RoadVitals

1997 Mercury Mountaineer Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Dec 16, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 328 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Dec 16, 2008
Fire reported

WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE INCIDENT. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS, WHEN UPON WAKING AT AROUND 3:50 AM ON SUNDAY MORNING, I SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR EMANATING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSE. AS I INVESTIGATED, I SOON FOUND OUT THAT THE SMELL WAS NOT IN THE HOUSE, BUT OUTSIDE, AND THAT'S WHEN I FOUND MY CAR ABLAZE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY BEEN CALLED BY THE TIME I REALIZED WHAT IT WAS, AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. NO POLICE CAME, AND NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE ONLY INFORMATION GIVEN TO ANY OFFICIAL WAS MY NAME, MY CELL NUMBER, THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER, AND POSSIBLY THE VIN. THE 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER NOW SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10252041
Incident
Dec 13, 2008
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jul 10, 2002

IF DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPLASHES WATER ONTO SERPETINE BELT, RESULTING IN TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL/ ALTERNATOR CHARGE, AND AIR CONDITIONING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8013704
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 2002

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS FAILED MORE THAN ONCE; THEREFORE, LEAKING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUUNT OF CARBON MONOXIDE WHICH CAUSES PASSENGERS AND DRIVER TO BECOME SLEEPY.*AK

NHTSA ID
762549
Engine
Filed Mar 28, 2002

PROBLEM MENTIONED ON VISIT IN DECEMBER 01. MY SON AND I EXPERIENCED CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING ON A TRIP TO CHICAGO 3/15/02. THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR VEHICLES IN THE RURAL AREA IN WHICH I LIVE. I FEEL A SERVICE ALERT SHOULD BE SENT FOR SIMILAR AGE MAKE VEHICLES THAT COME IN FOR SERVICE. ESPECIALLY IF THEY MENTION A TICK IN THE ENGINE. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF CRACKED EGR TUBES? NLM

NHTSA ID
759913
Incident
Mar 15, 2002
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Aug 15, 2001

THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THAT ALL THE FIRESTONE TIRES BE REPLACED, TWO OF THE ORIGINAL WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAT CONSUMER HAD ON HIS VEHICLE WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL, THERFORE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT.*YH

NHTSA ID
562514
Incident
Jul 3, 2000
Engine
Filed Mar 31, 2000

I DON'T KNOW THAT IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE I NEED TO BE, BUT MY SUV HAS QUITE A BIT OF RUST UNDERNEATH AND IN THE WHEELS, I CAN SCRATCH SOME OFF WITH CHIPPING COMING OFF, I HAVE MET WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE FORD REP, THEY SAY I HAVE SURFACE RUST AND IT WON'T RUST THREW THE STEEL, IN MY LIFE TIME, AND I AM UNEASE ABOUT THAT, MY SEAT BELTS HAVE A SMELL TO THEM AND I FEEL LIKE IT HAS HAD SOME WATER DAMAGED TO IT, BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN IT, THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE GASKETS, OIL PAN, CRANKSHAFT REAR SEAL, AND REAR MAIN SEAL, AND IT IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR A POPING SOUND. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO NEXT TO GET THIS MATTER TAKEN CARE OF, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS MUCH RUST, CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME, AND GIVE ME THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GO NOW. I THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NHTSA ID
720826
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 24, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE WILL HESITATE OR STOP MOMENTARILY WHEN VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STARTING TO ACCELERATE. MERCURY KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *AK.ET

NHTSA ID
857467
Engine
Filed Feb 23, 2000

RADIATOR LEAKS AROUND THE PLASTIC TANK WHICH IS CONNECTED TO CORE OF RADIATOR. PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY WHEN WEATHER IS COLD. ONCE VEHICLE HAD HEATED IT DID NOT LEAK. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & INFORMED VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY & NO RECALLS OR BULLETINS ON VEHICLE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
857422
Engine
Filed Feb 7, 2000
Fire reported

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
856349
Incident
Jan 4, 2000
Engine
Filed Dec 4, 1999

VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING COMPLETEY FOR UP TO 1 MINUTE AFTER GOING THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. LOSS OF STEERING AT SPEED IS VERY DANGEROUS. DEALER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL CLAIM THIS IS FORD-WIDE PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO KNOWN FIX. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN SEVERE ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID
715622
Incident
Nov 23, 1999
Engine
Filed Nov 22, 1999

GASKET ON THE MANIFOLD FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
549645
Engine
Filed Sep 8, 1999

OIL PAN DRAINPAN FLAWED FROM FACTORY.

NHTSA ID
609811
Incident
Jul 20, 1997
Engine
Filed Aug 26, 1999

ENGINE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING GAS FUMES INTO THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID
845930
Incident
Jun 15, 1999
EngineInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Feb 18, 1999

INSTRUMENTAL LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE PROPERLY CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, NO ABLE TO BE RECTIFIED.

NHTSA ID
543969

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .