RoadVitals

1996 Mercury 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.
3
Latest Nov 8, 2000
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.
2
Latest Aug 21, 2000
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Mercury Mountaineer, most frequently naming the tires & wheels and driver assistance categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 57 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

  • Tires & wheels266.7%
  • Driver assistance133.3%

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

2 campaigns 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
00T005000

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

Aug 21, 2000
14,400,000 units potentially affected
The defect: TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.
The risk: IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
97V074000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Apr 30, 1997
23,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0L ENGINES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA ONLY), MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THESE VEHICLES, WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -20 DEGREES FARENHEIT, DO NOT RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE IN THE THROTTLE BODY.
The risk: ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE CAN RESULT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 97S67View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 8, 2000

I HAD TIRE BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING AT APROX.55-60 MPH. VEHICLE VEERED FROM THE ROAD . TIRE SHOWS SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION IN AN AREA ABOUT 8 INCHES LONG THAT RUNS ALONG THE SIDEWALL AND RAPS ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY ACROSS THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS A RIGHT REAR WILDERNESS AT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: P235 75 15)

NHTSA ID
735972
Incident
Nov 8, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 18, 2000

MY WIFE PURCHASED A 1996 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER IN HAWAII IN FEBRUARY 1998. THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH WILDERNESS AT TIRES (VNHL IPY 336 235/75 R15). IN DECEMBER 1999, TREAD ON ONE OF THE NEW TIRES SEPARATED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 25,005 MILES ON IT WHILE DRIVING IN HAWAII AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 55 MPH. WE WENT TO A FIRESTONE DEALER IN WAIPAHU, HI AND WERE TOLD WE HAD TO BUY A NEW TIRE ($39.97 ) THAT WOULD BE PRORATED BASED UPON THE REMAINING TREAD. THE LOW COST FOR THE NEW TIRE REFLECTED THE LACK OF TREAD WEAR ON THE BAD TIE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS REPLACEMENT TIRE WAS ANOTHER WILDERNESS TIRE (8XHL 1PY 1100 235/75 R15). WHILE IN EL PASO IN MAY 2000, AS WERE DRIVING THE MOUNTAINER ACROSS COUNTRY, A SECOND OF THE ORIGINAL "VNHL" TIRES SUFFERED TREAD SEPARATION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AS WE WERE REPLACING THE SECOND TIRE, WITH ANOTHER WILDERNESS AT (8XHL 1PY 269, 235/75 R15 ), AT A PRORATED COST OF $64.99, THE MECHANIC, AT BOB MUSEL MESA FIRESTONE IN EL PASO, NOTICED THAT A THIRD "VNHL" ON THE GROUND WAS BAD BECAUSE IT HAD A CHUNK OF TREAD MISSING FROM THE TIRE. HE TOOK THIS BAD TIRE OFF THE GROUND AND IT IS NOW MY USELESS SPARE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING EITHER INCIDENT. BUT I THINK OUR LUNCK MIGHT BE RUNNING OUT. THE TREAD SEPARATION LED US TO CONDUDE IN MAY THAT THE ORIGINAL WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAT CAMNE WITH THE VEH WERE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE, AND THE RECENT FIRESTONE RECALL SUGGESTS THAT ALL OF THE WILDERNESS TIRES ARE PROBABLY DEFECTIVE, DESPITE THE DISTINCTION THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING PROFERRED. WE VISITED FIRESSTONE DEALERS IN NEWARK (COCHRAN & TREVITS) AND NEW CASTLE (SCOTT BALMANN, MANAGERE) DELAWARE THIS PAST WEEKEND TO ATTEMPT TO HAVE OUR DANGEROUS, DEFECTIVE TIRES REPLACED. WE SHOWED OUR RECEIPTS, TOLD OUR STORY AND GOT NO RESULTS. IN EACH CASE, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT NEITHER "VNHL" OR 8XHL" DOT DESIGNATED WILDERENESS AT TIRES WERE PART OF THE RECALL ESTABLISHED BY FIRESTONE. MY FORMER/CURRENT "VHNL" TIRES ARE BAD!!!!

NHTSA ID
728356
Incident
Dec 29, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 21, 2000

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THROTTLE REMAINS OPEN, CAUSING UNATTTENDED ACCELERATION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
855301

Manufacturer communications

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

16735

SUSPENSION:REAR

VARIOUS NOISE ISSUES FROM THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS WHILE DRIVING. *TT

16040

STEERING

EXPERIENCING A CLICKING / POPPING NOISE FROM THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN AREA WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT

15249

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

CONCERNS WITH HIGH BRAKE PEDAL FORCE TO STOP AFTER ROTOR MACHINING. *TT

14819

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SOME 4X4 VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FLUID LEAK FROM THE FRONT AXLE VENT TUBE. *TT

14847

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

CONCERNS WITH VEHICLES EXHBIT FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE FRONT AXLE VENT TUBE. *TT

13879

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INFORMATION ON REPLACING A GEM MODULE ON 4X4 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L SOHC, OHV AND THE NEUTRAL TOW KIT. *TT

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

Mercury Mountaineer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2011000—
2010131135.8
2009600—
2008962148.8
2007811140.8
20061172047.3
2005821142.8
20042101350.3
20031521249.1
20023724561.2
2001224261.0
20001238264.1
19991519463.3
19982366768.5
19973287465.4
1996Viewing320—
1995000—
1994000—
1993000—
1992000—
1991000—

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.