MERCURY MOUNTAINEER · model year

1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER

182 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999MERCURYMOUNTAINEER carries 182 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 15 crashes, 5 fires, 9 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1999 MOUNTAINEER is tires with 29 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (18) and tires:tread/belt (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 1999 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.

182
Complaints
15
Crashes
5
Fires
9
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

182 filings

Crashes Reported

15 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
TIRES29
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER18
TIRES:TREAD/BELT18
AIR BAGS6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
TIRES:SIDEWALL5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
SUSPENSION3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL3

Recent Complaints

20180527VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CURSE CONTROL OCCASIONALLY MAKES ENGINE ACCELERATE WHILE AND AFTER BRAKE APPLIED WHILE MOVING UNDER 5 MPH AND EVEN WHILE STOPPED WITH BRAKE STILL APPLIED. MORE THAN ONCE A PEDESTRIAN WAS AT RISK IN A CROSSWALK WHILE VEHICLE STOPPED WITH BRAKE STILL APPLIED, THEN ENGINE SUDDENLY BECAME NEAR FULL THROTTLE, REQUIRING EVEN STRONGER PRESSING OF BRAKE PEDDLE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER (HENRY DAY FORD) WHO UPDATED ENGINE CONTROL ROM; BUT SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED TO EXIST. THE DEALER OFFERED NO WARRANTY OF REPAIR OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROBLEM. WE NOW DRIVE WITH THE CRUSE CONTROL AND HORN AND ??? CABLE DISCONNECTED NEAR WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR.

Mileage: 130,000

20180107CrashAIR BAGS

EXPLODING AIRBAGS FILLED VEHICLE WITH SMOKE AND ASH. I RECEIVED MINOR BURNS AND ABRASIONS ON ARMS AND FACE, DAUGHTER RIDING IN BACK SEAT RECEIVED BLACK EYE FORM FLYING OBJECT AND REQUIRED SCAN OF HEAD TO RULE OUT HEAD INJURY. WAS RESULT OF ACCIDENT

Mileage: 230,000

20161128TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER EQUIPPED WITH COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, SIZE: P265/75R15. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, WHICH ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR BODY PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. *TR

Mileage: 180,000

20140731POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 128,000.

Mileage: 128,000

20130517VISIBILITY/WIPER

REAR WINDOW WIPER MOTOR , WASHER WORKS. *TR

Mileage: 109,901

20111214FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. RAN DIAGNOSTICS TO DETERMINE THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT PULLING A VACUUM. DETERMINED THE FUEL FILLER NECK PIPE WAS CRACKED AT THE TOP OF THE LINE NEAR THE TANK CAP. WENT TO REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER NECK PIPE AND FOUND OUT WHERE THE PIPE MEETS THE TANK, MORE THAN 1/2 OF THE DIAMETER OF THE CONNECTION WAS MISSING (RUSTED THRU) AND BROKE OFF WHILE TRYING TO REMOVE THE HOSE (THE METAL ATTACHMENT FROM THE TANK IS STUCK IN THE FILLER NECK HOSE). THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK WAS WET WITH FUEL. THE REST OF THE TANK IS SOLID WITH NO THIN WALLS. REPLACED TANK AND FILLER PIPE WITH NEW. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20111208CrashTIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRES, LINE SIZE: P235/75/R15, DOT NUMBER: RTN-ST235-75-15105S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND DROVE INTO THE WOODS, CRASHING INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE RIBS, HEAD, BACK AND SHOULDERS. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 40-8691422). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

20110703FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH DOOR LOCKS, DELAY SWITCH ON REARVIEW MIRROR, WINDOW LOCK AND WINDOW FUNCTIONS, ABS ON ALL THE TIME ,DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. NONFUNCTIONING DOME LIGHT SWITCHES AND INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ( WHICH WHEN CHECKED WAS DETERMINED TO BE SOME UNKNOWN INSUFFICIENT EXHAUST FLOW ISSUE). CONSTANT CLICKING NOISES COMING FROM THE FAR LEFT DRIVERS SIDE OF DASH. WE NOTICED A FLAME COMING OUT OF MY LEFT FRONT TOP DASH VENT AFTER CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 5+ HOURS. IT'S OBVIOUS THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DASH AND IT BURNT BOTH OF THE WIRING HARNESSES UNDER THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL PANEL HITTING THE VENT LINE AND COMING OUT THE TOP VENT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASH. WE HAD TO POOR BUCKETS OF WATER INSIDE DASH VENTS/ OPENINGS AND FRONT HOOD AREA TO GET THE FLAMES OUT. OUR INJURIES WERE INCURRED WHILE TRYING TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 196,828

20110510FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IDLE WHEN IT CAUGHT IN FIRE FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND SPREAD TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND THE ENGINE COMPONENTS WERE COMPLETELY MELTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND ADVISED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED AT THE ENGINE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20091010VISIBILITY

FRONT WIPERS STOP WORKING. THIS OCCURS ABRUPTLY WITHOUT REGARD TO WEATHER CONDITIONS, TIME THE CAR IS RUNNING, ETC. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH THE MOTOR AND THE SWITCH. THE WIPERS STILL FAIL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20081119TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE STEELTEX A/T TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE DRIVER PULLED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,172 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,162.

Mileage: 102,162

20080505FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHILE PARKED IN MY GARAGE. MY GARAGE BURNED COMPLETELY DOWN AND SOME DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY HOME AND SURROUNDING PROPERTY. *TR

20080310STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT BEGAN PEELING OFF THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEGUN TO RUST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20080228VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IN AUGUST OF 2007. THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR ARE TAKING AN EXTREMELY LONG TIME TO ARRIVE. HE WAS DISSATISFIED THAT FORD NEVER PROVIDED THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH UPDATES AND HE HAD TO CALL 8-10 TIMES, MORE THAN ONCE A MONTH, TO FIND OUT THE STATUS OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE THEY FELT IT WAS UNNECESSARY. THE DEALER WAS LOCATED THIRTY MILES AWAY FROM HIS RESIDENCE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF

20080211SUSPENSION

1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SWAY BAR FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT FRONT PASSENGER SWAY BAR LINK WAS SHEARED OFF. THEN HE NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE SWAY BAR LINK WAS THE SAME WAY. CONSUMER REPLACED BOTH OF THE LINKS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR EARLIER MODELS. *JB

20071227VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. HE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 05S28 IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006. THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IS NOT DISCONNECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77000. THERE ARE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE VIN IS NOT AVAILABLE.

20071211SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

ON MY VEHICLE A BOLD ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HAS BROKEN CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE SEAT. THE TUBULAR PART INSIDE IS CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BOLT THAT BROKE, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. FORD IS STATING THIS WAS SENT TO ME 6 TIMES. I DO NOT RECALL EVER RECEIVING A NOTICE. FORD WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO REPAIR THIS AT NO COST TO ME. I HAVE SINCE TALKED WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE # PROVIDED TO ME BY THE DEALERSHIP, AND STILL HAVE NO RESOLUTION...OTHER THAN THEY WILL REPLACE THE BOLT THAT BROKE...NOT THE REST CAUSED BY THIS BROKEN BOLT. *TR

20070403FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. AS THE SMELL INTENSIFIED THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHIN FIVE MINUTES THE SMOKE TURNED GRAY AND BLACK IN COLOR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED, AND, BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED, THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATORS, AND A REPORT WAS PENDING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 54,717.*AK

Mileage: 54,717

20061205CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST TRACTION, DUE TO ICE ON THE ROAD, AND HIT A GUARD RAIL, WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE IMPACTED THE GUARD RAIL HEAD ON, AND THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. BOTH PARTIES WERE SECURED BY THE SEAT BELTS. A POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AWAY AFTER THE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AS INSTRUCTED BY THE INSURER. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT ALERTED.

20060501CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND AND THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ALERTED AND NO INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.

Mileage: 119,602

Compare 1999MERCURYMOUNTAINEER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER have?
The 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER has 182 NHTSA complaints, 15 crashes, 5 fires, 9 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER?
The most-complained component for the 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER is TIRES with 29 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1999 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.