Total Complaints
298 filings
MERCURY MOUNTAINEER · model year
1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER
298 NHTSA complaints, 29 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998MERCURYMOUNTAINEER carries 298 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 29 crashes, 31 fires, 36 injuries, and 2 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 1998 MOUNTAINEER is tires with 53 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (48) and vehicle speed control (18). 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 3 investigation files overlapping the 1998 MOUNTAINEER. 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.
298
Complaints
29
Crashes
31
Fires
36
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
29 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 53 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 48 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 18 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 13 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 10 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 7 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 7 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 6 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 6 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 5 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 4 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 4 |
Recent Complaints
20180114STRUCTURE:BODY
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 WOULDN'T OPEN UNTILL I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEY SAID MY TRUCK NOT ON RECALL LIST & WANTED ME TO PAY TO FIX IT. MY TRUCK HAS SAME ISSUES AS THE ONES BEING RECALLED. HOW DO THEY DETERMINE WHICH ONES TO RECALL?
20180114VISIBILITY/WIPER
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 WOULDN'T OPEN UNTILL I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEY SAID MY TRUCK NOT ON RECALL LIST & WANTED ME TO PAY TO FIX IT. MY TRUCK HAS SAME ISSUES AS THE ONES BEING RECALLED. HOW DO THEY DETERMINE WHICH ONES TO RECALL?
20171119FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 A VEHICLE TO GET TO WORK AND GET MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.
Mileage: 190,000
20171119FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 A VEHICLE TO GET TO WORK AND GET MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.
Mileage: 190,000
20160603SEATS
DRIVERS SEAT BROKEN UNABLE TO ADJUST FOR PROPER VISION VIA WINDSHIELD.
Mileage: 155,000
20150201ENGINE
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 BRAIDED HOSE GOING TO THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND SHOWED THEM THE LEAK. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN THEIR SHOP AND REMOVED THE FUEL LINES. BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, FORD DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY REPLACEMENT PARTS. I WAS UNABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT FUEL LINES FROM FORD. I CHECKED WITH "JUNK YARDS" ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I HAD NO LUCK FINDING REPLACEMENT FUEL LINES. JUNK YARDS CUT THE FUEL LINE WHEN THEY PULL ENGINES. I FINALLY LOCATED A COMPANY IN NEW CASTLE, DE THAT SUPPLIES HYDRAULIC HOSES, ETC. I TOOK MY OLD FUEL LINES TO THEM AND THEY REMOVED THE FITTINGS AND INSTALLED THEM ON NEW STAINLESS STEEL BRAIDED LINES. I TOOK THE NEW LINES BACK TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY IN
Mileage: 79,000
20150201FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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 BRAIDED HOSE GOING TO THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND SHOWED THEM THE LEAK. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN THEIR SHOP AND REMOVED THE FUEL LINES. BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, FORD DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY REPLACEMENT PARTS. I WAS UNABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT FUEL LINES FROM FORD. I CHECKED WITH "JUNK YARDS" ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I HAD NO LUCK FINDING REPLACEMENT FUEL LINES. JUNK YARDS CUT THE FUEL LINE WHEN THEY PULL ENGINES. I FINALLY LOCATED A COMPANY IN NEW CASTLE, DE THAT SUPPLIES HYDRAULIC HOSES, ETC. I TOOK MY OLD FUEL LINES TO THEM AND THEY REMOVED THE FITTINGS AND INSTALLED THEM ON NEW STAINLESS STEEL BRAIDED LINES. I TOOK THE NEW LINES BACK TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY IN
Mileage: 79,000
20140804STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
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.
Mileage: 210,000
20140804SUSPENSION
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.
Mileage: 210,000
20140803CrashEQUIPMENT
HAD A WRECK COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK RAN INTO A TREE AND DAMAGED A MAILBOX (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=1998, MAKE=MOUNTAINEER , MODEL=MERCURY ). *TR
20140803CrashEQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
HAD A WRECK COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK RAN INTO A TREE AND DAMAGED A MAILBOX (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=1998, MAKE=MOUNTAINEER , MODEL=MERCURY ). *TR
20140803CrashSTEERING
HAD A WRECK COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK RAN INTO A TREE AND DAMAGED A MAILBOX (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=1998, MAKE=MOUNTAINEER , MODEL=MERCURY ). *TR
20140803CrashTIRES
HAD A WRECK COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK RAN INTO A TREE AND DAMAGED A MAILBOX (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=1998, MAKE=MOUNTAINEER , MODEL=MERCURY ). *TR
20140803CrashSERVICE BRAKES
HAD A WRECK COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK RAN INTO A TREE AND DAMAGED A MAILBOX (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=1998, MAKE=MOUNTAINEER , MODEL=MERCURY ). *TR
20140221ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH NO WARNING MY INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS AND FRONT AND BACK WINDSHIELD WIPERS DIDN'T FUNCTION. I WAS DRIVING IT STARTED TO RAIN AND I COULD SEE VERY WELL WITHOUT FUNCTIONING WIPERS. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I FIGURE THAT A FUSE MIGHT HAVE BLOWN BUT WHEN I CHECKED ALL FUSES THEY SEEM TO BE OK. I WAS REVIEWING A RECALL FOR A 1999 MOUNTAINEER FOR A GEM PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE IS A 1998, COULD THIS PROBLEM BE SIMILAR TO THE 1999 RECALL. IT APPEARS TO HAVE ALL THE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS . IS IT POSSIBLE THAT MY 1998 MOUNTAINEER HAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR
Mileage: 104,000
20140221VISIBILITY/WIPER
ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH NO WARNING MY INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS AND FRONT AND BACK WINDSHIELD WIPERS DIDN'T FUNCTION. I WAS DRIVING IT STARTED TO RAIN AND I COULD SEE VERY WELL WITHOUT FUNCTIONING WIPERS. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I FIGURE THAT A FUSE MIGHT HAVE BLOWN BUT WHEN I CHECKED ALL FUSES THEY SEEM TO BE OK. I WAS REVIEWING A RECALL FOR A 1999 MOUNTAINEER FOR A GEM PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE IS A 1998, COULD THIS PROBLEM BE SIMILAR TO THE 1999 RECALL. IT APPEARS TO HAVE ALL THE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS . IS IT POSSIBLE THAT MY 1998 MOUNTAINEER HAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR
Mileage: 104,000
20130213CrashTIRES
1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER REQUESTS LIST OF VEHICLE TIRE TREAD PROBLEMS. *SMD
20120517FireENGINE
AT 2 AM WE SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW IT COMING FROM GARAGE, WHEN I OPENED GARAGE DOOR FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF FRONT OF CAR. MY MOTHERS CAR BURNT AND IT IS A TOTAL LOSS. WE HAD TO CALL FIRE DEPT. MY GARAGE WAS WRECKED. MY HOUSE HAS SMOKE DAMAGE. *TR
Mileage: 102,000
20120517FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT 2 AM WE SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW IT COMING FROM GARAGE, WHEN I OPENED GARAGE DOOR FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF FRONT OF CAR. MY MOTHERS CAR BURNT AND IT IS A TOTAL LOSS. WE HAD TO CALL FIRE DEPT. MY GARAGE WAS WRECKED. MY HOUSE HAS SMOKE DAMAGE. *TR
Mileage: 102,000
20110413FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MOVED MY TRUCK TO LET ANOTHER CAR OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY. PULLED BACK IN TURNED THE TRUCK OFF CAME IN THE HOUSE AND HEARD A LOUD BOOM. LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND FIRE WAS SHOOTING UP BY THE WHEEL. *TR
Mileage: 75,000
Compare 1998MERCURYMOUNTAINEER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER have?▼
The 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER has 298 NHTSA complaints, 29 crashes, 31 fires, 36 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER is TIRES with 53 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1998 MERCURY 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.