1997 Mercury Mountaineer: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 328 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is tires (41% of complaints); the 1999 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 328 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 385,000.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Mar 2021
“Tl* the contact's husband owns a 1997 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was released, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated. As a result, the contact's husband rear ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Nov 2019
“Driver side seat belt refuses to latch and, if it does latch, comes unlatched on its own. On inspection, the 'guts' of the mechanism are gone.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Apr 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated that the front driver side seat belt buckle failed to latch. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000. The VIN was unavailable.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Nov 2014
“I attempted to connect the two portions of the driver front seat belt and the latching mechanism in the female portion would not latch, thereby defeating my ability to secure the seat belt. I took the vehicle to a repair shop that quoted me almost $200 to repair the belt, indicating the oem kit was almost $150. Someone is profiteering on defective safety equipment. *tr”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jan 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated that he shifted into drive and the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact mentioned that he had to shift to neutral in order to stop the vehicle and stated that the failure occurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 160,000 and the current mileage was 170,000. *tr”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Nov 2012
“Major and recurring issue with front drive shaft, and front differential, grinding, shaking, with near crash due to difficulty to handle (this was on the way to the mechanic). *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2012
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 mercury mountaineer. He attempted to put the drivers side seat belt on and the buckle would not snap into place. The failure had been on going for one week. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The approximate failure and current mileage was 150,000.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Mar 2011
“My 1997 mercury mountaineer (that I purchased feb 2010) is experiencing the same acceleration problems as described in the 4.0 sohc campaign # 00v422000 and action # ea99001. I have to apply extra acceleration to make the car drive when engine is "cold". After it warms up, or if I start the engine and allow it to warm up before driving, I do not have that problem. Has there been any other v8 complaints? *tr”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Mar 2010
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 mercury mountaineer. The vehicle caught fire while parked and without warning. The vehicle was completely destroyed and a fire report was filed. The contact has pictures of the failure. The cause of the failure has not been determined; however, a firefighter speculated that it may have been due to electrical failure. The failure and current mileages were 125,000. Updated 07/14/09 *bf updated 07/15/09”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2009
When filing, owners marked a crash in 41 of these complaints and injuries in 19 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A FRONT SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS.
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 ATTACHED TO THE FUEL LINE BRACKET THAT IS LOCATED NEAR THE BATTERY. SINCE THE BRACKET IS NOT GROUNDED, THE STAINLESS STEEL FUEL LINE BRAID COULD ACT AS A GROUND POTENTIALLY OVERHEATING THE PTFE INNER LINER OF THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE.
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 CONVENIENT JUMP START GROUND LOCATION.
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 BODIES INSTALLED ALLOWED A GAP BETWEEN THE PLATE AND BORE TO BE BUILT TOO NARROW. THIS REDUCED CLEARANCE ALLOWED THE ENGINE DEPOSITS NORMALLY PRESENT IN THE THROTTLE BODY TO CONTACT OR BRIDGE THE GAP. IF THE ENGINE DEPOSITS BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN THE THROTTLE PLATE AND BORE AND THEN HARDENED, ON THE INITIAL APPLICATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE ENGINE HAS COOLED, THE OPERATOR WOULD NEED TO APPLY ADDITIONAL FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BREAK THE BRIDGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODIES.
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 TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LIFTGATE ASSIST GAS CYLINDER BRACKET ON THE RIGHT HAND BODYSIDE OUTER PANEL WAS INCORRECTLY WELDED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENT WITH TWO POP RIVETS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0L ENGINES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA ONLY), MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THESE VEHICLES, WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -20 DEGREES FARENHEIT, DO NOT RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE IN THE THROTTLE BODY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1997 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Mountaineer by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer reliable?
NHTSA has 328 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer. The most complained-about area is tires (41% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1997 Mercury Mountaineer problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 124,323 miles or less.
Does the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning vehicle speed control. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.