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 a vehicle to get to work and get my children to school.
1998 Mercury Mountaineer acceleration problems
36 complaints (15% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 99,600. 7 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 36
- of this car's complaints
- 15%
- typical mileage
- 99,600
- crashes
- 7
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Accelerator pedal13
- Cruise control6
- Linkages2
- Cables1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Mercury Mountaineer acceleration problems in other years
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- This could result in engine surge when the accelerator pedal breaks free.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the original throttle bodies.
Recall number 00V422000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- 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 control built from january 5, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1998-1999 mustangs equipped with 3.8l, 4.6l 2-valve or 4-valve engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1999 f250/f350/f450/f550 (over 8,500 lbs.) trucks equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; and 1999 f-53 stripped chassis equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999. A cruise control cable can interfere with the speed control servo pulley and not allow the throttle to return to idle when disengaging the cruise control.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 99V062001 · Recall details
What 1998 Mercury Mountaineer owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 mercury mountaineer. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to 90 MPH. The contact had to place his foot behind the accelerator pedal and pull it up in order to stop the vehicle. He pulled the vehicle over and was still on the side of the road during the time of this complaint. The current and failure mileages were 117,000.
Tl* - the contact stated that while her 1998 mercury mountaineer was parked, the contact heard a loud noise coming from her vehicle. She noticed that her vehicle had flames coming from under the hood. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The contact feels that the cause of the fire was due to the federal safety agency campaign id number : 00v422000( vehicle speed control). The contact can provide pictures, as well as, copy of the incident report.
Consumer complaint concerning vehicle catching on fire . *ts the vehicle caught on fire on 8/25/06. The recall repair for the cruise control deactivation switch was scheduled for 8/28/06. The consumer feels that the switch was the cause of the fire. The consumer is requesting the blue book value from the manufacturer.
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was being inspected by an independent repair shop it caught on fire. A report was filed by the fire department. The mechanic determined the fire was caused by the cruise control switch over heating. The vehicle is currently awaiting the replacement parts for the cruise control and surrounding damaged parts. There is a the federal safety agency recall, # 99v062001, regarding the cruise control. The VIN was not included in the recall.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle erupted in flames, an hour and a half after it had been parked in the carport. The contact's house became engulfed in flames and was a total loss. The fire department responded and there was a police report taken. The insurance company and manufacturer inspected the vehicle. The insurance company was unable to come to a final determination about the fire, but stated it looks as though the fire started in the vehicle speed control area. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. There is a the federal safety agency recall, # 05v388000, regarding the vehicle speed control. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however, it is not included in the recall due to the VIN.
When the 1998 mercury mountaineer was running on hwy 121 south merging into hwy 114 west, the 1998 mercury suddenly became out of control at a speed less than speed limit. The car was being accelerated even if the accelerator pedal was off. The driver applied break to stop the car but the break did not work. Then the driver had to steer the car into the bush off road to avoid collision to other cars. The driver changed the at to p (parking) to stop the car. The engine surged and started fire underneath of the car. Then the driver removed the key and evacuated from the car. The fire was extinguished by the fireman.
When the 1998 mercury mountaineer was running on hwy 121 south merging into hwy 114 west in grapevine, tx, the 1998 mercury suddenly became out of control at a speed less than speed limit. The car was being accelerated even if the accelerator pedal was off. The driver applied break to stop the car but the break did not work. Then the driver had to steer the car into the bush off road to avoid collision to other cars. The driver changed the at to p (parking) to stop the car. The engine surged and started fire underneath of the car. Then the driver removed the key and evacuated from the car. The fire was extinguished by the fireman.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle caught fire and burned. The vehicle was parked 4 hours prior to the fire. The fire and police department stated in written reports the fire started in the engine compartment on the driver's side. Additional property damage was sustained to one other vehicle. The insurance company investigated and deemed the vehicle a total loss.
Drove about 30 minutes, parked vehicle, and about 45 minutes later vehicle was on fire. Flames were coming from driver's side fender well. Prior to fire, no problems reported. Vehicle had cruise control which was not used in the last year, and did not know if it worked. Vehicle was insured by farmers insurance. They had a fire investigation done. The report stated that fire was caused by vehicle speed control deactivation switch. Policy #0040483408, claim #1005487896. Has pictures and them will e-mail to bruce york.*ak *tt
Questions about the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer acceleration
Does the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer have acceleration problems?
Owners have filed 36 complaints about the acceleration of the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer, 15% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1998 Mercury Mountaineer acceleration problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 99,600 miles.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer acceleration?
Yes, 2 recalls: 00V422000, 99V062001. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mercury Mountaineer have the most acceleration problems?
The Mercury Mountaineer model years with the most acceleration complaints are 1997 (59 complaints), 1998 (36 complaints) and 2000 (28 complaints).
Other 1998 Mercury Mountaineer problems
Tires 95Engine 22Electrical 21Locks 12Seats 12Body 11Suspension 11Transmission 9Visibility 9Brakes 6Fuel system 5Lights 4Steering 4Airbags 3Seat belts 3Wheels 2
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history