Mercury Mountaineer Complaints (1998)

236 consumer complaints on file.

#858356March 13, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719603March 3, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
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 PLUS EXPENSES. I NOW RECALL SMELLING GAS FROM BEHIND THE CAR TWICE IN MID FEB.1999. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719238February 25, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THIS IS FOURTH TIME I'VE HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE IN FOR A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE IN FRONT END (METAL TO METAL SOUNDS). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719184February 24, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719205February 24, 2000
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#783973February 3, 2000
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#854763January 6, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT VEHICLE IDLES TO HIGHT RPM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716663December 30, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
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-DEVELOPING NEW SEALS I ASSUME (GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE SUPPOSEDLY BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A YEAR). MY DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN 100% UNDERSTANDING AND HELPFUL, BUT CANNOT PROVIDE A SOLUTION THAT DOES NOT EXIST, ALTHOUGH THEY CONTINUE TO ASSURE ME A PERMANENT SOLUTION IS IN THE WORKS PER FORD. I FEEL I HAVE EXHAUSTED MY OPTIONS IN PURSUING INFORMATION AND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, AND AM VERY WORRIED THAT MY SAFETY IS AT RISK FROM A DEFECTIVE, POORLY DESIGNED FRONT AXLE-TIRE ASSEMBLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#851448October 21, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THERE IS STILL NO SOUND. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713656October 21, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#849148September 29, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE PEDAL SNAPS OPEN AND THE THROTTLE STICKS. *AK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#712478September 29, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#845580September 15, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#847507September 10, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#844530August 6, 1999
SEATS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#844186August 3, 1999
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#843856July 30, 1999
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#709183July 26, 1999
TIRES
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 )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#842540July 19, 1999
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#842601July 19, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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