1998 Mercury Mountaineer complaints

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL BECAME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

AFTER DRIVING 20 MIN.ON I-75 AT 65MPH THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A LOT OF A SHOPPING MALL. 1 MINUTE LATER, THE CAR MADE A LOUD HISSING NOISE FOR 5-10 SECONDS AND THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE ENGINE AND A FIRE THAT WAS FLAMING UNDER THE HOOD,THE SIDE FENDERS,& THE RADIATOR GRILL. THE FIRE MELTED ALUMINUM AND PLASTIC ENGINE COMPONENTS SO FAST ALONG WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FIRE I BELIEVE CAUSED BY DEFECT OF MANUFACTURER. IF THIS FIRE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH.THE FIRE WOULD BE A TORCH AND FUMES,HEAT,AND FIRE WOULD HAVE ENTERED THE INTERIOR MAKING DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE. THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM,LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO BRAKING AND STEERING TO STOP AND PULL OVER. I CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY KNEW ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH MOUNTAINEERS.THE RECEPTIONIST CLAIMED THAT FORD ENTERED MY CASE IN THEIR DATABASE AS A COLLISION THAT CAUGHT FIRE WHICH IS FALSE AND A COVER UP. AFTER ASKING THEM TO CLEAR UP THE ENTRY IN THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM THEY INVESTIGATED THE CAR CLAIMING IN WRITING THEY HAVE NO CONLUSION ON WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE MY VEHICLE CONTAINED MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT FORD IS AVOIDING INVESTIGATIVE CONCLUSIONS DUE TO FEAR OF RECALL. I WANT FORD TO INVESTIGATE ALL ACCIDENT,DEATH & FIRE CASES NATIONWIDE DUE TO EXPLORERS & MOUNTAINEERS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WOULD CAUSES FIRE. I WANT FORD TO REFUND THE COST OF THE VEHICLE PL

THIS IS FOURTH TIME I'VE HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE IN FOR A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE IN FRONT END (METAL TO METAL SOUNDS). *AK

VEHICLE DRIVEN IN FORWARD AND COMES TO A STOP (I.E.- AT A STOP SIGN, TOLL BOOTH, OR TRAFFIC LIGHT) WILL STALL/HESITATE WITHOUT WARNING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED FORWARD AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN THREE STATES AND THEY SAY "FORD/MERCURY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT AT THE CURRENT TIME THERE IS NO FIX." RADIO WHEN TUNING WOULD NOT PICK UP ANY RADIOSTATIONS DUE TO RADIO NOT HOOKED TO ANTENNA. DOOR MOLDING ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR CAME LOOSE AND PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED MORE THAN THREE INCHES. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR TO DRIVE VEHICLE. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ENGINE BURNED OUT AND REAR WIPER DID NOT WORK. BRAKE STUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PLACE VEHICLE INTO GEAR AFTER INITIAL START OF ENGINE. *AK

LEVER TO LOWER SEATBACK HAS BEEN BENDING EACH TIME I GET OUT FOR LAST YEAR, NOW IT BROKE OFF. I BECAME HANDICAPPED LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO AND HAVE TO SLIDE OUT OF SEAT TO GROUND. LEVER HAS BEEN BENDING FOR I HAVE TO GO OVER IT, AND I HAVE TO RE-BEND IT TO ACCESS ELECTRIC LUMBAR BUTTON.

THE REAR WINDOW WIPER DOES NOT ALWAYS COME ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED ON, THE WIPING EFFICIENCY OF BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK WIPER IS POOR, THERE IS NO CONTACT WITH THE WINDOW. *SLC

WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT VEHICLE IDLES TO HIGHT RPM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

THIS REPORT IS ABOUT AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY MERCURY MOUNTAINEER THAT FIRST OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER, 1998, AND CONTINUES INTERMITTENTLY TO THIS DAY. USUALLY IN TEMPERATUES UNDER 55 DEGREES, A HIGH PITCHED WHISTLE/SQUEAL SOUND CAN BE HEARD FROM THE BODY FRONT, BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS ADDRESSED IT IN THEIR TSB 5506, NHTSA ITEM #SB605189. THE CAUSE IS APPARENTLY THE FRONT AXLE SEAL(S), AND FORD'S SOLUTION IS TEMPORARY, TO LUBRICATE THE AFFECTED AREA. THEY SUPPOSEDLY ARE WORKING ON A PERMANENT SOLUTION, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN NEARLY A YEAR SINCE THEY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM, OVER A YEAR SINCE I REPORTED IT TO MY DEALERSHIP. UPON WRITING TO FORD ABOUT MY PROBLEM, THEY ASSURED ME THE PROBLEM WAS NON-DEGENERATIVE, I.E. NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THEY WERE WORKING ON A SOLUTION. IN THE MEANTIME, I SHOULD HAVE THE TEMP. SOLUTION APPLIED. HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD THE TEMP. SOLUTION APPLIED 4 SEPERATE TIMES, AND EACH TIME, THE NOISE COMES BACK AFTER JUST A LITTLE WHILE. EACH TIME THE TEMP. LUBE IS APPLIED, IT QUELLS THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORTER AND SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE TEMP. SOLUTION IS LESS AND LESS EFFECTIVE OVER TIME, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THE WHISTLING/SQUELING NOISE SOUNDS AS IF IT IS A METAL-ON-METAL TYPE OF SOUND, I CHALLENGE FORD'S CLAIM THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE, AND FEEL IT MAY BE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE TIRES BREAK OFF OR THE AXLE SEAL COLLAPSES. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE FORD IS PURSUING A PERMANENT SOLUTION

HORN HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THERE IS STILL NO SOUND. *AK

THE FUSE CONNECTED TO THE A.C. ,SIGNALS,HEAT,AND CRUISE CONTROL KEEPS " GOING OUT " TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED 4 TIMES AND AGAIN IT HAPPENNED . I WAS ABOUT TO GO TO ABTRAINTION HEARING, BUT I GAVE FORD 1 MORE CHANCE WITH THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE ENGINEER. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE SIGNALS AND DEFROSTER NOT ENABLING SAFE DRIVING. I DON'T WHAT TO DO , I TRIED CALLING FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T FIX THIS PROBLEM CORRECTLY. PLEASE HELP ME.

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE PEDAL SNAPS OPEN AND THE THROTTLE STICKS. *AK.

MY INERTIA SWITCH WAS BROKE , 1ST ON JULY 21, 1999 AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. I WAS TOLD BY COVEY DEALERSHIP THAT MY CAR WAS FIXED AND READY TO GO. I ADVISED THEM I WAS TAKING MY CAR OUT ON THE ROAD AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WOULD NOT BE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT, THEY ASSURED ME ALL WAS "FINE"...NINE DAYS LATER, I WAS STRANDED 400 MILES FROM HOME, WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM, THE INERTIA SWITCH. I WAS TOLD THAT THE INERTIA SWITCH SHOULD "NEVER" BREAK DOWN AND IT HAPPENED TO ME TWO TIMES IN NINE DAYS. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH FORD/MERCURY, AS I HAVE INCRUED EXPENSES OF $500 WHILE BEING STRANDED OUT OF TOWN AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS WRITING LETTERS, AND MAKING PHONE CALLS, TO NO AVAIL. I JUST THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF FORD/MERCURY INCOMPETANT CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

ACCELERATOR STUCK BETWEEN 3,000-4,000 RPM'S. DRIVER PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN DRIVER THREW THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WITH BOTH FEET ON THE PEDAL, INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. *AK

WAS DRIVING UP A RAMP WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD AFTER ENTERING INTERSECTION. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. TURNED VEHICLE OFF & SHIFTED INTO PARK TO RESTART. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF STALLING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING WITH ANY BODY PRESSURE ON SEAT THE SEAT WILL MOVE. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

STEERING STIFFENS WHILE DRIVING, REASON UNKNOWN. VEHICLE WAS LOOK AT BY A INDEPENDENT GAS STATION. POWER STEERING FLUID CHECK OKAY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT INFORMED AT THIS TIME. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER SINCE VEHICLE ONLY HAS LOW MILEAGE OF 39000. *AK

RECALL NUMBER 99V164000 SECONDARY HOOD LATCH, ARRIVED TO THE DEALER ON SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT, BUT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. REPAIRED BY DEALER ON 8/18/99. *AK

THE TIRES ARE AN "ALL TERRAIN" DESIGN, HOWEVER THEY PERFORM VERY VERY POORLY IN SNOW/SLUSH/VERY WET CONDITIONSWHEN COMBINED WITH THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALL WHEEL DRIVE. I'VE TALKED TO THREE EXPERTS WHO HAVE ALL CONCLUDED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE RUBBER BAND ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TREAD ON BOTH SIDES (THIS BAND HAS NO LUGS IN IT, RESULTING IN POOR TRACTION IN TURNS.) ESSENTIALLY, THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRIES TO PULL THE CAR FORWARD AND IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST POWER AWAY FROM THE WHEELS WITH POOR TRACTION. WHEN IT DOES SO, THE CAR HAS A MAJOR TENDENCY TO LOSE CONTROL AT ALL WHEELS. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR I HAVE SEEN OR HEARD OF TWO OTHER IDENTICAL VEHICLES GETTING INTO SIMILAR ACCIDENTS WITH THE SAME OPTIONS/TIRES AS MY VEHICLE, SO I ASUME IT IS A RE-OCCURING PROBLEM. THIS INCIDENCE OF TRACTION LOSS HAS RESULTED IN THREE MAJOR INCIDENTS OF SPINOUT, TWO OF THOSE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS, ONE ONLY INVOLVING MY CAR, AND ONE INVOLVING MINE AND ANOTHER. MY DRIVING RECORD HAS BEEN IMPECCABLE BEFORE THESE ACCIDENTS, ALSO NOTE THAT OTHER FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS AND FOUR 4WD TRUCKS WERE ON THE ROADS DOING FINE IN THE CONDITIONS, AND IN BOTH CASES I WAS GOING CONSIDERABLY UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT (30 IN A 50MPH & 15 IN A 25MPH). ALSO, IN BOTH CASES, BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED, SO THAT RULES OUT A CAUSE FOR THE SKID.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75 R15 )

WHEN DRIVER HIT A METAL POLE HEAD-ON THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. DAMAGES TOTALLED $5,000.00. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

RECALL 97V074000, CONCERNING THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL; DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT REGISTERED IN LISTED STATES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DROVE VEHICLE AND PARKED IT, HAD NO WARNING SIGNS, ABOUT 5 MINUTES, VEHICLE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. AAA INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND SAID IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT TAG BRACKET FALLING OFF/ REQUIRED REATTACHMENT. MJS

CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT WHEN CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. BRAKING WOULD STOP UNPLANNED ACCELERATION

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS CONDITION HAS CAUSED TWO REAR END CRASHES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 OR 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SPARK PLUGS FAILED. *YC

HEADLIGHTS FAILED. *YC

FRONT SEAT BACK ADJUSTMENT IS LOCATED ON LEFT, WHEN DRIVER EXITS THE VEHICLE AND BENDS THE LEVER, BENDING THE LEVER CAUSES STRESS & DAMAGE. YH

NOTICED CD & CASSETTE GETS VERY HOT AFTER 15/20 MINUTES OF PLAY.HEAT BUILD UP ON CD & CASSETTE IS UNUSAL AS I KNOW. WHEN I REPORTED TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, HE SAID "NEVER HEARD". LATTER THEY AGREED. FIRST TIME THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE UNIT. STILL IT IS HOT. THEY INFORMED ME ACCORDING TO FORD THIS HEAT BUILD UP IS NORMAL. I DISAGREE HEAT BUILD UP WILL DAMAGE THE TAPE & MAY EFFECT THE THE CD'S. HEAT IS ENEMY FOR AUDO EQUIPMENT.THIS KIND OF HEAT IS VERY UNUSAL, AS I KNOW. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE DIFFERENT MANUFACURERS CAR, TRUCK ETC, BUT NOWHERE I SEE THIS HEAT BUILD UP.

VEHICLE MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND STEERING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPLACED RACK AND PINION ON OCTOBER 19, 1998. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. REPLACED AGAIN ON DEC 15, 1998 DUE TO A LEAK IN THE RACK AND PINION. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THIS VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL, ROLLING ONTO IT'S SIDE AFTER DRIVER TRIED TO CORRECT AN INAPPROPRIATE LANE CHANGE. THERE WAS NEVER ANY POINT IN TIME IN WHICH THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THERE WERE NO DEATHS OR SERIOUS INJURIES CAUSED, BUT ONLY BECAUSE THERE WAS VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND IT OCCURRED AT A POINT ON THE ROADWAY WHERE THERE WERE NO TREES, GUARDRAILS OR ETC. IT MAY HAVE BEEN A PARTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES, BUT THE SENSITIVE STEERING WAS MOST UNFORGIVING! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO REQUIRE THE MANUFACTURERS TO CORRECT THESE SAFETY HAZARDS, BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

SPARE TIRE MOUNTS FAILED THEREFORE DID NOT HOLD TIRE SECURELY ALLOWING THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE TO RUB AGAINST THE FRAME WEARING THE TIRE.

UPON ACCELERATION THE ENGINE STALLS AND LOSES POWER ,AND COMPLETELY STOPS WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY PRIOR NOTIFICATION. INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VIBRATION IN REAR OF VEHICLE, UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM.

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 98V0600, FUEL LINES:METALLIC, TO HAVE REPAIRS CORRECTED. DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF RECALL AND REFUSED TO REPLACE PARTS. *AK

PLACE TRANSMISSION IN PARK POSITION, WHILE VEHICLE STILL RUNNING, TUN OFF IGNITION, CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD, DRAGGING ME FOR AT LEAST 300 FT. AND JUMP THE CURB, AND WAS STOPPED BY HITTING A TREE.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED , THE FRONT SUSPENSION BROKE IN HALF, DROPPING TO THE GROUND , THROWING THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK