Mercury Mountaineer Complaints (1997)
328 consumer complaints on file.
- #10207736November 2, 2007EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MYSTIQUE (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TAIL LIGHT AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SMOLDERING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEAD LAMP SWITCH TERMINAL BURNED AND THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V103000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS: SWITCH). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000. UPDATED 11/29/07
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10201791September 4, 2007SEAT BELTS:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO LATCH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BECAUSE THE RELEASE MECHANISM WAS STUCK. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000. UPDATED 01/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/31/07
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10192815June 8, 2007VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
BLEND AIR DOOR SQUARE DRIVE BROKEN CAUSING SEVERE DISCOMFORT IN SUMMER AND IMPROPER DEFROSTER OPERATION DURING ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. MASTER TECHS IN AREA INDICATE PROBLEM OCCURES WITH EXCESS FREQUENCY ON VARIOUS MODEL AND YEARS OF FORD TRUCKS. THEY FURTHER INDICATE THE FAILURE RATE IS EXTREMELY EXCESSIVE COMPARED TO ALL OTHER MAKES AND MODELS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10184207March 5, 2007LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH 120000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 30 MPH ON A WINDY DAY THE HOOD LATCH FAILED AND THE HOOD OPENED. THE HOOD HINGES STOPPED THE HOOD FROM SLAMMING INTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120000.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177484December 20, 2006TIRES:TREAD/BELT
1997 MOUNTAINEER FIRESTONE TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TIRES THAT HE REPLACED. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10162514July 16, 2006LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BOTH REAR DOOR LATCHES CAN NOT BE RELEASED FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. FIRST RIGHT REAR FAILED AND ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER LEFT REAR FAILED. NECESSARY TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS TO REACH OUTSIDE FOR DOOR HANDLE OR HAVE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER GET OUT AND OPEN REAR DOOR. CHILD PROOF LOCKS CHECKED AND VERIFIED SELECTED TO NORMAL OPERATING POSITION. HAVE NEVER SELECTED CHILD LOCK OUT POSITION AS WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CHILDREN. HAVE BEEN TOLD MANY FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS SITUATION IF REAR SET PASSENGERS ARE UNABLE OPEN THEIR DOORS WITHOUT THE AID OF OTHERS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT WILL COST TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A DEALER YET. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10155042April 11, 2006VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
THE HOT/COLD ADJUSTMENT ON THE HEATER OF MY 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER IS INOPERATIVE, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHEN THE WINDSHIELD IS FOGGED, SINCE THE DEFOGGER BLOWS ONLY COLD AIR. THE PROBLEM, APPARENTLY STRIKES ALL 95-99 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EVENTUALLY, DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF THE HEAT BLEND DOOR. THE ESTIMATE FROM THE DEALER, WHO HAS DONE MANY, WAS OVER $200 FOR THE REDESIGNED PART, AND OVER $800 LABOR TO INSTALL. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10148228January 20, 2006SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL NOT HOLD THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WHEN INSERTED. THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY RELEASES THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND DOES NOT LOCK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134358August 26, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. I THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR USED, AND WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR THE FIRST TIME IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. IT WAS AT 70 MPH AND IT ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH. TO STOP VEHICLE HAD TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY OFF. THEN VEHICLE COASTED UNTIL IT WOULD STOP. ALSO HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES MANY TIMES TO STOP. THERE WAS NO CRASH. HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132270August 10, 2005SUSPENSION
DEALER STATES THAT MY VEHICLE [XXX] IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SWAY BAR LINKS 00S47- RECALL ID#00V402000. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE EXCLUDED EVEN THOUGH IT IS A 1997 MOUNTAINEER. I WOULD LIKE SOME COMPENSATION FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10118680April 29, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT LEVER THAT LETS THE SEAT BACK BROKE OFF, FORD DEALER HERE WON'T FIX IT. MY HUSBAND SAID HE REMENBERS A RECALL ON IT BUT FORGOT ABOUT IT. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT TO DO.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10108573February 18, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE CONSUMER FELT SOMETHING UNDER H IS FOOT SNAP. THE CONSUMER LOST SPEED, PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TO DISCOVER THE BOLT HOLDING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD FALLEN OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. *NM *TC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10109539February 2, 2005SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT SECURE AND HOLD, WHICH IS DANGEROUS IF VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN HIT THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10103146December 6, 2004SEAT BELTS:FRONT
FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT UNLATCH. CONSUMER AND PASSENGER HAD TO SLITHER OUT OF THE SEAT IN ORDER TO BE RELEASED. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10097121October 19, 2004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE RPM STARTED RACING AT A HIGH RATE. THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10088203August 19, 2004LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
I CURRENTLY OWN A 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. MY WIFE PURCHASED THIS MOUNTAINEER IN EARLY 1998, AND UP UNTIL NOW WE HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH ITS PERFORMANCE. *AK RECENTLY, I WAS CHARGING THE BATTERY OVERNIGHT. I LEFT FOR WORK AND INSTRUCTED MY WIFE ON DISCONNECTING THE CHARGER BEFORE SHE USED THE CAR. MY WIFE DISCONNECTED THE CHARGER AND CLOSED THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT OUT TO RUN ERRANDS. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN SHE CLOSED THE HOOD, IT DID NOT LATCH COMPLETELY. HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE I WOULD EXPECT THE SECONDARY, SAFETY LATCH TO HOLD THE HOOD CLOSED UNTIL THE VIBRATING HOOD WAS NOTICED AND THE HOOD CLOSED PROPERLY. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. TURNING OUT OF OUR SUBDIVISION, AND AT A RELATIVELY LOW RATE OF SPEED (30 MPH), THE HOOD RELEASED AND JAMMED INTO THE UP POSITION. NOT ONLY DID THIS CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE HOOD, IN THE UP POSITION, OFFERS NO VISUAL GAP WITH WHICH THE DRIVER CAN MAINTAIN A REASONABLE VIEW OF THE ROADWAY IN ORDER TO PILOT THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION, BUT IT ALSO BENT THE HINGES ON WHICH THE HOOD IS MOUNTED. WHEN I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, I FOUND THAT THE SPRING THAT HOLDS THE SAFETY LATCH IN ITS TEMPORARY LOCKED POSITION HAD BROKEN. GLADLY, THIS HAPPENED IN A LOW TRAFFIC VOLUME LOCAL ROADWAY AND MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION, EVENTUALLY CREEPING BACK TO OUR HOUSE AFTER SHE HAD FORCED THE HOOD DOWN. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGH VOLUME STREET, CHANCES ARE THAT HER AND MY ONE-YEAR-OLD SON WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WE HAVE DILIGENTLY FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR THE VEHICLE, AND THE SECONDARY, SAFETY LATCH GAVE NO INDICATION OF BEING BROKEN UNTIL IT FAILED. IT APPEARS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE HOOD AND ITS MOUNTING HINGES REPLACED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10081435July 7, 2004SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHEN ATTEMPING TO MOVE CONSUMER'S SIDE SEAT FORWARD RECLINER COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR SEAT. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BOLT FAILED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10073055May 24, 2004STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
I HAVE OWNED MY 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SINCE 1998. WITHIN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE ONE OF THE REAR DOOR MECHANISMS BROKE. SINCE IT IS RARE FOR ANYONE TO RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT, I DIDN'T BOTHER FIXING IT. THIS PAST WEEKEND THE OTHER SIDE BROKE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A REAR PASSENGER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY WITHOUT SOMEONE OPENING THE DOORS FROM OUTSIDE. I NOTICED THIS SAME COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED IN YOUR DATABASE BY NUMEROUS CUSTOMERS. I PHONED FORD/MERCURY AT THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO FACTORY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I PHONED MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A REOCCURING PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL VEHICLE AND THAT FORD HAD MADE DESIGN CHANGES TO SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS BUT HAD REFUSED TO RECALL THE EARLIER MODELS. THIS IS A DANGER TO ANYONE RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT OF THESE VEHICLES, AS THE DOOR BREAKS WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN YOU TRY TO EXIT YOU JUST CAN'T. ONCE AGAIN, FORD HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND HAS REFUSED TO ACT IN THE WELFARE OF ITS CUSTOMERS.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10065617April 6, 2004EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
THE TAILGATE OF MY 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER FELL OFF IN JULY 2001 DUE TO RUST AND / OR METAL FATIGUE AND / OR AN ENGINEERING DEFECT? IT WAS REPLACED ON 7/30/01 AND THE METAL IS NOW CRACKING AGAIN. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM INTERESTED! *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10063725March 23, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS ON BRAKES CUT IN WHEN SHOULD NOT. MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0