Mercury Mountaineer 1998

• Recall 58875 [USA]: The driver could potentially lose contact with the steering wheel or foot pedals during such an event, increasing the risk of a crash.
  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 an object behind the seat, such as the second row seat cushion.
  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.
  ford recall no. 03s04.Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

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• Recall 5602 [USA]: This could result in engine surge when the accelerator pedal breaks free.
  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.
  dealers will replace the original throttle bodies.
  owner notification began march 5, 2001.Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

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• Recall 7614 [USA]: If the tread separates from the tire, the driver can lose control of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash causing injury or death.
  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.
  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.
  

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• Recall 9679 [USA]: If this occurs and the primary hood latch is either not engaged or is released, a hood fly-up could occur.
  Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The secondary hood latch may corrode at the latch pivot and stick in the open position.
  dealers will install a secondary hood latch with components that are coated prior to assembly for improved latch pivot corrosion protection.
  owner notification began july 14, 1999.Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

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• Recall 10105 [USA]: If the cruise control is used and this condition is present, a stuck throttle could result, which could potentially result in a crash.
  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.
  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.
  a pre-release warning letter that identified an interim fix until the parts for the permanent fix became available was mailed to owners beginning march 27, 1999.A second owner notification, identifying the permanent fix was mailed to owners beginning may 24, 1999.Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

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• Recall 11416 [USA]: The fuel lines can leak, and in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could potentially result.
  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.
  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.
  owner notification is expected to begin april 20, 1998.Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

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• Recall 2005028 [Canada]: Electrical
  On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur either when the vehicle is parked or when it is in operation. Correction: initially as an interim repair, owners will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. As soon as replacement parts are available, owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a new switch or fused wiring harness.

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To ensure accuracy and for your safety, it is recommended to do a free VIN recall check here or here [USA] - UK - Canada.

Bulletins are notices put out by manufacturers in conjunction with the NHTSA to notify the public of manufacturing issues or changes.

• Spark plug ejection from cylinder head investigation # DP05005

  There is no summary currently available
  

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• Engine compartment fires investigation # EA05005

  Ea05-005 is closed with ford?S actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).The brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of 1998 explorers.Ford has informed odi that testing to determine the cause of failures in the 1998 explorers will continue after this investigation is closed.Odi believes that the vehicles exhibiting the factors causing scds failure described in this report correlate well with the observed failure rates on these vehicles by model and model year.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist in the non-recalled vehicles manufactured with scds that are not included in ford?S recalls.Odi will continue to monitor the non-recalled population for incidence of engine compartment fires.The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.See attached closing report for details.
  

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• Front seat back recliner attachment investigation # PE03020

  By letter dated august 4, 2003, ford notified the agency that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall (nhtsa recall no. 03v281) involving certain model year (my) 1998-2001 ford explorer / mercury mountaineer 4-door, my 1998-2000 ford explorer 2-door and my 2001-2002 ford explorer sport and sport trac vehicles equipped with high back seats.Complaints allege that the drivers seat back reclined without warning.A bolt between the upper seat recliner attachment and the seat back frame may fracture.Ford will replace the bolt that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame on the driver side seat.Based on fords safety recall action, this investigation is closed.
  

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• Windshield wiper malfunction investigation # PE99049

  Odi has received 35 complaints alleging malfunction of the windshield wipers on certain 1997-1999 ford explorers and mercury mountaineers.The complainants allege that the wiper system is prone to erratic operation including failure to operate consistently during precipitiation as well as inadvertent operation when the control switch is disengaged.Of the 35 complaints received,11 allege that the wipers stopped sweeping the windshield without warning, 16 allege inadvertent operation, and 8 allege to have experience both conditions.Wipers are a critical automotive safety system without which a vehicle operator is unable to adequately see the road surface and other vehicles during precipitation.This inability to see could result in a crash.A preliminary evaluation is warranted to invetigate the alleged problem.
  

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• Steering knuckle separations investigation # PE99045

  The steering knuckle ( at the upper ball joint) and axle separate.The pinch bolt is found to be missing.
  

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• Vehicle hesitation/stalling investigation # SQ99017

  Ford has issued a technical service bulletin, article no. 99-8-7, pertaining to the powertrain control module (pcm) of the explorers, which may be related to this issue.The service bulletin addressed the issues of explorers and mountaineers harsh downs
  

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• Fuel line damage from jump starting investigation # RQ98020

  There is no summary currently available
  

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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.

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

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 wouldn't open untill i paid to have it fixed. I contacted the manufacturer they said my truck not on recall list & wanted me to pay to fix it. My truck has same issues as the ones being recalled. How do they determine which ones to recall?

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 when i checked all fuses they seem to be ok. I was reviewing a recall for a 1999 mountaineer for a gem problem. Although my vehicle is a 1998, could this problem be similar to the 1999 recall. It appears to have all the similar symptoms . Is it possible that my 1998 mountaineer has a recall for the same problem. Thank you *tr

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 braided hose going to the engine. I took the vehicle to the ford dealer and showed them the leak. They took the vehicle in their shop and removed the fuel lines. Because of the age of the vehicle, ford does not provide any replacement parts. I was unable to get replacement fuel lines from ford. I checked with "junk yards" all over the country. I had no luck finding replacement fuel lines. Junk yards cut the fuel line when they pull engines. I finally located a company in new castle, de that supplies hydraulic hoses, etc. I took my old fuel lines to them and they removed the fittings and installed them on new stainless steel braided lines. I took the new lines back to the ford dealer and they installed them on my vehicle. They said the new hoses had no leaks. The ford dealer charged me over $400.00 to remove the old hoses and install new hoses. The shop in new castle, de only charged me $40.00 for a pair of new hoses. I'm very lucky i did not have an engine fire. These stainless hoses are used on a lot of ford vehicles. Ford should be required to supply replacement hoses. *tr

At 2 am we smelled smoke and saw it coming from garage, when i opened garage door flames were coming out of front of car. My mothers car burnt and it is a total loss. We had to call fire dept. My garage was wrecked. My house has smoke damage. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 mercury mountaineer. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the tire rods, wheel bearings, and the tires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 210,000.

Moved my truck to let another car out of the drive way. Pulled back in turned the truck off came in the house and heard a loud boom. Looked out the window and fire was shooting up by the wheel. *tr

At approximately 2:15 i parked my 1998 mercury mountaineer on the street in front of my house. At approximately 2:30 i heard the vehicle theft alarm go off. When i went to shut off alarm, i saw flames coming from the right front wheel well. (i could not see what was happening on the other side of vehicle) i went back into my house to fetch my dry chem fire extinguisher. I went back to the car and attempted to extinguish the fire. When i was unsuccessful, i had my son call 911 for fire department assistance. A fire truck responded within 3-5 minutes at which time the whole front end of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department put the fire out within 5 minutes. Upon inspection, i noticed that the whole motor compartmant was consumed by the blaze and the fire had started to burn the dash and interior of the vehicle. The vehicle appears to be a total loss.

Common OBD-II Error Codes

• P0420 [4] Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)
• P0430 [4] Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2)
• P0442 [3] Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (small leak)
• P0455 [4] Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (gross leak)
• P0456 [2] Evaporative Emissions System Small Leak Detected
• P0457 [2] Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected
• P1442 [2] A/C Evaporator Air Temperature Circuit Range/Performance
• P0340 [1] Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1)
• P1309 [1] EGR Calibration High
• P1336 [1] Misfire Rate Catalyst Damage Fault - Bank 1
• B1924 [3] Air Bag Internal Diagnostic Monitor Fault or System Disarm Fault
• P0782 [1] 2-3 Shift Malfunction
• P0732 [2] Gear 2 Incorrect ratio
• P0733 [2] Gear 3 Incorrect ratio
• P1762 [1] Coast Clutch Solenoid Circuit Malfunction
• P0300 [2] Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
• P0301 [2] Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected
• P0171 [3] System too Lean (Bank 1)
• P0174 [3] System too Lean (Bank 2)
• P0500 [1] Vehicle Speed Sensor "A" Malfunction
• P1502 [1] RCNT Solenoid Circuit Malfunction
• U1039 [1] SCP (J1850) Invalid or Missing Data for Primary Id / Vehicle Speed
• P0741 [2] Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck Off
• P1728 [1] Gear 3 incorrect Ratio
• P0446 [1] Evaporative Emission Control System Vent Control Circuit Malfunction
• P1450 [1] Purge Flow Sensor Circuit High Input
• B1342 [1] ECU Is Defective
• P1131 [2] Throttle Position (Narrow Range) Sensor Circuit Malfunction
• P1151 [2] Fuel Restriction Indicator Circuit Malfunction
• P1740 [1] First Gear Switch Circuit Malfunction
• P0705 [1] Transmission Range Sensor A Circuit malfunction (PRNDL Input)
• P0708 [1] Transmission Range Sensor A Circuit High Input
• P1704 [1] Turbo Charge Relief Circuit Malfunction
• P1705 [1] Transmission Indeterminate Failure (Failed to Neutral)