1998 Mercury Mountaineer Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Mountaineer years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 236 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer. That ranks 3rd out of 15 Mountaineer model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is tires (95 complaints, 40%), typically at around 80,000 miles. Complaints mention 22 crashes, 23 fires, 29 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 7 defect investigations involving it.
- 236owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 7NHTSA investigations
- 22complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Mercury Mountaineer problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires problems | 95 | 40% | 80,000 | “p235 75r15” (34%) | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 15% | 99,800 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 21 | 9% | 94,280 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 8% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 12 | 5% | 77,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 12 | 5% | 111,750 | — | — |
| Structure | 11 | 5% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 11 | 5% | 210,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 9 | 4% | 33,568 | — | — |
| Visibility | 7 | 3% | 91,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 6 | 3% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 2% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 2% | 145,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 2% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 2% | 210,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 1% | 80,375 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | 90,500 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 1% | 104,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Mercury Mountaineer recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seats:front assembly:recliner
Problem: 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.
Risk: The driver could potentially lose contact with the steering wheel or foot pedals during such an event, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4.0l sohc engines and still retain the original throttle body (part numbers 97jf-9e926ab or 97jf-9e926-ac). Some of the original throttle bodies installed allowed a gap between the plate and bore to be built too narrow. This reduced clearance allowed the engine deposits normally present in the throttle body to contact or bridge the gap. If the engine deposits bridged the gap between the throttle plate and bore and then hardened, on the initial application of the accelerator pedal after the engine has cooled, the operator would need to apply additional force to the accelerator pedal to break the bridge.
Risk: This could result in engine surge when the accelerator pedal breaks free.
Fix: Dealers will replace the original throttle bodies.
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The secondary hood latch may corrode at the latch pivot and stick in the open position.
Risk: If this occurs and the primary hood latch is either not engaged or is released, a hood fly-up could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a secondary hood latch with components that are coated prior to assembly for improved latch pivot corrosion protection.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the cruise control is used and this condition is present, a stuck throttle could result, which could potentially result in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles equipped with 4.0l single overhead cam engines. The engine fuel lines can be damaged if the vehicle is jump started and the ground cable is attached to the fuel line bracket that is located near the battery. Since the bracket is not grounded, the stainless steel fuel line braid could act as a ground potentially overheating the ptfe inner liner of the fuel line resulting in damage to the fuel line.
Risk: The fuel lines can leak, and in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could potentially result.
Fix: Dealers will install a warning label on the fuel line bracket advising owners not to use it for a jump start ground. Also a revised bolt will be installed in the alternator bracket to provide a convenient jump start ground location.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head (DP05005) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Jan 4, 2006.
- Engine compartment fires (EA05005) — opened Mar 22, 2005, closed Aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V388000.
- Front seat back recliner attachment (PE03020) — opened May 21, 2003, closed Sep 5, 2003, led to recall 03V281000.
- Windshield wiper malfunction (PE99049) — opened Jul 28, 1999, closed Apr 24, 2000, led to recall 00V072000.
- Steering knuckle separations (PE99045) — opened Jul 6, 1999, closed Oct 29, 1999.
- Vehicle hesitation/stalling (SQ99017) — opened Jun 9, 1999, closed Feb 22, 2000.
- Fuel line damage from jump starting (RQ98020) — opened Nov 3, 1998, closed Nov 15, 2000, led to recall 98V060000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
At this point all 4 door locks/latches are messed up. Both driver &passenger back doors won't open from outside or inside. Driver &passenger front doors won't open from outside unless open from inside first. Key won't unlock doors. Back glass on hatch door won't open. Back wiper broken. Back hatch…
Under my hood started smoking, i popped my hood to find flames under it. I had to get my kids out the truck and put the flames out with and extinguisher. That's when i noticed that my brake fluid reservoir was melted and so were the wires that connect to the cruise control switch. Not i am without…
Drivers seat broken unable to adjust for proper vision via windshield.
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…
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…
Other Mercury Mountaineer years
← 1997 Mountaineer · 1999 Mountaineer →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Mountaineer | 13 | 1 |
| 2009 Mountaineer | 6 | 0 |
| 2008 Mountaineer | 96 | 1 |
| 2007 Mountaineer | 81 | 0 |
| 2006 Mountaineer | 117 | 1 |
| 2005 Mountaineer | 82 | 0 |
| 2004 Mountaineer | 210 | 0 |
| 2003 Mountaineer | 152 | 0 |
| 2002 Mountaineer | 372 | 2 |
| 2001 Mountaineer | 22 | 3 |
| 2000 Mountaineer | 123 | 6 |
| 1999 Mountaineer | 151 | 7 |
| 1998 | 236 | 5 |
| 1997 Mountaineer | 328 | 6 |
| 1996 Mountaineer | 3 | 1 |
See all Mercury Mountaineer problems by year, every Mercury model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?
Owners most often report tires, vehicle speed control, electrical system problems. The top one, tires, accounts for 95 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Mountaineer model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.