Model year record
The 1998 Ford Mountaineer has 1 safety recall and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is tires (2 complaints).
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| TiresTread/belt | 2 | — |
| Electrical systemStarter assembly | 2 | — |
| SuspensionFront | 1 | — |
| StructureBody › Door | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR DOES NOT RELEASE: NOW THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE'VE BOOSTED IT AND IT WOULD RUN BUT ONCE TURNED OFF IT WOULD NOT TURN ON AGAIN. *TR
MY 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WAS HAVING A SLOW START FOR THE PAST MONTH. A FEW TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, SOUNDING AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. IT WAS HAPPENING DURING THE COLD WEATHER SO WE ATTRIBUTED THESE SYMPTOMS TO THE COLD. WE HAD BATTERY CHECKED AND IT WAS FINE. ON MARCH 9,2006 WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY IT CAUGHT FIRE. THANKS TO SOME FAST RESPONDING NEIGHBORS THERE WAS NO FIRE DAMAGE TO MY HOUSE. THE FIRE WAS MAINLY NEAR THE SOLENOID OR THE STARTER AND EVERYTHING IS COMPLETELY FIRE DAMAGED. I READ THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL DUE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WHICH WE WERE ALSO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN WE DO? *NM
CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T-005, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
#P23575R15,WHILE CHECK TIRES NOTICED SOME SEPARATION ON ALL FOUR TIRES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK FIRESTONE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE, BUT INDICATED THE TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL. *YH
WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED LEFT IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE. NOISE SOUNDS LIKE METAL WAS RUBBING TOGETHER. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTUER ARE UNAWARE OF A REMEDY FOR DEFECT. DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT DEFECT CAN CAUSE THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED…