1997-1998 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer recall: vehicle speed control

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

Affected vehicles

• Ford Explorer 1997-1998 19971998
• Mercury Mountaineer 1997-1998 19971998

Owner complaints about the same problem

Owners of these vehicles have filed 577 complaints about acceleration problems.

1997 Ford Explorer1998 Ford Explorer1997 Mercury Mountaineer1998 Mercury Mountaineer