MYRModel Year Report

1998 Mercury Mountaineer

◆ Worse than typical
1998 Mercury Mountaineer
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Mercury Mountaineer Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1998 highlighted. 1996: 3 complaints 1996 1997: 328 complaints 1998: 236 complaints 1998 1999: 151 complaints 2000: 123 complaints 2000 2001: 22 complaints 2002: 372 complaints 2002 2003: 152 complaints 2004: 210 complaints 2004 2005: 82 complaints 2006: 117 complaints 2006 2007: 81 complaints 2008: 96 complaints 2008 2009: 6 complaints 2010: 13 complaints 2010
1998: 236 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19963
1997328
1998236
1999151
2000123
200122
2002372
2003152
2004210
200582
2006117
200781
200896
20096
201013

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

TIRES 20%

20% of complaints: tires — 47 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER REQUESTS LIST OF VEHICLE TIRE TREAD PROBLEMS. *SMD

NHTSA ODI report, 20130213

TIRES 19%

19% of complaints: tires — 44 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7%

7% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 17 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171119

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6%

6% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 13 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4%

4% of complaints: electrical system — 10 distinct reports on file.

FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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

NHTSA ODI report, 20120517

WHEN HANDLING A CD THAT WAS EJECTED FROM THE STEREO OF MY 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, THE DISC WAS SO HOT I RECEIVED A FIRST DEGREE BURN.

NHTSA ODI report, 20031002

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 1998 — complaint volume: 236
R 19980420 — fuel system, gasoline

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 ATTA

Remedy: 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 CONVE

Campaign 98V060000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19981103 — RQ (closed 20001115)

FUEL LINE DAMAGE FROM JUMP STARTING

R 19990327 — vehicle speed control

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

Remedy: 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 CA

Campaign 99V062001 — check if this car was fixed

I 19990609 — SQ (closed 20000222)

VEHICLE HESITATION/STALLING

I 19990706 — PE (closed 19991029)

STEERING KNUCKLE SEPARATIONS

R 19990714 — latches/locks/linkages

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY CORRODE AT THE LATCH PIVOT AND STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY HOOD LATCH WITH COMPONENTS THAT ARE COATED PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY FOR IMPROVED LATCH PIVOT CORROSION PROTECTION.

Campaign 99V164000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19990728 — PE (closed 20000424)

WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTION

R 20000826 — tires

TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIR

Remedy: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

Campaign 00T005000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20010305 — vehicle speed control

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODIES.

Campaign 00V422000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20030521 — PE (closed 20030905)

FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT

R 20030829 — seats

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.

Remedy: 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 TH

Campaign 03V281000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20050322 — EA (closed 20060802)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

I 20050922 — DP (closed 20060104)

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1998 Mercury Mountaineer — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for tires issues (47 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for tires issues (44 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (17 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 98V060000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 99V062001 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 99V164000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00T005000 (tires) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V422000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03V281000 (seats) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2007 ▲ 2005 ▲ 2008

WORST YEARS

■ 2002 ■ 1997 ◆ 2004

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?

The most-reported component is tires, accounting for 20% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer have?

6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.