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U.S. public vehicle records

Mercury MOUNTAINEER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,863 owner complaints analyzed

19 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 to 2010 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,079 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 204 of 1,863 complaints (11.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting28115.1%
Braking behavior23212.5%
Steering behavior935.0%
Electrical and battery issues744.0%
Engine operation663.5%
Fuel system concerns150.8%

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.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission
204
Tires
161
Tires:Tread/Belt
143
Electrical System
131
Power Train
130
Vehicle Speed Control
119
Structure:Body
117
Seats
94
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission204
Tires161
Tires:Tread/Belt143
Electrical System131
Power Train130
Vehicle Speed Control119
Structure:Body117
Seats94

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 204; Tires: 161; Tires:Tread/Belt: 143; Electrical System: 131; Power Train: 130; Vehicle Speed Control: 119; Structure:Body: 117; Seats: 94

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
123
25,000 to 49,999
181
50,000 to 74,999
266
75,000 to 99,999
204
100,000 to 149,999
221
150,000 and above
84
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000123
25,000 to 49,999181
50,000 to 74,999266
75,000 to 99,999204
100,000 to 149,999221
150,000 and above84

Under 25,000: 123; 25,000 to 49,999: 181; 50,000 to 74,999: 266; 75,000 to 99,999: 204; 100,000 to 149,999: 221; 150,000 and above: 84

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (266). 784 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.

2000
304
2001
101
2002
88
2003
92
2004
99
2005
103
2006
77
2007
86
2008
111
2009
124
2010
121
2011
105
2012
75
2013
70
2014
95
2015
54
2016
52
2017
23
2018
25
2019
20
2020
11
2021
7
2022
8
2023
7
2024
1
2025
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
2000304
2001101
200288
200392
200499
2005103
200677
200786
2008111
2009124
2010121
2011105
201275
201370
201495
201554
201652
201723
201825
201920
202011
20217
20228
20237
20241
20254

2000: 304; 2001: 101; 2002: 88; 2003: 92; 2004: 99; 2005: 103; 2006: 77; 2007: 86; 2008: 111; 2009: 124; 2010: 121; 2011: 105; 2012: 75; 2013: 70; 2014: 95; 2015: 54; 2016: 52; 2017: 23; 2018: 25; 2019: 20; 2020: 11; 2021: 7; 2022: 8; 2023: 7; 2024: 1; 2025: 4

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 281 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 232 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 93 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 10022336 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS OCCURRED FIVE TIMES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022336 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10097121 · 2004-10-19 (October 19, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE RPM STARTED RACING AT A HIGH RATE. THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097121 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10063725 · 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)

ABS ON BRAKES CUT IN WHEN SHOULD NOT. MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 99,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063725 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10134358 · 2005-08-26 (August 26, 2005)

DT: 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. I THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR USED, AND WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR THE FIRST TIME IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. IT WAS AT 70 MPH AND IT ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH. TO STOP VEHICLE HAD TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY OFF. THEN VEHICLE COASTED UNTIL IT WOULD STOP. ALSO HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES MANY TIMES TO STOP. THERE WAS NO CRASH. HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 94,343 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134358 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10295389 · 2009-12-11 (December 11, 2009)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULT STEERING, BECAUSE THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINKAGE HAD FRACTURED. SECONDLY HE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SMELL AN ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIRDLY DURING BRAKE APPLICATION THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD ALSO STICK. THIS CONDITION WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. LASTLY THE MAIN BAR THAT HELD THE TWO BUMPERS TOGETHER HAD CORRODED. THE FAILURES WERE DESCRIBED IN RECALLS (98V060000, 00V422000, 00V402000). HOWEVER HE WAS ADVISED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEALE…

Owner-reported narrative. 156,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295389 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10904769 · 2016-09-08 (September 8, 2016)

WHEN I USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THEN TURN IT OFF I CAN'T SEEM TO PUSH MY GAS PEDAL WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNTIL SOMETHING BREAKS OR POPS AND THEN IT ALLOWS ME TO PUSH THE PEDAL. I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SMOKE COMING FROM ON TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING, NOW I HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS TO WHERE MY HORN WILL NOT WORK ANYMORE. I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT FRAME OF THE SUV. THE FRAME SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10904769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10088203 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. MY WIFE PURCHASED THIS MOUNTAINEER IN EARLY 1998, AND UP UNTIL NOW WE HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH ITS PERFORMANCE. *AK RECENTLY, I WAS CHARGING THE BATTERY OVERNIGHT. I LEFT FOR WORK AND INSTRUCTED MY WIFE ON DISCONNECTING THE CHARGER BEFORE SHE USED THE CAR. MY WIFE DISCONNECTED THE CHARGER AND CLOSED THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT OUT TO RUN ERRANDS. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN SHE CLOSED THE HOOD, IT DID NOT LATCH COMPLETELY. HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE I WOULD EXPECT THE SECONDARY, SAFETY LATCH TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088203 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10207736 · 2007-11-02 (November 2, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MYSTIQUE (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TAIL LIGHT AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SMOLDERING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEAD LAMP SWITCH TERMINAL BURNED AND THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V103000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS: SWITCH). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000. UPDATED 11/29/07

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207736 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11402578 · 2021-03-12 (March 12, 2021)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 385,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 385,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11402578 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8013704 · 2002-07-10 (July 10, 2002)

IF DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPLASHES WATER ONTO SERPETINE BELT, RESULTING IN TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL/ ALTERNATOR CHARGE, AND AIR CONDITIONING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8013704 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10051109 · 2003-12-26 (December 26, 2003)

ENGINE OIL LEAK OR POSSIBLE FUEL LEAK LEADING TO VEHICLE FIRE, TOTAL LOSS. DRIVER ESCAPED INJURY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051109 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1996
1
1997
6
1998
5
1999
7
2000
6
2001
3
2002
2
2003
0
2004
0
2005
0
2006
1
2007
0
2008
1
2009
0
2010
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19961
19976
19985
19997
20006
20013
20022
20030
20040
20050
20061
20070
20081
20090
20101

1996: 1; 1997: 6; 1998: 5; 1999: 7; 2000: 6; 2001: 3; 2002: 2; 2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 1; 2007: 0; 2008: 1; 2009: 0; 2010: 1

Year-by-year records

Mercury MOUNTAINEER model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
199631Not available
19972506+5
19982075-1
19991297+2
20001236-1
2001223-3
20023722-1
20031520-2
200421000
20058200
20061171+1
2007810-1
2008961+1
200960-1
2010131+1