1999 Mercury Mountaineer

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 4, 2003, FORD NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V281) INVOLVING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2001 FORD EXPLORER / MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 4-DOOR, MY 1998-2000 FORD EXPLORER 2-DOOR AND MY 2001-2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT AND SPORT TRAC VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS.COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING.A BOLT BETWEEN THE UPPER SEAT RECLINER ATTACHMENT AND THE SEAT BACK FRAME MAY FRACTURE.FORD WILL REPLACE THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT.BASED ON FORD'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

There is no summary currently available

There is no summary currently available

CURSE CONTROL OCCASIONALLY MAKES ENGINE ACCELERATE WHILE AND AFTER BRAKE APPLIED WHILE MOVING UNDER 5 MPH AND EVEN WHILE STOPPED WITH BRAKE STILL APPLIED. MORE THAN ONCE A PEDESTRIAN WAS AT RISK IN A CROSSWALK WHILE VEHICLE STOPPED WITH BRAKE STILL APPLIED, THEN ENGINE SUDDENLY BECAME NEAR FULL THROTTLE, REQUIRING EVEN STRONGER PRESSING OF BRAKE PEDDLE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER (HENRY DAY FORD) WHO UPDATED ENGINE CONTROL ROM; BUT SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED TO EXIST. THE DEALER OFFERED NO WARRANTY OF REPAIR OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROBLEM. WE NOW DRIVE WITH THE CRUSE CONTROL AND HORN AND ??? CABLE DISCONNECTED NEAR WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR.

NHTSA ID

11098222

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

EXPLODING AIRBAGS FILLED VEHICLE WITH SMOKE AND ASH. I RECEIVED MINOR BURNS AND ABRASIONS ON ARMS AND FACE, DAUGHTER RIDING IN BACK SEAT RECEIVED BLACK EYE FORM FLYING OBJECT AND REQUIRED SCAN OF HEAD TO RULE OUT HEAD INJURY. WAS RESULT OF ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID

11061016

Incident

Oct 11, 2017

Mileage

230,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER EQUIPPED WITH COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, SIZE: P265/75R15. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, WHICH ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR BODY PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10928208

Incident

Nov 18, 2016

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ID

10617975

Incident

Mar 9, 2014

Mileage

128,000 mi

REAR WINDOW WIPER MOTOR , WASHER WORKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512583

Incident

Jul 14, 2010

Mileage

109,901 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. RAN DIAGNOSTICS TO DETERMINE THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT PULLING A VACUUM. DETERMINED THE FUEL FILLER NECK PIPE WAS CRACKED AT THE TOP OF THE LINE NEAR THE TANK CAP. WENT TO REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER NECK PIPE AND FOUND OUT WHERE THE PIPE MEETS THE TANK, MORE THAN 1/2 OF THE DIAMETER OF THE CONNECTION WAS MISSING (RUSTED THRU) AND BROKE OFF WHILE TRYING TO REMOVE THE HOSE (THE METAL ATTACHMENT FROM THE TANK IS STUCK IN THE FILLER NECK HOSE). THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK WAS WET WITH FUEL. THE REST OF THE TANK IS SOLID WITH NO THIN WALLS. REPLACED TANK AND FILLER PIPE WITH NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439981

Incident

Dec 13, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRES, LINE SIZE: P235/75/R15, DOT NUMBER: RTN-ST235-75-15105S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND DROVE INTO THE WOODS, CRASHING INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE RIBS, HEAD, BACK AND SHOULDERS. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 40-8691422). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10439000

Incident

Sep 30, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH DOOR LOCKS, DELAY SWITCH ON REARVIEW MIRROR, WINDOW LOCK AND WINDOW FUNCTIONS, ABS ON ALL THE TIME ,DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. NONFUNCTIONING DOME LIGHT SWITCHES AND INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ( WHICH WHEN CHECKED WAS DETERMINED TO BE SOME UNKNOWN INSUFFICIENT EXHAUST FLOW ISSUE). CONSTANT CLICKING NOISES COMING FROM THE FAR LEFT DRIVERS SIDE OF DASH. WE NOTICED A FLAME COMING OUT OF MY LEFT FRONT TOP DASH VENT AFTER CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 5+ HOURS. IT'S OBVIOUS THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DASH AND IT BURNT BOTH OF THE WIRING HARNESSES UNDER THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL PANEL HITTING THE VENT LINE AND COMING OUT THE TOP VENT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASH. WE HAD TO POOR BUCKETS OF WATER INSIDE DASH VENTS/ OPENINGS AND FRONT HOOD AREA TO GET THE FLAMES OUT. OUR INJURIES WERE INCURRED WHILE TRYING TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10410359

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

Mileage

196,828 mi

FRONT AXLE LEAKS FLUID FROM VENT TUBE - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4X4 OR AWD. *TT

WARNING INDICATORS-PARKING AID-REVERSE SENSING SYSTEM (RSS) AND FORWARD SENSING SYSTEM (FSS)-FALSE ACTIVATION OF WARNING TONE-SERVICE TIPS. *MJ UPDATE. *TT

REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT

GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT

GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT

REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT