Total Complaints
8 filings
FORD MOUNTAINEER · model year
1997 FORD MOUNTAINEER
8 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997FORDMOUNTAINEER carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 MOUNTAINEER is tires:tread/belt with 1 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1) and steering:hydraulic power assist system (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1997 MOUNTAINEER, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
8
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140102FireAIR BAGS
CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY GOT IN NEXT MORNING CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY MELTED.FORD HAS A RECALL ON THIS THEY SAID MY MODEL WAS NOT MANUFACTURED AT THIS PARTICULAR PLANT. ONE SIDE MELTED 2 MONTHS LATER OTHER SIDE MELTED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS HAS AFFECTED AIR BAG. I AM 84 YRS OLD AND AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR WORRIED FIRE COULD START WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Mileage: 67,950
20140102FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY GOT IN NEXT MORNING CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY MELTED.FORD HAS A RECALL ON THIS THEY SAID MY MODEL WAS NOT MANUFACTURED AT THIS PARTICULAR PLANT. ONE SIDE MELTED 2 MONTHS LATER OTHER SIDE MELTED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS HAS AFFECTED AIR BAG. I AM 84 YRS OLD AND AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR WORRIED FIRE COULD START WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Mileage: 67,950
20030813SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
SEATBACK IS LOOSE AND KEEPS FALLING BACKWARDS. CAUSE UNKWOWN.*AK
Mileage: 38,000
20030325VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. *JB MOST OF THE TIME WHEN STOPPED, BEGIN TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL, IT WILL NOT MOVE UNTIL THE PRESSURE THEN BREAKS FREE, WHILE GIVING MUCH GAS AND LUNGING FORWARD, AND HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. SCC
Mileage: 90,000
20030325LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR, DOOR HANDLES AND LOCKS WERE REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES. CONSUMER STATED NOW AT 90,000 THE HANDLE AND LOCKS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB THE LIFT GATE WILL NOT OPEN, 1 OR 2 DOOR LOCKS HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR A LONG TIME. SCC
Mileage: 80,000
20010607STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE TRAVELING IN ONE FOOT OF WATER AT 5 MPH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
20001222SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES PEDAL BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD AND RESISTS APPLICATION, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
20001101TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE TIRE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T005 SHREDDED. *SLC
Compare 1997FORDMOUNTAINEER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 FORD MOUNTAINEER have?▼
The 1997 FORD MOUNTAINEER has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 FORD MOUNTAINEER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 FORD MOUNTAINEER is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM.
Is the 1997 FORD MOUNTAINEER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.