1998 Mercury MOUNTAINEER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
207 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 45 of 207 complaints (21.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 8.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 1.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 45 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 44 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 11 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
Tires: 45; Tires:Tread/Belt: 44; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 11; Electrical System: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 6; Structure:Body: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 156 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 93 |
| 2001 | 27 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 93; 2001: 27; 2002: 17; 2003: 17; 2004: 12; 2005: 8; 2006: 13; 2007: 5; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002213 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLES BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. CONSUMER STATES SOMETIMES ALL THE LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020561 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
WHILE TURNING RIGHT THROUGH A CLOVERLEAF INTERSTATE ENTRANCE RAMP AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND MERGE WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POPPED AND WENT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND VISUALLY VERIFIED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET HAD BROKEN. THIS IS THE METAL BRACKET THAT WAS SPOT WELDED TO THE COWL PANEL/("FIREWALL"). THIS LEFT 3 HOLES IN THE COWL PANEL, EACH BEING APPROXIMATELY 7/32" IN DIAMETER. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME BY PULLING THE ACCELER…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719184 · 2000-02-24 (February 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 P…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728836 · 2000-08-23 (August 23, 2000)
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: )
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022503 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE (3RD) GEAR WENT OUT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHECKED AND PIECES OF THE GEAR WAS FOUND. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION MECHANIC (NORTHEASTERN TRANSMISSION). THE PARTS WERE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO INSPECTED THE PARTS. THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO ASSIST. (NORTHERN OHIO AUTOMOTIVE, 7513 TYLER BLVD; MENTOR OH 44060, [phone removed] *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 33,568 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025095 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 33,568 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114209 · 2005-03-17 (March 17, 2005)
I HAVE A 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE SINCE NOV. 1999. HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH VEHICLE. REAR WIPER HAS WORKED ABOUT 20% OF THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE. IT DOES NOT WORK AT PRESENT AND HAS NOT WORKED FOR OVER TWO YEARS. GOT TIRED OF TRYING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. LIGHTS ON STEREO HAS BEEN GOING OFF AND ON SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES LIGHT WILL STAY OFF FOR A WEEK. AFTER PLAYING A CD IN THE CD PLAYER (NOT CHANGER), CD BECOMES VERY HOT AND IT USUALLY DESTROYS CD. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK DID NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10618577 · 2014-08-04 (August 4, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE RODS, WHEEL BEARINGS, AND THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 210,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719603 · 2000-03-03 (March 3, 2000)
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 A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719603 at NHTSA ↗