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.
Mercury Mountaineer sudden acceleration problems
37 of the 1,992 owner complaints about the Mercury Mountaineer describe sudden unintended acceleration, most of them for the 1997 model year.
- owner complaints
- 37
- worst model year
- 1997
- typical mileage
- 39,000
Is there a fix? There are 6 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Harsh shifting 3Tire blowout 1Slipping 1Hesitation 1No deployment 1Adaptive cruise 1
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated that while braking to a stop, the vehicle would lunge forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised him that they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000. The current mileage was approximately 30,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 mercury mountaineer. While driving 12-14 MPH and attempting to slow down to a stop, the vehicle lunged forward. The contact depressed the brake pedal more firmly to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who could not duplicate the failure. Once while driving in reverse, the vehicle lunged forward and pinned his son between his vehicle and another. The child sustained arm injuries. No police report was filed. The failure had been occurring since 2008. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the contact was unsure of what the dealer did to remedy the problem. The failure continued and progressed to a more consistent problem. The vehicle had not been repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 50 and the current mileage was 50,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated that the vehicle began to experience a very hard shift when changing gears and driving any speed. The vehicle would also surge forward slightly during the hard shifts. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. The contact also stated that the gear shift lever felt abnormally loose whenever operated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 68,000 and the current mileage was 71,000. Updated 3/7/11 *cn updated 03/14/11
When coming to slow stop, the vehicle will lunge forward before completely stopping. This behavior started several months ago and was very random in the beginning, but has become more and more frequent - almost every time I come to complete stop. Vehicle also hesitates when gas is pressed and then surges forward. That behavior is very random at this stage, but car has done that over the past year. Because of the "lunging" at stops, I have taken vehicle to repair shop and they indicate the vehicle's computer needs to be updated. This appears to be a common problem with this make/model/year.
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 mercury mountaineer. Immediately after the vehicle was turned on without warning, it accelerated and crashed into a store. The police gave her a ticket for careless driving. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer. She was not informed of the repairs that were made to the vehicle. The contact has had problems with the vehicle since she purchased it. Prior to the failure, whenever she engaged the brake pedal the vehicle accelerated without warning; however, the dealer stated that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed per the insurance company. The contact was always concerned about the safety risk and defect in the vehicle . The failure and current mileages were 30000. Updated 11/04/09.*lj the consumer stated the vehicle made a noise when the gear was placed in reverse. Updated 11/05/09
Experiencing transmission issues at 75k miles. Took it to shop who reported these transmissions are notoriously bad, replacing some at 60k miles and most by 100k. Mine needs to be replaced at a cost of $2500. Problem is use of aluminum within metal and fast wear. Ford should be held accountable for making poor quality products. Transmissions should have a much greater life than 75k miles. Problems noticed - slipping out of gear while driving, not engaging gear when selected, not shifting into higher gear (overrevving),, clunking shifts. Danger arises when you select gear, accelerate and nothing happens and suddenly it pops into gear which causes vehicle to lunge forward.
Transmission delay and then slamming into gear, sometimes causing the vehicle to lunge forward or backward.
2002 mercury mountaineer with sudden acceleration problems. State farm insurance would like to know if someone wanted to look at the vehicle before repairs were made. *kb the consumer hit a homeowners garage.
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.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
- 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.
Recall number 09V399000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
- Risk
- This could result in an underhood fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1‑888‑222‑2751.
Recall number 07V336000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control: cables
- What is wrong
- On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control and 4.0l sohc engines, if the strand cover on the speed control cable becomes flared at the end, the speed control cable may bind when the speed control is activated.
- Risk
- The throttle return spring force may not be sufficient to overcome the binding condition when the speed control is disengaged. Braking function would be maintained though stopping distances may be increased.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the speed control cable and, if necessary, replace it. Owner notification began august 29, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.
Recall number 03V280000 · Recall details
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
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Although the vehicle can be controlled by either applying the service brakes or shifting the transmission to neutral, increased brake pedal efforts or some increase in stopping distance can result.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a revised pcv system with water heated vacuum source.
Recall number 97V074000 · Recall details
Questions about the Mercury Mountaineer sudden acceleration
Which Mercury Mountaineer years have sudden unintended acceleration problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1997 (10 complaints), 2002 (6 complaints) and 2000 (5 complaints).
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