RoadVitals

1997 Ford Mountaineer

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Jan 2, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 22, 2001
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Ford Mountaineer, most frequently naming the driver assistance, interior & seats and airbags categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 9 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance225.0%
  • Interior & seats225.0%
  • Airbags112.5%
  • Brakes112.5%
  • Steering112.5%
  • Tires & wheels112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
01X001000

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

May 22, 2001
13,000,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.
The risk: SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 01B77View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jan 2, 2014
Fire reported

CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY GOT IN NEXT MORNING CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY MELTED.FORD HAS A RECALL ON THIS THEY SAID MY MODEL WAS NOT MANUFACTURED AT THIS PARTICULAR PLANT. ONE SIDE MELTED 2 MONTHS LATER OTHER SIDE MELTED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS HAS AFFECTED AIR BAG. I AM 84 YRS OLD AND AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR WORRIED FIRE COULD START WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10558146
Incident
Jun 7, 2012
Mileage
67,950 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 13, 2003

SEATBACK IS LOOSE AND KEEPS FALLING BACKWARDS. CAUSE UNKWOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10033804
Mileage
38,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 25, 2003

THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR, DOOR HANDLES AND LOCKS WERE REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES. CONSUMER STATED NOW AT 90,000 THE HANDLE AND LOCKS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB THE LIFT GATE WILL NOT OPEN, 1 OR 2 DOOR LOCKS HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR A LONG TIME. SCC

NHTSA ID
10012416
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 25, 2003

THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. *JB MOST OF THE TIME WHEN STOPPED, BEGIN TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL, IT WILL NOT MOVE UNTIL THE PRESSURE THEN BREAKS FREE, WHILE GIVING MUCH GAS AND LUNGING FORWARD, AND HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. SCC

NHTSA ID
10012415
Incident
Jan 3, 2001
Mileage
90,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 7, 2001

MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE TRAVELING IN ONE FOOT OF WATER AT 5 MPH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
889958
Incident
Jun 7, 2001
Brakes
Filed Dec 22, 2000

WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES PEDAL BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD AND RESISTS APPLICATION, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
876944
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 4, 2000

FIRESTONE TIRE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T005 SHREDDED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555513
Incident
Sep 1, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

RCDNN00V4028174

SUSPENSION; SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

Letter Pursuant to Part 573 of Title 49 of the Code fof Federal Regulations, Defect and Noncompliance Reports, Ford Motor Company submits the following information concerning a safety-related recall action that it is initiating.

RCDNN-00V402-817

SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

This recall action involves replacement of the front stabilizer bar links in certain 1995 through 1997 model year Explorer and Mountaineer vehicles. Under certain conditions, predominantly in cold weather areas, a front stabilizer bar link stud can fracture from bending fatigue. Bushing load/deflection testing indicates that the stiffness of the bushing urethane material increases as the temperature is lowered, which could increase the bending fatigue load on the stud from the bushing material.

00M11

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT SWAY BAR LINK . *YH

98165

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

EVAPORATOR CORE FAILED, CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONER TO DRIP ON TO PASSENGER FLOOR. YD

981617

FLOOR MAT INSTALLATION PROCEDURE SERVICE TIP. YD

7918

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

FRONT AXLE PINION LIL SEAL LEAKS.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Mountaineer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004400—
2003310—
2002112243.4
2001110—
2000210—
1999611—
1998521—
1997Viewing710—
1996000—
1995000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.