RoadVitals

1998 Mercury Mountaineer Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
11
Latest Jan 14, 2018
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.
5%
of 236 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 body or structure

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

Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jan 14, 2018

AT THIS POINT ALL 4 DOOR LOCKS/LATCHES ARE MESSED UP. BOTH DRIVER &PASSENGER BACK DOORS WON'T OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. DRIVER &PASSENGER FRONT DOORS WON'T OPEN FROM OUTSIDE UNLESS OPEN FROM INSIDE FIRST. KEY WON'T UNLOCK DOORS. BACK GLASS ON HATCH DOOR WON'T OPEN. BACK WIPER BROKEN. BACK HATCH WOULDN'T OPEN UNTILL I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEY SAID MY TRUCK NOT ON RECALL LIST & WANTED ME TO PAY TO FIX IT. MY TRUCK HAS SAME ISSUES AS THE ONES BEING RECALLED. HOW DO THEY DETERMINE WHICH ONES TO RECALL?

NHTSA ID
11062659
Incident
May 20, 2015
Body & structureEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Apr 13, 2011
Fire reported

MOVED MY TRUCK TO LET ANOTHER CAR OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY. PULLED BACK IN TURNED THE TRUCK OFF CAME IN THE HOUSE AND HEARD A LOUD BOOM. LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND FIRE WAS SHOOTING UP BY THE WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10395782
Incident
Apr 13, 2011
Mileage
75,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 23, 2002

WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAME OFF, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF DRIVING OR STANDING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8014526
Incident
Jul 15, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Jun 11, 2002

THE FLOORBOARD GOT SO HOT IN A SIX MILE DRIVE THAT THE PASSENGER COULD NOT SIT WITH FEET ON THE FLOOR. I MY WARRANTY WAS ALMOST UP AND I HAD NO SUCESS WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT LES JACOBS FORD IN FIXING THIS IN THEIR OVER 10 ATTEMPTS. I THEN TRADED THE VEHICLE OFF TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT ACCORDING TO THE CARFAX REPORT IT WAS WRECKED IN 3/22/98. I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE OF THIS AUTO. I HAVE FILED A REPORT WITH THE MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND I HAVE NOTIFIED LES JACOBS FORD & MERCURY. I HANDED A COPY OF THE CARFAX REPORT TO THE FORMER SERVICE MANAGER NOW GENERAL MANAGER, [XXX]. NOTICE THE NAME IS THE SAME AS THE DEALERSHIP. HE IS THE SON OF THE OWNER. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO TWO 98 EXPLORER OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND I HAVE ENCOURAGED THEM TO ALSO FILE WITH YOU.*AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
762947
Incident
May 29, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Mar 27, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE BEHIND THE CONSUMER RAN INTO THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND THE WHOLE REAR BUMPER WAS DAMAGED, $800 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE, THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS A MALIBU HAD ONLY MINOR SUPERFICIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S BUMPER FACIA. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. NLM TT

NHTSA ID
8006458
Incident
Mar 22, 2002
Body & structureHeating & air conditioning
Filed Mar 11, 2002
1 injury reported

THE FRONT FLOORBOARD OVERHEATED. THE FRONT SEATS BECAME WARM AS IF A SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NONE. THE FRONT TIRES BEGAN MAKING A WHOMPING SOUND AS IF FLAT. I PULLED OVER CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE. IT WAS NORMAL. I CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. THE ABS LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT THEN BEGAN TO FLASH. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. UPON REACHING MY DESTINATION, I REACHED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT TO GET THE KEYS I DROPPED. I ACCIDENTLY BUMPED THE SEAT BRACKET WITH MY LEFT TALL FINGER BLISTERING IT.

NHTSA ID
759193
Incident
Mar 9, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Mar 2, 2002
1 injury reported

ON WARM DAYS, ESPECIALLY WHEN AIRCONDITIONER IS USED THE FLOORBOARD AND SEAT BRACKETS GET HOT. I HAVE MELTED PLASTIC GAME PIECES, CRAYONS, AND HEATED FOOD ITEMS BY LAYING THEM ON THE FLOOR BOARD NEXT TO THE BRACKETS. I BUMPED THE SEAT BRACKET WHEN I PICKED UP MY KEYS AND BLISTERED MY HAND. I CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER REALTIONS DEPARTEMENT FOR MERCURY WHO TOOK A REPORT AND PROMISED TO FOLLOW UP. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM OR MY DEALER. I ONLY HAVE 10,000 MILES LEFT ON MY WARRANTY. THIS WILL ONLY BE THREE MONTHS FOR ME. THE LOCAL SERVICE MANANGER AND THE MECHANICS HAVE TRIED TO CONVINCE ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR AN SUV. IF THIS IS THE CASE, WHY ARE THEY ON THE ROAD? MY FEAR IS THAT THIS AUTO WILL BURST INTO FLAMES AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET MY KIDS OUT. THE FUMES WHEN THIS AUTO GETS HOT ALSO CAUSE MY DAUGHTER TO HAVE ASTHMA ATTACKS. I CAN NOT TRADE THE AUTO BECAUSE I OWE TO MUCH ON IT. THIS IS WHAT THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED. I FEEL THAT I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHER MOTORISTS TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE ISSUE OF THIS AUTO BEING A SAFTY HAZARD TO MYSTELF AND OTHERS. *AK

NHTSA ID
758851
Incident
Feb 26, 2001
Body & structureTires & wheels
Filed Feb 2, 2002
2 injuries reported

MOUNTAINEER'S FRONT FLOOR BOARD AND SEAT MOUNTING BRAKETS, ESPECIALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE, GET HOT ENOUGH TO BLISTER THE SKIN. WHEN THE FLOOR BOARD IS HOT THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND IT IS HARD TO STEER. THE MOUNTAINEER ALSO HAS EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT WHICH HAD LEAD TO TWO SETS OF TIRES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. IN 3000 MILES THE TIRES ARE WORN ENOUGH THAT THE MERCURY MAKES A WHOMPING SOUND MUCH LIKE A FLAT IS HARD TO TURN AND IS DIFFICULT TO STOP UNTIL I HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED. THE WHOLE PROCESS THEN HAS TO BE DONE AGAIN IN ANOTHER 3000 MILES WHICH ACCORDING TO FORD "SHOULD BE DONE EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE AND THIS IS NORMAL FOR AN SUV."*AK

NHTSA ID
757683
Incident
Jan 10, 2001
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Mar 21, 2000

MAY 5,1998 CAR DIED WHEN IT WAS GOING UP AN INCLINE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY. JUNE 3,1998 THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK,PLUS THE STEREO WHEN WE STOPPED LET OUT A HIGH PITCHED NOISE AND THEN STOPPED WORKING ABOUT AN HOUR LATER IT WAS OK AGAIN. LATER THAT EVENING THE CAR TRIED TO DIE AGAIN THE LIGHTS WENT DIM. JUNE 9,1998 WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH (50 THRU 80MPH)WENT OUT. JUNE 19,1998 PROBLEMS AGAIN CAR NOT WANTING TO START ALL THE TIME-DEALERSHIP INSTALLED FLIGHT DATA RECORDER UNTIL JUNE 26,1998 WHEN STEREO STARTED AGAIN AND DATA RECORDER WENT OUT. JULY 14,1999 CAR MAKING LOUD NOISE BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEY HAD TO REPLACE ALTENATOR/TENSIIONER/BELT. JULY 26,1999 CAR OVERHEATS AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN A MILE AWAY TOWED TO DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACE THERMOSTAT/THERMOSTAT HOUSING/GASKET . PICK CAR UP ON JULY 29,1999 FROM DEALERSHIP DRIVE 3.3 MILES FROM DEALERSHIP AND THE CAR CATCHES ON FIRE ON DRIVERS SIDE UNDER AROUND WERE THE FUSES ARE. CAR GETS REPAIRED THEN ON SEPT.22,1999 HAD TO BRING BACK AFTER DRIVING CAR THE HEADLIGHTS START TO FLASH ON & OFF. WELL ARE REARVEIW MIRROR HAS THE AUTO DIMING HEADLIGHTS THAT HAVE NOT WORKED FOR A WHILE NOW BUT I AM TIRED OF MESSING WITH THIS LEMON. OH BEFORE THE FIRE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU PUT THE TURN SIGNAL ON IT WOULD BUZZ. THIS IS THE PROBLEMS WE BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. MANY TIMES THE LIGHTS DIMMED BUT IT WOULD BE OK AFTER A LITTLE WHILE. *AK

NHTSA ID
720404
Incident
Jul 13, 1999
Body & structureBrakesEngine+1 more
Filed Feb 24, 2000

VEHICLE DRIVEN IN FORWARD AND COMES TO A STOP (I.E.- AT A STOP SIGN, TOLL BOOTH, OR TRAFFIC LIGHT) WILL STALL/HESITATE WITHOUT WARNING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED FORWARD AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN THREE STATES AND THEY SAY "FORD/MERCURY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT AT THE CURRENT TIME THERE IS NO FIX." RADIO WHEN TUNING WOULD NOT PICK UP ANY RADIOSTATIONS DUE TO RADIO NOT HOOKED TO ANTENNA. DOOR MOLDING ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR CAME LOOSE AND PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED MORE THAN THREE INCHES. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR TO DRIVE VEHICLE. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ENGINE BURNED OUT AND REAR WIPER DID NOT WORK. BRAKE STUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PLACE VEHICLE INTO GEAR AFTER INITIAL START OF ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
719184
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningElectrical+4 more
Filed May 14, 1999

FRONT TAG BRACKET FALLING OFF/ REQUIRED REATTACHMENT. MJS

NHTSA ID
545583
Incident
Jul 21, 1998

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 .