1997 Mercury Mountaineer Brakes Problems

ABS ON BRAKES CUT IN WHEN SHOULD NOT. MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10063725

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

Mileage

99,500 mi

I NEEDED MY BRAKES (ALL 4) DONE, AND NOTICED WHEN I STEPPED ON MY EMERGENCY BRAKE THE SUV WOULD NOT STOP AND BARELY SLOWED, AFTER GETTING IT BACK FROM DEALER WHICH I INFORMED OF TH E BRAKE, I TESTED THE E BRAKE AGIAIN AND ALL THOUGH IT NOW GRABBED THE CAR WOULD STILL MOVE FORWARD IN DRIVE WITH NO APPLIED PREASUR TO THE GAS. I TOOK IT BACK AND TOLD THEM THE E BRAKE STILL DID NOT WORK RIGHT , THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION(KEEPING THE SUV FROM MOVING AT 1100 RPMS). THIS IS WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME ALL MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS AND FORD EXPLORERS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT CAN'T BE HELPED, HE TOLD ME HE COULD BRING OUT A BRAND NEW ONE AND IT WOULD DO THE SAME. I ASKED WHAT ABOUT INSPECTION- IT WON'T PASS HE SAID BRING IT TO THEM FOR INSPECTION AND THEY WOULD PASS IT . "NOT GOOD!" WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? IF IT IS TRUE ALL SUVS EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS ARE LIKE THIS THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED DON'T YOU THINK.?

NHTSA ID

766364

Incident

Jul 28, 2002

ABS SYSTEM FAILED AT 72,000 MILES AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. *MJ

NHTSA ID

566604

GAS PEDAL KEEPS STICKING, AND IT IS TOO HARD TO STOP VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

8010068

Incident

Mar 20, 2002

THE PROBLEM I,M REPORTING HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND I REFUSE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT . AFTER COMING TO A STOP , THE VEHICLE MOVES AHEAD AND AS HARD AS YOU BRAKE THE FASTER IT MOVES . HAS ALMOST CAUSED 2 ACCIDENT THE BOTH TIMES ITS DONE IT . MY FEARS ARE THE DEALERSHIP (MANUFACTURER ) WILL NOT OWN UP TO THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM . WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MY LEGAL RIGHTS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM AND ALSO REPORT WHAT I BELIEVE IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION .

NHTSA ID

753537

WHEN APPROACHING STOP SIGN, AT INTERSECTION, VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, CAUSING A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE ENGINE ROARED AS IF ACCELERATING. WE HAVE HAD ONE OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE BRAKING. DEALER EXPLAINED THAT DRIVER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT SAME TIME. IN SECOND INCIDENT, I AM SURE THAT I HAD MY FOOT ONLY ON THE BRAKE. DEALER EXAMINED VEHICLE AFTER EACH INCIDENT AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.

NHTSA ID

745990

Incident

May 14, 2001

BRAKE CALIPER CAME LOOSE DUE TO BOLTS BREAKING/FAILING. INFO SENT TO FORD/MERCURY 2-22-01 AND THEY SAID THIS WAS INCIDENTAL AND NOT A CONCERN TO THEM. I INFORMED THEM THAT THE DEALER WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM WAS OUT OF BUSINESS. THE GENTLEMAN WHO I TALKED TO WAS NAMED WAYNE. I CAN EMAIL LETTER AND PHOTOS OF THE SCORED RIM AND FAILED BOLTS THAT I HAD MAILED TO FORD. WE HAD TO REPLACE RIM AND TIRE DUE TO DAMAGE COSTING US ABOUT $600. SERVICE MANAGERS AND MECHANICS TOLD US THIS WAS FREQUENT FOR THESE BOLTS TO BREAK WITH FORD BRAKE SYSTEMS. I WAS JUST DRIVING TO WORK....I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS OR PULLING OUR CAMPER!! I REQUESTED FORD TO REIMBURSE FOR PARTS AND WORK TIME LOST. *AK

NHTSA ID

742633

Incident

Feb 21, 2001

BRAKES WORE OUT IN ABOUT 3TO 6 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE . CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES ABOUT 4 TIMES. FIRST TIME CONSUMER DID TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT REMEDIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

880625

Incident

Feb 1, 1998

BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. SOMETIMES WHEN PRESSING BRAKES FOOT IS ACTUALLY ON GAS PEDAL, ONCE CONSUMER RAN RIGHT INTO GARAGE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

877396

Incident

Dec 20, 2000

WHILE PARKING AT A RIGHT ANGLE ON A STEEP HILL OVERLOOKING A BUSY ROAD, THE CAR ALMOST AT A STANDSTILL, THE DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED SCREAMING, THE GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED ON ITS OWN AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD OVER A CONCRETE PARKING CURB AND MOWED DOWN A TALL PALM TREE. MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF NOT FOR HITTING THE TREE, AS SHE HAD ALREADY TAKEN OFF HER SEATBELT AND OPENED HER DOOR - WE WERE SO CLOSE TO A STANDSTILL. THE TREE STOPPED THE CAR FROM GOING OVER A VERY STEEP HILL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ONTO TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD BELOW. THE REPLACEMENT VALUE OF THE TREE IS NOT YET KNOWN. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED VIA CHANNEL 4 TV IN UK, AND DATELINE NBC THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, AS MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF NOT FOR THE PALM TREE. I HAVE NOW HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISABLED ON THE VEHICLE SO THAT I CAN DRIVE IT, AS I CAN NOT ETHICALLY TRADE IT IN AND LET SOMEONE ELSE BUY IT WHEN I KNOW IT HAS A PROBLEM. I HOPE THAT BY REGISTERING THIS BRIEF COMPLAINT THAT IT WILL HELP YOU TO INFLUENCE FORD LINCOLN MERCURY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAULT RECALL THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

738056

Incident

Oct 13, 2000

PLEASE BE ADVISED, I AM A POLICE OFFICER OPERATING THIS LEASED VEHICLE AND I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I'VE INDICATED AT LEAST SIX TIMES TO ME IN THE PAST MONTH, THIS VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO EXCCERATE ANY TIME YOU DEEPLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS GENERALLY HAPPENS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN YOU MAY INADVERTENTLY JUST HOLD DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT ALSO WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF YOU WERE FORCED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES, AS YOU WOULD GENERALLY PANIC AND TRY TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT OVERLY CLOSE TO THE EXCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT APPARENTLY THE NORMAL FOOT MOVEMENT FROM ONE PEDAL TO ANOTHER IS NOT FAR ENOUGH TO AVOID DEPRESSING BOTH. I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW SERIOUS THIS SITUATION CAN BE, IT HAS CAUSED SUDDEN BURSTS OF EXCELERATION FROM COMPLETE STOPS, AND CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD DO AT HIGHER SPEED PANIC STOPS. I WOULDN'T DOUBT THAT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN THE SUBJECT OR CAUSE OF MANY MINOR AS WELL AS HIGH SPEED ACCIDENTS, AS THE DRIVER WOULD ACTUALLY BE ACCELERATING AT THE SAME TIME HE OR SHE IS TRYING TO BRAKE.

NHTSA ID

731624

Incident

Sep 4, 2000

ABS FAILED AT LOW SPEED , SLID INTO CURB BECAUSE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP, BROKE WHEEL

NHTSA ID

730685

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

MY TIRES ARE CAUSING THE TRUCK TO GO THUMP THUMP THUMP ALL THE TIME. THEY HAVE CRACKS AROUND THE TREAD AREA. THE ONE TIRE (I WAS TOLD BY EXPERT TIRE HAS THE STEEL BELT SHOWING. THE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED 2 MONTHS EARLIER AND THAT TIRE HAD BEEN PUT IN THE BACK WHERE I COULDN'T SEE IT. BY SHERWOOD. BOTH PLACES SAY THAT THE THUMPING NOICE IS DUE TO FRONT WHEEL AILGMENT NEEDED. PLUS THAT IS THE REASON WHY THEY SAY THE ONE TIRE IS BAD. I FEEL THAT BOTH THESE PROBLEMS ARE BAD ONES AND I NEED TO TELL YOU ALL. THANKS PAMELA S PWHEN I BRAKE (NOT EVERYTIME, BUT A LOT) IT SEEMS THAT THEY DO NOT CATCH. I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND I CAN FELL IT DRAGING. IT CAUSES THE TRUCK TO PULL BUT NOT ENOUGHT TO CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL. IT DOES HOWEVER CAUSES THE TRUCK TO GO FARTHER OUT IN THE STREET AFTER THE STOP LIGHT OR SIGN.THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TO 15 TIMES.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: 235-75R15 )

NHTSA ID

730302

AT LOW SPEEDS ABS WOULD KICK IN, AND CONSUMER COULD FEEL PULSE IN BRAKE PEDAL. MECHANIC SAID THAT ROTORS RUSTED AND DELAMINATED.*AK

NHTSA ID

866346

Incident

Jul 17, 2000

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE RUSTED WITH MARKS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER CALLED MANUFACTURER & WAS TOLD THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM, BUT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. VEHICLE WAS FIRST TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AT 5,000 MILES BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED & THE DEALER SAID IT WAS FINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

864329

Incident

Jun 23, 2000

INSIDE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE BROKE OFF WHILE RELEASING. *AK

NHTSA ID

719394

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL WAS HARD AND WOULDN'T GO DOWN. CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

846985

Incident

Jun 30, 1998

WHILE DRIVING CONSUME R STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, VEHICLE STOPPED MADE A LOUD NOISE LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. *AK

NHTSA ID

839897

Incident

Jun 8, 1999

THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE PURCHASE. I AM WRITING THIS DEFECT REPORT TO WAHT CAN BE DONE AND SO OTHER DRIVERS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES DO NOT GO THROUGH THE HASSLES I'VE BEE THROUGH. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

705416

Incident

Aug 2, 1996

PARKING BRAKE RELEASE FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

605988

Incident

Jul 1, 1997

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY PLACED AUTOMOBILE IN CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER A WHILE AUTOMOBILE BEGAN TO SPEED UP OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER COULD NOT DISENGAGE AUTOMOBILE. APPLIED BRAKES UNTIL REAR BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

833596

Incident

Jan 2, 1999

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND THE CONUMER STILL HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES. VEHICLE KEPT GOING CONSUMER SAID THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. *AK

NHTSA ID

831534

Incident

Nov 2, 1998

BRAKES HAVE FAILED TWO TIMES DUE TO OVERHEATING.

NHTSA ID

542025

Incident

Aug 20, 1998

THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE WIRES WERE TAMPERED WITH. CONSUMER DENIED THE ALLEGATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

825171

Incident

Jul 7, 1998

AS CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A STOP, CONSUMER'S FOOT ALSO RESTED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. IF CONSUMER HAS WIDE FEET IT COULD CAUSE MISAPPLICATION ON THE PEDAL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK *TT

NHTSA ID

825923

Incident

Jul 18, 1998