1999 Mercury MOUNTAINEER: complaints, problems and recalls

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE BACKING UP THE VEHICLE STARTED FISH TAILING WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001972 at NHTSA ↗

SMOKE CAME OUT OF CENTER PART OF DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. TURNED OFF VEHICLE, CLEARED SMOKE. WHEN TURNED VEHICLE BACK ON, DISPLAY ON RADIO WAS OUT. CHECKED FUSES, WENT TO DEALER. DEALER SAID VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, RECOMMENDED FACTORY AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY. *JBSAID REPAIR FACILITY REMOVED RADIO, CHECKED FOR PROBLEM. FOUND BURNED COMPONENT ON CIRCUIT BOARD THAT POWERS HIGH CURRENT DISPLAY. CIRCUIT BOARD WAD BURNED BEYOND REPAIR. REPAIR FACILITY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN THIS NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE AND ADVISED THAT IT IS FIRE HAZARD.

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008218 at NHTSA ↗

THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BRACKET BROKE, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO DROP PAST IT'S FULLY RECLINED POSITION. THE DRIVER IS EXPERIENCING SOME BACK AND NECK PAIN FROM THE UNEXPECTED DROP. THE VEHICLE WILL BE UNUSABLE UNTIL THE SEAT IS REPAIRED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018544 at NHTSA ↗

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A WIRE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT AS LONG AS THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED THE AIR BAGS MIGHT NOT INFLATE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH (PART # 3L2Z-14B455-AA). *NLM *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020099 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH RECALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES WHICH WERE REPLACED AT 30K MILES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT TIRES. WITH 38K MILES ON THE TIRE,THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH. THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THE TIRE WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE JACK POINTS WERE LOCATED WHERE THE TIRE HAD BUNCHED UP. ONCE THE CONSUMER FOUND A SUITABLE JACK POINT THE JACK DID NOT ADEQUATELY RAISE THE VEHICLE. *MR *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021579 at NHTSA ↗

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE 9 TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL RECURRING.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024268 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH HIGH SPEED, THE RIGHT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. *MR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034449 at NHTSA ↗

THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 65 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WOULD GREASE THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE TWO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE.# 99-V-062-001 AND 03-V-280-000. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038623 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-03-07 (March 7, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES AND ALL-TIME 4-WHEEL DRIVE (A4WD) POWERTRAINS. THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE (GEM) COULD EXPERIENCE A CONDITION REFERRED TO AS "LOCK-UP" IN WHICH THE GEM CONTROLLED ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS (E.G., FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, 4X4 SYSTEM, ETC.) COULD NOT BE TURNED ON OR, IN SOME CASES IF THE FUNCTION IS ON, COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF.

Consequence: AN INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR IN THE GEM CIRCUIT.

Reported: 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL AND 4.0L SOHC ENGINES, IF THE STRAND COVER ON THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE BECOMES FLARED AT THE END, THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE MAY BIND WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS ACTIVATED.

Consequence: THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING FORCE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE BINDING CONDITION WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS DISENGAGED. BRAKING FUNCTION WOULD BE MAINTAINED THOUGH STOPPING DISTANCES MAY BE INCREASED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.

Consequence: THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT UPPER BOLT WITH A METAL SPACER AND BOLT. IN ADDITION, SEATS WITH TUBULAR BACK FRAMES WILL HAVE THE FULLY THREADED LOWER RECLINER BOLT REPLACED WITH A PARTIALLY THREADED BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Reported: 1999-03-30 (March 30, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.

Consequence: IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.

Reported: 1999-05-18 (May 18, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE TO THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) CONNECTION COULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE LINE TO LEAK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE TO THE FRONT WHEELS, INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLARE NUT ON THE BRAKE LINE.

Reported: 1999-06-29 (June 29, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY CORRODE AT THE LATCH PIVOT AND STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH IS EITHER NOT ENGAGED OR IS RELEASED, A HOOD FLY-UP COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY HOOD LATCH WITH COMPONENTS THAT ARE COATED PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY FOR IMPROVED LATCH PIVOT CORROSION PROTECTION.