How many recalls does the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer have?

The 1998 Mercury Mountaineer has 5 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 1998 Mercury Mountaineer has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?

Of 298 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is tires.

1998 Mercury Mountaineer Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1998 Mercury Mountaineer has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,845,907 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 298 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the tires. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SEATS 03V281000 2003-08-05 1,552,880 affected

Defect

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. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH…

Consequence

THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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 THREADED BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 00V422000 2000-12-27 220,000 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN ENGINE SURGE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BREAKS FREE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODIES.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 99V164000 1999-06-29 854,288 affected

Defect

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

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH IS EITHER NOT ENGAGED OR IS RELEASED, A HOOD FLY-UP COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 99V062001 1999-03-30 898,739 affected

Defect

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 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE…

Consequence

IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

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 CAN BE MADE.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 98V060000 1998-03-19 320,000 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

THE FUEL LINES CAN LEAK, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT.

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.

Complaints by component

TIRES

518

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

543

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

131

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

STRUCTURE:BODY

SUSPENSION:FRONT

Total complaints298

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2017-11-18

“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…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2017-11-18

“Drivers seat broken unable to adjust for proper vision via windshield.”

SEATS · reported 2015-11-06

“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…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2015-05-20

“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…”

VISIBILITY/WIPER · reported 2015-05-20

“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…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2014-02-17

“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…”

VISIBILITY/WIPER · reported 2014-02-17

“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…”

ENGINE · reported 2013-06-18

Defect investigations

Investigation DP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…

Investigation DP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04