1998 Mercury Mountaineer Engine Problems

ONE OF THE BRAIDED STAINLESS STEEL FUEL LINES THAT ATTACHES TO THE ENGINES FUEL RAIL DEVELOPED A LEAK. I KEPT SMELLING A STRONG ODOR OF GAS, BUT I COULD NOT FIND OUT WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF SMELLING THE GAS, I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY SHOWED ME THE GAS SQUIRTING FROM THE BRAIDED HOSE GOING TO THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND SHOWED THEM THE LEAK. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN THEIR SHOP AND REMOVED THE FUEL LINES. BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, FORD DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY REPLACEMENT PARTS. I WAS UNABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT FUEL LINES FROM FORD. I CHECKED WITH "JUNK YARDS" ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I HAD NO LUCK FINDING REPLACEMENT FUEL LINES. JUNK YARDS CUT THE FUEL LINE WHEN THEY PULL ENGINES. I FINALLY LOCATED A COMPANY IN NEW CASTLE, DE THAT SUPPLIES HYDRAULIC HOSES, ETC. I TOOK MY OLD FUEL LINES TO THEM AND THEY REMOVED THE FITTINGS AND INSTALLED THEM ON NEW STAINLESS STEEL BRAIDED LINES. I TOOK THE NEW LINES BACK TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED THEM ON MY VEHICLE. THEY SAID THE NEW HOSES HAD NO LEAKS. THE FORD DEALER CHARGED ME OVER $400.00 TO REMOVE THE OLD HOSES AND INSTALL NEW HOSES. THE SHOP IN NEW CASTLE, DE ONLY CHARGED ME $40.00 FOR A PAIR OF NEW HOSES. I'M VERY LUCKY I DID NOT HAVE AN ENGINE FIRE. THESE STAINLESS HOSES ARE USED ON A LOT OF FORD VEHICLES. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SUPPLY REPLACEMENT HOSES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680325

Incident

Jun 18, 2013

Mileage

79,000 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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. EARLY IN THE MORNING, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND NOTICED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. AS A RESULT, THE GARAGE AND PART OF THE HOUSE WERE BURNED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT IT ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SEVERE INJURIES COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10280474

Incident

Jul 22, 2009

TIMING CHAINS/TIMING CHAIN GUIDES FAILURE.*TR

NHTSA ID

10247089

Incident

Jun 2, 2008

Mileage

99,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A CRACK IN THE CENTER OF THE EGR VALVE. THE VEHICLE IS MAKING AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE AND GAS FUMES ARE ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, AND A VALID VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 72,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ID

10195169

Incident

Aug 5, 2006

Mileage

69,000 mi

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

10162208

Incident

Jul 12, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PARKED FOR OVER THIRTY MINUTES. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR'S WRITTEN REPORT STATED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DEEMED IT TOTALED.

NHTSA ID

10154014

Incident

Mar 24, 2006

Mileage

132,500 mi

WHEN THE 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WAS RUNNING ON HWY 121 SOUTH MERGING INTO HWY 114 WEST IN GRAPEVINE, TX, THE 1998 MERCURY SUDDENLY BECAME OUT OF CONTROL AT A SPEED LESS THAN SPEED LIMIT. THE CAR WAS BEING ACCELERATED EVEN IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS OFF. THE DRIVER APPLIED BREAK TO STOP THE CAR BUT THE BREAK DID NOT WORK. THEN THE DRIVER HAD TO STEER THE CAR INTO THE BUSH OFF ROAD TO AVOID COLLISION TO OTHER CARS. THE DRIVER CHANGED THE AT TO P (PARKING) TO STOP THE CAR. THE ENGINE SURGED AND STARTED FIRE UNDERNEATH OF THE CAR. THEN THE DRIVER REMOVED THE KEY AND EVACUATED FROM THE CAR. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIREMAN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150766

Incident

Feb 15, 2006

Mileage

58,000 mi

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 65, 475 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 THRESHOL - 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 CATALYSTST 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. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142306

Incident

Nov 9, 2005

Mileage

65,475 mi

FORD MOTOR COMPANY MR. MIKE MCMULLIN DISTRICT MANAGER AUGUST 29,2005 DEAR SIR, I PURCHASED A 1998 MERCURY 5.0L MOUNTAINEER IN JULY 1999 AND IT CURRENTLY HAS SOME 85,000 MILES ON IT. LONG BEFORE THE 36-MONTH/36K MILES WARRANTY RAN OUT, I COMPLAINED TO MY FORD DEALER THAT I HEARD AN ENGINE NOISE THAT SOUNDS SOMETHING LIKE A HYDRAULIC VALVE LIFTER STICKING. IN TAKING MY CAR INTO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER LATELY FOR SOME NON-WARRANTY MINOR SERVICE WORK, THE MECHANIC THERE ASKED ME HOW LONG I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE ENGINE NOISE THAT HIS TRAINED EAR WAS HEARING. I INFORMED HIM THAT IT HAD BEEN CLICKING LIKE THAT FOR A GOOD LONG TIME. JUST FOR CURIOSITY HE CHECKED THE NHTSA WEB SITE FOR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS). HE FOUND TO MY AMAZEMENT AND DISGUST THAT THE NHTSA SHOWED TSB #14489, ISSUED NOVEMBER 01,2000, CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING: ??SOME 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 01/1999 AND EQUIPPED WITH A 5.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A COLD START OR HOT ENGINE DECELERATION NOISE COMING FROM THE #5 CYLINDER. ONE POSSIBLE CAUSE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE LEFT A/C COMPRESSOR BRACKET COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE BRACKET CAN APPLY PRESSURE ONTO THE CYLINDER WALL AND OVERTIME CAUSE THE CYLINDER WALL TO DISTORT RESULTING A NOISE DESCRIBED AS PISTON OR LIFTER NOISE. THE NOISE WILL BE WORSE ON COLD STARTS AND HOT DECELERATION, BUT WILL BE LESS SEVERE AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES. IF THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 12,000 MILES PLEASE REPLACE THE BRACKET WITH F87Z-3C511-CA AND INSTALL A FAR ENGINE REPLACEMENT (F77Z-6006??ARM FOR 1998 M/Y VEHICLES, XL2Z-6006-AARM FOR 1999 M/Y VEHICLES) FROM YOUR LOCAL SUPPLIER. THE BRACKET AND THE ENGINE MUST BE INSTALLED AT THE SAME TIME.?? I CONCLUDE THAT THE REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT $4,828, SHOULD NOT BE BORN BY ME. I FEEL THAT EQUAL COST SHARING IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT. SINCERELY, PAUL G. BARBOZA. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141999

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

Mileage

14,900 mi

FORD REFUSES TO HONOR EXTENDED WARRANTY, PROGRAM # 01M01 ON 1998 MOUNTAINEER; VIN [XXX], " ANY OTHER ENGINE DAMAGE CLEARLY RESULTING FROM A WORN OR BROKEN FRONT CAM CHAIN GUIDE IS ALSO COVERED"! REAR CASSETTE BAD, ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST.*AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10058739

Incident

Feb 2, 2004

Mileage

72,428 mi

1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. *MR THERE WAS NO THIRD GEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE EGR SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT *JB

NHTSA ID

10025095

Incident

Apr 18, 2003

Mileage

33,568 mi

MERCURY CLAIMS A RECALL WAS MAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS, A YEAR APART. OTHER RECALLS WERE RECEIVED AND WORK COMPLETED. OTHER MERCURY OWNERS REPORTING SAME PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NEVER RECEIVED THIS RECALL. NHTSA WEBSITE HAS NO INFORMATION ABOUT SUCH A RECALL OR WARRANTY ON THE TIMING CHAIN OF THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

763000

Incident

May 22, 2002

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT FOURTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

894400

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

I DID PROCEED TO THE MERCUERY DEALER FOR SEAT BELTS, OUR RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT WAS ON ORDER FOR 10 MONTHS AND MERCURY DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT . I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SEAL BEALTS NOT RETRATING AND THEY WOULD STICK, I DID FOLLOW UP WITH A LAW SUIT AND LOST BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT MY SEAT BELT WASN'T A PROBLEM. THE REAR RIGHT WAS ON ORDER FOR ALMOST 10 MONTHS AND STILL NOTHING WAS DONE .IN NOV 1998 I HAD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE AND THE DEALER SHIP THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND NOTHING WAS DONE. WILL JUNE 2000 A NEW ENGINE WAS PUT IN BECAUSE UPTOWN COULD'T FIND A PROBLEM. THE MOST I WANT IS TO HAVE FORD TAKE THIS TRUCK BACK AND FORGET THAT LAWSUIT. WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLEYS ARE NOT WORK . ITS A SAFTEY MATTER (DOT NUMBER: VD TIRESIZE: P225/75R75)

NHTSA ID

733785

Incident

Nov 6, 1998

VEHICLE HAS STALLED/HESITATED UPON ACCLERATION SEVERAL TIMES. IT HAS DONE THIS AT LEAST 10 TIMES (STALLED 3 THUS FAR...TODAY 8/23/00 WAS ONE INCIDENT OF THAT) DESPITE EFFORTS BY FORD TO REMEDY. I'VE HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE RECALLED THROTTLE, RE-ORIENT MY FUEL LINES, AND EVENTUALLY REPLACE MY ENGINE WITHOUT ANY REMEDY. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE (ONCE IT STALLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES. FORTUNATELY IT WAS CLEAR). I'VE OWNED EXPLORERS IN THE PAST WITH NO SUCH INCIDENTS.( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID

728836

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

WAS DRIVING UP A RAMP WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD AFTER ENTERING INTERSECTION. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. TURNED VEHICLE OFF & SHIFTED INTO PARK TO RESTART. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ID

847507

Incident

Jul 26, 1999

DROVE VEHICLE AND PARKED IT, HAD NO WARNING SIGNS, ABOUT 5 MINUTES, VEHICLE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. AAA INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND SAID IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

838069

Incident

Apr 10, 1999

UPON ACCELERATION THE ENGINE STALLS AND LOSES POWER ,AND COMPLETELY STOPS WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY PRIOR NOTIFICATION. INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

827905

Incident

Jun 1, 1998