1998 Mercury Mountaineer Electrical Problems

ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH NO WARNING MY INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS AND FRONT AND BACK WINDSHIELD WIPERS DIDN'T FUNCTION. I WAS DRIVING IT STARTED TO RAIN AND I COULD SEE VERY WELL WITHOUT FUNCTIONING WIPERS. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I FIGURE THAT A FUSE MIGHT HAVE BLOWN BUT WHEN I CHECKED ALL FUSES THEY SEEM TO BE OK. I WAS REVIEWING A RECALL FOR A 1999 MOUNTAINEER FOR A GEM PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE IS A 1998, COULD THIS PROBLEM BE SIMILAR TO THE 1999 RECALL. IT APPEARS TO HAVE ALL THE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS . IS IT POSSIBLE THAT MY 1998 MOUNTAINEER HAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10565323

Incident

Feb 17, 2014

Mileage

104,000 mi

AT 2 AM WE SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW IT COMING FROM GARAGE, WHEN I OPENED GARAGE DOOR FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF FRONT OF CAR. MY MOTHERS CAR BURNT AND IT IS A TOTAL LOSS. WE HAD TO CALL FIRE DEPT. MY GARAGE WAS WRECKED. MY HOUSE HAS SMOKE DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10458793

Incident

May 16, 2012

Mileage

102,000 mi

BEING THE SPACE IS LIMITED, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AS FOLLOWS: MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. I HAVE HAD VARIOUS SHOPS USE THEIR COMPUTER TO FIND OUT WHY THE LIGHT WAS ON AND HAVE PAID FOR CLEANING VALVES, SENSORS, AND HOSES AS WELL AS HAVING NEW SENSORS INSTALLED. THE FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED AT 90,000 MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE. TODAY, THE SHOP WHERE I NOW TAKE MY VEHICLE FOR SERVICING USED THEIR COMPUTER TO SEE WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON YET AGAIN AND IT GENERATED A TSB FROM FORD, ARTICLE 04-7-5 WHICH SUPERSEDES ARTICLE TSB 03-25-1. THIS ARTICLE STATES THE ISSUE AS "SOME 1998 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 5.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE(S) P0420 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD-BANK 1) AND/OR P0430 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD - BANK 2). THE ACTION LISTED FOR CORRECTION OF THIS PROBLEM IS STATED AS "TO SERVICE, REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) TO THE LATEST CALIBRATION USING WDS RELEASE B28.3 OR HIGHER. REPLACEMENT OF CATALYST'S IS NO LONGER NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF THIS CONDITION." THIS SOUNDS LIKE A PROBLEM FORD INSTALLED ON THESE 1998 MOUNTAINEERS AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BEAR THE COST OF REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE FOR THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND SAFELY. THE WORKER AT THE SHOP TOOK THE TIME TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THIS ARTICLE MEANT AND THE POSSIBLE RAMIFICATIONS TO THE FUNCTIONING OF MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM CAUSED BY FORD NOT HAVING THE CORRECT COMPUTER PROGRAM RUNNING IN THE VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC IS TELLING ME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND WILL COST ABOUT $3000 FOR THE PARTS ALONE. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS OR INSPECTION. I WENT 1 YEAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NOW IT IS BACK AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10189929

Incident

Apr 21, 2007

Mileage

89,560 mi

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, V8, AWD, VIN [XXX] WITH 142,000 MILES. I PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY ON FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 14, 2006 WHERE THE CAR REMAINED UNUSED UNTIL SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 16, 2006. ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 16, 2006, AROUND 1:00 PM THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE, ALSO CATCHING MY HOUSE ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE HOUSE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE IN ONE AREA. THE CAR WAS NOT USED BETWEEN THE TIME IT WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT FIRE. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10164700

Incident

Jul 14, 2006

Mileage

142,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. IT HAD 60,000 ON THE ODOMETER. THE BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER NEVER WORKED, AND DOES ONCE IN A WHILE AND THE RADIO LIGHT NEVER STAYS ON. ONCE IN A WHILE IT WILL SHOW THE STATION OR THE TIME. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN LOOSE. MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A YEAR AFTER I GOT IT AND IT WILL NOT GO OFF. IT SAY EGR FLOW INSUFFICIENT AND YET I HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THOSE AND HAD THE COMPUTER RESET. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK UNLESS I LOCK IT BY HAND AND THEN YOU CAN'T OPEN IT. THE BACK SEATS SOMETIMES LOCK AND OTHER TIMES WON'T. MY SEAT WAS RECALLED AND I TOOK IT, AND NOW IT IS BROKEN. THESE CARS ARE NOT MADE VERY WELL AND I THINK WE SHOULD GET LETTERS ON THE RECALLS. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED BUT ONE LETTER AND I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY, BUT I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER RECALLS AND I WASN'T NOTIFIED. WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? *JB

NHTSA ID

10164421

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

Mileage

63,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME--APPROXIMATELY AROUND 6:00 AM THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION!*JB

NHTSA ID

10135805

Incident

Sep 2, 2005

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED UP. THE FIREMEN INDICATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND LOOKED LIKE IT STARTED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THIS DOCUMENT WAS MAILED TO HER HOME IN ERROR.*JB

NHTSA ID

10124074

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

Mileage

99,000 mi

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON ITS OWN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S RESIDENCE. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101975

Incident

Nov 24, 2004

1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HEADLIGHTS GO DARK MOMENTARILY WHEN USING TURN SIGNALS OR CHANGING FROM LOW TO HIGH BEAMS

NHTSA ID

10051445

Incident

Dec 29, 2003

CD RADIO DISPLAY HAS GONE OUT, FIRST BEGAN TO FADE IN AND OUT AND NOW I HAVE NO DISPLAY. MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE FORUMS ON THE INTERNET THAT SPECIFICALLY DISCUSS THIS ISSUE. IT HAS ALSO OCCURED WITH MANY EXPLORERS AS WELL. HOW CAN FORD/MERCURY NOT RECALL AN OBVIOUSLY WIDESPREAD FLAW? THIS REALLY MAKES ME DOUBT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE EFFORTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045592

Incident

Jun 3, 2002

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHEN HANDLING A CD THAT WAS EJECTED FROM THE STEREO OF MY 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, THE DISC WAS SO HOT I RECEIVED A FIRST DEGREE BURN. APPARENTLY, HEAT BUILD-UP WITHIN THE DASH BOARD OF THE FORD EXPLORER/MERCURY MOUNTAINEER IS CAUSING EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THE TEMPERATURE IS ALSO HIGH ENOUGH TO CAUSE COMPONENT FAILURES WITHIN THE STEREO HEAD UNIT ADDING TO MY CONCERN OF A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. MANY INTERNET FORUMS HOST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE HEAT BUILD-UP CAUSING THE DISPLAY UNITS OF THE STEREOS TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, OR COMPLETELY. ACCORDING TO THE DISCUSSIONS, THIS IS VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE, HAPPENING ON SEVERAL FORD AND MERCURY MODELS OVER SEVERAL YEARS. (INCIDENT DATE IS APPROXIMATE). *JB

NHTSA ID

10041112

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

Mileage

62,000 mi

ELECTRONIC CONTROLS OPERATED BY THE GENERIC CONTROL MODULE (WIPERS, REAR DEFROSTER, POWER WINDOWS ETC.) HAVE LOCKED UP. THROTTLE STICKS AFTER FULL STOP AND USE OF CRUISE CONTROL AND NEEDS EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MOVE FORWARD. EXISTING RECALLS SHOULD COVER THESE REPAIRS, AS WELL AS TWO OTHER RECALLS FOR THE CORROSIVE HOOD LATCH, AND SPEED CONTROL WHERE THE THROTTLE COULD ICE UP IN PROLONGED COLD WEATHER. I WENT IN ARMED WITH DOCUMENTATION AND THE RECALL INFORMATION FROM THE WEBSITE BUT THE SAYVILLE FORD DEALERSHIP IN SAYVILLE, NY, REFUSED TO SERVICE THEM, STATING THEY WERE "CAMPAIGNS" NOT ACTUAL RECALLS. IF YOUR VEHICLE DOESN'T COME UP FOR SERVICE ON THEIR COMPUTER, THEY DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEGAL RECALLS AND WON'T DO THE REPAIRS. RECALL #'S: 00V072000, 99V062001, 99V164000, 97V074000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029148

Incident

Jul 22, 2003

Mileage

29,500 mi

THE RADIO DISPLAY LED READ OUT WILL GO BLACK INTERMITTANTLY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD DUE TO A BAD DESIGN. THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED THEY HAD IT TOO CLOSE TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE DISPLAY WHERE THE CAPACITORS WOULD GIVE OFF HEAT AND CAUSE OVER HEATING AND BLACK OUTS. *JG NLM

NHTSA ID

8006439

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. MECHANIC STATED THAT IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8004093

1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WILL CATCH ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

750166

Incident

Aug 4, 2001

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. TAKEN TO DEALER ONCE A MONTH SINCE PURCHASE IN MARCH 2000, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

875566

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

CONSUMER HAD JUST TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TRAVELING ON A DIRT ROAD WHEN VEHICLE JERKED TO RIGHT AND THEN ROLLED OVER. CONSUMER AND HER DAUGHTER WERE THROWN OUT FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS, AND DAUGHTER WAS KILLED UPON IMPACT. ALSO VEHICLE EXPLODED INTO FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

868481

Incident

Aug 6, 1999

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

AFTER DRIVING 20 MIN.ON I-75 AT 65MPH THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A LOT OF A SHOPPING MALL. 1 MINUTE LATER, THE CAR MADE A LOUD HISSING NOISE FOR 5-10 SECONDS AND THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE ENGINE AND A FIRE THAT WAS FLAMING UNDER THE HOOD,THE SIDE FENDERS,& THE RADIATOR GRILL. THE FIRE MELTED ALUMINUM AND PLASTIC ENGINE COMPONENTS SO FAST ALONG WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FIRE I BELIEVE CAUSED BY DEFECT OF MANUFACTURER. IF THIS FIRE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH.THE FIRE WOULD BE A TORCH AND FUMES,HEAT,AND FIRE WOULD HAVE ENTERED THE INTERIOR MAKING DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE. THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM,LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO BRAKING AND STEERING TO STOP AND PULL OVER. I CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY KNEW ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH MOUNTAINEERS.THE RECEPTIONIST CLAIMED THAT FORD ENTERED MY CASE IN THEIR DATABASE AS A COLLISION THAT CAUGHT FIRE WHICH IS FALSE AND A COVER UP. AFTER ASKING THEM TO CLEAR UP THE ENTRY IN THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM THEY INVESTIGATED THE CAR CLAIMING IN WRITING THEY HAVE NO CONLUSION ON WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE MY VEHICLE CONTAINED MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT FORD IS AVOIDING INVESTIGATIVE CONCLUSIONS DUE TO FEAR OF RECALL. I WANT FORD TO INVESTIGATE ALL ACCIDENT,DEATH & FIRE CASES NATIONWIDE DUE TO EXPLORERS & MOUNTAINEERS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WOULD CAUSES FIRE. I WANT FORD TO REFUND THE COST OF THE VEHICLE PLUS EXPENSES. I NOW RECALL SMELLING GAS FROM BEHIND THE CAR TWICE IN MID FEB.1999. *AK

NHTSA ID

719603

Incident

Apr 13, 1999

HORN HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THERE IS STILL NO SOUND. *AK

NHTSA ID

851448

Incident

Oct 21, 1999

THE FUSE CONNECTED TO THE A.C. ,SIGNALS,HEAT,AND CRUISE CONTROL KEEPS " GOING OUT " TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED 4 TIMES AND AGAIN IT HAPPENNED . I WAS ABOUT TO GO TO ABTRAINTION HEARING, BUT I GAVE FORD 1 MORE CHANCE WITH THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE ENGINEER. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE SIGNALS AND DEFROSTER NOT ENABLING SAFE DRIVING. I DON'T WHAT TO DO , I TRIED CALLING FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T FIX THIS PROBLEM CORRECTLY. PLEASE HELP ME.

NHTSA ID

713656

Incident

Sep 10, 1999

FRONT TAG BRACKET FALLING OFF/ REQUIRED REATTACHMENT. MJS

NHTSA ID

545583

Incident

Jul 21, 1998

SPARK PLUGS FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

607484

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

NOTICED CD & CASSETTE GETS VERY HOT AFTER 15/20 MINUTES OF PLAY.HEAT BUILD UP ON CD & CASSETTE IS UNUSAL AS I KNOW. WHEN I REPORTED TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, HE SAID "NEVER HEARD". LATTER THEY AGREED. FIRST TIME THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE UNIT. STILL IT IS HOT. THEY INFORMED ME ACCORDING TO FORD THIS HEAT BUILD UP IS NORMAL. I DISAGREE HEAT BUILD UP WILL DAMAGE THE TAPE & MAY EFFECT THE THE CD'S. HEAT IS ENEMY FOR AUDO EQUIPMENT.THIS KIND OF HEAT IS VERY UNUSAL, AS I KNOW. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE DIFFERENT MANUFACURERS CAR, TRUCK ETC, BUT NOWHERE I SEE THIS HEAT BUILD UP.

NHTSA ID

701743