD MY FOOT ONLY ON THE BRAKE. DEALER EXAMINED VEHICLE AFTER EACH INCIDENT AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.

AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 17 MILES CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE TO UNLOAD IT. THEN RESTARTED IT TO TAKE IT INTO GARAGE. AT ABOUT 5 MPH ACCELERATOR STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO DEEP FREEZER AND DEMOLISHING IT. *AK

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, MOUNTINEER, P235/75R15 SIZE, DOT#: YN. TREAD ON RIGHT REAR TIRE HAS STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM SIDE.*AK *JB

SINCE OWNERSHIP THE TIRES WOULD NOT PROPERLY HOLD AIR,HAD TO WEEKLY ADD AIR TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIR PRESSURE,TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR LEAKS NONE COULD BE FOUND ALL 4 FIRESTONE ATX (P235/75 R15) TIRES WERE REPLACED, CONSUMER HAS SINCE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION, HOWEVER HAS NOT RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT AND THAT WAS OVER 8 MONTHS AGO. *JB

ENTIRE VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE WHEN IT REACHES SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH. CONSUMER STATED THAT A DETERMINATION COULD NOT BE MADE FOR REASON OF VIBRATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

GAS GUAGE DOES NOT SHOW ACCURATE LEVEL OF FUEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY SEVEN TIMES, LEAVING CONSUMER STRANDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH KEY IN IGNITION, NOT RUNNING. 2 1/2 YR OLD TURNED KEY, AND WAS ABLE TO PUT GEAR IN NEUTRAL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN HILL. CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET INSIDE VEHICLE AND STOP IT. DEALER STATED YES THIS COULD NOT HAPPEN. *AK

WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC OR AT A RED LIGHT, VEHICLE HAS LUNGED OR ACCELERATED, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN TO BE LOOKED AT BUT NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB

BRAKE CALIPER CAME LOOSE DUE TO BOLTS BREAKING/FAILING. INFO SENT TO FORD/MERCURY 2-22-01 AND THEY SAID THIS WAS INCIDENTAL AND NOT A CONCERN TO THEM. I INFORMED THEM THAT THE DEALER WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM WAS OUT OF BUSINESS. THE GENTLEMAN WHO I TALKED TO WAS NAMED WAYNE. I CAN EMAIL LETTER AND PHOTOS OF THE SCORED RIM AND FAILED BOLTS THAT I HAD MAILED TO FORD. WE HAD TO REPLACE RIM AND TIRE DUE TO DAMAGE COSTING US ABOUT $600. SERVICE MANAGERS AND MECHANICS TOLD US THIS WAS FREQUENT FOR THESE BOLTS TO BREAK WITH FORD BRAKE SYSTEMS. I WAS JUST DRIVING TO WORK....I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS OR PULLING OUR CAMPER!! I REQUESTED FORD TO REIMBURSE FOR PARTS AND WORK TIME LOST. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, P235/75R15, DOT W2HLIPY296 EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE, DEALER SAID BLOWOUT WAS DUE TO ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, HOWEVER A LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXAMINED THE TIRE AND DECLARED IT DEFECTIVE, THE ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED AND WAS FOUND TO BE WELL WITHIN MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS. *SLC

THE V-6 ENGINE TYPE HAS BEEN RECALLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE 302 V-8, BUT YOU HAVE NOT RECALLED THE V-8 ENGINE, WHY NOT???? *AK

THE LOWER BALL JOINT AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS WERE WORN. NLM

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL STICK AND HAVE TO BE FORCED UP. THIS DEFECT OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES. HOWEVER, OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY DURING COLDER WEATHER. CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 25-30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTINGIN MINOR INJURY. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

AFTER A FRONT-END COLLISION AT 25MPH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN DRIVER INJURY

BRAKES WORE OUT IN ABOUT 3TO 6 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE . CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES ABOUT 4 TIMES. FIRST TIME CONSUMER DID TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT REMEDIED. *AK

NOT ORIGINAL TIRES ON A MERCURY, MOUNTINEER, 1997. 23575R15. WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT AND TIRE CAME OFF RIM, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE.*AK *SLC

DEALER REPLACED 1 WILDERNESS AT P2357R515 TIRE, UNDER RECALL (00T-005), ANOTHER TIRE OTHER THAN THAT ONE REPLACED IS OUT OF ROUND, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE, OWNER WOULD LIKE ALL WILDERNESS AT TIRES REPLACED. CJ