1998 Mercury Mountaineer Problems & Complaints

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?

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.

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

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.

HAD A WRECK COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK RAN INTO A TREE AND DAMAGED A MAILBOX (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=1998, MAKE=MOUNTAINEER , MODEL=MERCURY ). *TR

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

1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER REQUESTS LIST OF VEHICLE TIRE TREAD PROBLEMS. *SMD

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

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

1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH THE KEY AND MOST TIMES WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WITH THE LATCH HANDLE. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS WITH MOST 1998 - 2001 MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS, FORD EXPLORERS AND FORD RANGERS. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY SUCH AS A CRASH, I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER EQUIPPED WITH TURBO TECH RADIAL A/SR TIRES, LINE SIZE P235/75R15, DOT NUMBER UT1TT2E4305. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN A LOUD POP SOUNDED FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE AND LANDED ONTO THE CENTER LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION AND INJURIES TO THE KNEE, BACK AND NECK. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,000.

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. EARLY IN THE MORNING, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND NOTICED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. AS A RESULT, THE GARAGE AND PART OF THE HOUSE WERE BURNED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT IT ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SEVERE INJURIES COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

TIMING CHAINS/TIMING CHAIN GUIDES FAILURE.*TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE CHECKING THE FLUIDS IN THE VEHICLE, THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILED THAT HOLDS THE HOOD. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD RELEASED AND NEARLY CRASHED THE CONTACTS HAND. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THAT COMPONENT, HOWEVER, THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000. UPDATED 10/16/07 *TR

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 OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A CRACK IN THE CENTER OF THE EGR VALVE. THE VEHICLE IS MAKING AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE AND GAS FUMES ARE ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, AND A VALID VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 72,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

BEING THE SPACE IS LIMITED, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AS FOLLOWS: MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. I HAVE HAD VARIOUS SHOPS USE THEIR COMPUTER TO FIND OUT WHY THE LIGHT WAS ON AND HAVE PAID FOR CLEANING VALVES, SENSORS, AND HOSES AS WELL AS HAVING NEW SENSORS INSTALLED. THE FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED AT 90,000 MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE. TODAY, THE SHOP WHERE I NOW TAKE MY VEHICLE FOR SERVICING USED THEIR COMPUTER TO SEE WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON YET AGAIN AND IT GENERATED A TSB FROM FORD, ARTICLE 04-7-5 WHICH SUPERSEDES ARTICLE TSB 03-25-1. THIS ARTICLE STATES THE ISSUE AS "SOME 1998 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 5.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE(S) P0420 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD-BANK 1) AND/OR P0430 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD - BANK 2). THE ACTION LISTED FOR CORRECTION OF THIS PROBLEM IS STATED AS "TO SERVICE, REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) TO THE LATEST CALIBRATION USING WDS RELEASE B28.3 OR HIGHER. REPLACEMENT OF CATALYST'S IS NO LONGER NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF THIS CONDITION." THIS SOUNDS LIKE A PROBLEM FORD INSTALLED ON THESE 1998 MOUNTAINEERS AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BEAR THE COST OF REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE FOR THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND SAFELY. THE WORKER AT THE SHOP TOOK THE TIME TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THIS ARTICLE MEANT AND THE POSSIBLE RAMIFICATIONS TO THE FUNCTIONING OF MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM CAUSED BY FORD NOT HAVING THE CORRECT COMPUTER PROGRAM RUNNING IN THE VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC IS TELLING ME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND WILL COST ABOUT $3000 FOR THE PARTS ALONE. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS OR INSPECTION. I WENT 1 YEAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NOW IT IS BACK AGAIN. *JB

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 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 00V422000( VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES, AS WELL AS, COPY OF THE INCIDENT REPORT. *JB

1998 MOUNTAINEER'S TIRES WERE APART OF A RECALL AND CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH WILDERNESS AT TIRES WHICH WERE RECALLED. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THESE TIRE IN 2004 AFTER THE CONSUMER WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS RESULT OF THE FAULTY TIRES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED RECALL LETTER # 02S28 WAS RECEIVED REGARDING THE SEAT BELT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER TO REPLACE SEAT BELT BOLT, THE CONTACT REQUESTED TO HAVE A REMOTE DOOR OPENER INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, AS WELL. WHILE THE SERVICE DEALER WAS ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL THE REMOTE DOOR OPENER, THERE WERE PROBLEMS PROGRAMMING THE REMOTE WHICH RESULTED IN A MALFUNCTION OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED UNHAPPINESS WITH THE LONG WAIT AND THE RUN AROUND FROM THE DEALER IN REPAIRING THE VEHICLE.

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. *NM

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, V8, AWD, VIN [XXX] WITH 142,000 MILES. I PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY ON FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 14, 2006 WHERE THE CAR REMAINED UNUSED UNTIL SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 16, 2006. ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 16, 2006, AROUND 1:00 PM THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE, ALSO CATCHING MY HOUSE ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE HOUSE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE IN ONE AREA. THE CAR WAS NOT USED BETWEEN THE TIME IT WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT FIRE. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. IT HAD 60,000 ON THE ODOMETER. THE BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER NEVER WORKED, AND DOES ONCE IN A WHILE AND THE RADIO LIGHT NEVER STAYS ON. ONCE IN A WHILE IT WILL SHOW THE STATION OR THE TIME. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN LOOSE. MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A YEAR AFTER I GOT IT AND IT WILL NOT GO OFF. IT SAY EGR FLOW INSUFFICIENT AND YET I HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THOSE AND HAD THE COMPUTER RESET. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK UNLESS I LOCK IT BY HAND AND THEN YOU CAN'T OPEN IT. THE BACK SEATS SOMETIMES LOCK AND OTHER TIMES WON'T. MY SEAT WAS RECALLED AND I TOOK IT, AND NOW IT IS BROKEN. THESE CARS ARE NOT MADE VERY WELL AND I THINK WE SHOULD GET LETTERS ON THE RECALLS. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED BUT ONE LETTER AND I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY, BUT I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER RECALLS AND I WASN'T NOTIFIED. WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? *JB

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. I HAVE HAD VARIOUS SHOPS USE THEIR COMPUTER TO FIND OUT WHY THE LIGHT WAS ON AND HAVE PAID FOR CLEANING VALVES, SENSORS, AND HOSES AS WELL AS HAVING NEW SENSORS INSTALLED. THE FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED AT 90,000 MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE. TODAY, THE SHOP WHERE I NOW TAKE MY VEHICLE FOR SERVICING USED THEIR COMPUTER TO SEE WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON YET AGAIN AND IT GENERATED A TSB FROM FORD, ARTICLE 04-7-5 WHICH SUPERSEDES ARTICLE TSB 03-25-1. THIS ARTICLE STATES THE ISSUE AS "SOME 1998 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 5.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE(S) P0420 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD-BANK 1) AND/OR P0430 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD - BANK 2). THE ACTION LISTED FOR CORRECTION OF THIS PROBLEM IS STATED AS "TO SERVICE, REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) TO THE LATEST CALIBRATION USING WDS RELEASE B28.3 OR HIGHER. REPLACEMENT OF CATALYST'S IS NO LONGER NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF THIS CONDITION." THIS SOUNDS LIKE A PROBLEM FORD INSTALLED ON THESE 1998 MOUNTAINEERS AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BEAR THE COST OF REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE FOR THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND SAFELY. THE WORKER AT THE SHOP TOOK THE TIME TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THIS ARTICLE MEANT AND THE POSSIBLE RAMIFICATIONS TO THE FUNCTIONING OF MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM CAUSED BY FORD NOT HAVING THE CORRECT COMPUTER PROGRAM RUNNING IN THE VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC IS TELLING ME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND WILL COST ABOUT $3000 FOR THE PARTS ALONE. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS OR INSPECTION. I WENT 1 YEAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NOW IT IS BACK AGAIN. *JB

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 NHTSA RECALL, # 99V062001, REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

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 NHTSA 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. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HOOD LATCH CORRODED AND THE LATCH PIVOT WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 99V164000, REGARDING THE HOOD LATCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PARKED FOR OVER THIRTY MINUTES. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR'S WRITTEN REPORT STATED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DEEMED IT TOTALED.

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. *NM

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. *NM

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.

AFTER ONLY OWNING MY VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS, AND BEING TOLD IT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, IN A MATTER OF 3 DAYS, MANY PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY 4WD LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING, ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAISES TO HIGH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND THE CHECK GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON. THE CAR BEGAN DYING, THE IDLE DROPPING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN DIED IN MID DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LEAVING ME TO VEER TOWARDS THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HONOR MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, I PAID $1200 FOR. MY ESTIMATE CAME UP TO ALMOST $3000 WITH THE WARRANTY ONLY OPTING TO COVER $ 300. THE PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED BY THE MECHANIC WERE: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR: $680, SLACK IN BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS (NEED REPLACING): $625, ELECTRICAL AND RELATED REPAIRS: $ 215, SENSOR FOR FRONT AND REAR INTERNAL FAILURE $ 700, T/CASE MOTOR $725. I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE 4WD ON MY VEHICLE PURCHASED ONLY FOR THAT REASON WITH WINTER COMING DOESN'T EVEN WORK, THE WHOLE THING NEEDS REBUILT. I'VE NEVER EVEN USED IT. I PAID ALL I COULD $900, AND GOT THE CAR BACK JUST TO HAVE IT RESPONDING THE SAME WAY, VIRTUALLY UN-DRIVABLE. AFTER VIEWING SEVERAL WEBSITES, THE FORD/MERCURY WEBSITE LISTED NO RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS FOR MY VEHICLE, BUT ALLDATA.COM LISTED THE THROTTLE POSITION, AND THE SAME 4WD PROBLEMS I'M HAVING; PLUS MINOR ONES I FAILED TO MENTION TO THE MECHANIC, SUCH AS THE REAR SEAT POSITIONING WILL NOT RECLINE, WHISTLING FROM THE WHEEL WELL ETC... I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY FINDINGS, AND FIND MY SELF IN QUESTION AS TO KEEP THE PIECE OF JUNK, OR BUY A NEW CAR. DID I GET SCREWED BY THE DEALER WHO SOLD IT TO ME, ALONG WITH MY "FAKE" EXTENDED WARRANTY? IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THE MANUFACTURER CAN PARTAKE IN THE REPAIRS? I ALREADY KNOW SIMILAR PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. *JB

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. I HAVE HAD VARIOUS SHOPS USE THEIR COMPUTER TO FIND OUT WHY THE LIGHT WAS ON AND HAVE PAID FOR CLEANING VALVES, SENSORS, AND HOSES AS WELL AS HAVING NEW SENSORS INSTALLED. THE FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED AT 65, 475 MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE. TODAY, THE SHOP WHERE I NOW TAKE MY VEHICLE FOR SERVICING USED THEIR COMPUTER TO SEE WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON YET AGAIN AND IT GENERATED A TSB FROM FORD, ARTICLE 04-7-5 WHICH SUPERSEDES ARTICLE TSB 03-25-1. THIS ARTICLE STATES THE ISSUE AS "SOME 1998 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 5.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE(S) P0420 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD-BANK 1) AND/OR P0430 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOL - BANK 2). THE ACTION LISTED FOR CORRECTION OF THIS PROBLEM IS STATED AS "TO SERVICE, REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) TO THE LATEST CALIBRATION USING WDS RELEASE B28.3 OR HIGHER. REPLACEMENT OF CATALYSTST IS NO LONGER NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF THIS CONDITION." THIS SOUNDS LIKE A PROBLEM FORD INSTALLED ON THESE 1998 MOUNTAINEERS AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BEAR THE COST OF REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE FOR THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND SAFELY. THE WORKER AT THE SHOP TOOK THE TIME TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THIS ARTICLE MEANT AND THE POSSIBLE RAMIFICATIONS TO THE FUNCTIONING OF MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM CAUSED BY FORD NOT HAVING THE CORRECT COMPUTER PROGRAM RUNNING IN THE VEHICLE. *NM

FORD MOTOR COMPANY MR. MIKE MCMULLIN DISTRICT MANAGER AUGUST 29,2005 DEAR SIR, I PURCHASED A 1998 MERCURY 5.0L MOUNTAINEER IN JULY 1999 AND IT CURRENTLY HAS SOME 85,000 MILES ON IT. LONG BEFORE THE 36-MONTH/36K MILES WARRANTY RAN OUT, I COMPLAINED TO MY FORD DEALER THAT I HEARD AN ENGINE NOISE THAT SOUNDS SOMETHING LIKE A HYDRAULIC VALVE LIFTER STICKING. IN TAKING MY CAR INTO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER LATELY FOR SOME NON-WARRANTY MINOR SERVICE WORK, THE MECHANIC THERE ASKED ME HOW LONG I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE ENGINE NOISE THAT HIS TRAINED EAR WAS HEARING. I INFORMED HIM THAT IT HAD BEEN CLICKING LIKE THAT FOR A GOOD LONG TIME. JUST FOR CURIOSITY HE CHECKED THE NHTSA WEB SITE FOR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS). HE FOUND TO MY AMAZEMENT AND DISGUST THAT THE NHTSA SHOWED TSB #14489, ISSUED NOVEMBER 01,2000, CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING: ??SOME 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 01/1999 AND EQUIPPED WITH A 5.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A COLD START OR HOT ENGINE DECELERATION NOISE COMING FROM THE #5 CYLINDER. ONE POSSIBLE CAUSE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE LEFT A/C COMPRESSOR BRACKET COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE BRACKET CAN APPLY PRESSURE ONTO THE CYLINDER WALL AND OVERTIME CAUSE THE CYLINDER WALL TO DISTORT RESULTING A NOISE DESCRIBED AS PISTON OR LIFTER NOISE. THE NOISE WILL BE WORSE ON COLD STARTS AND HOT DECELERATION, BUT WILL BE LESS SEVERE AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES. IF THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 12,000 MILES PLEASE REPLACE THE BRACKET WITH F87Z-3C511-CA AND INSTALL A FAR ENGINE REPLACEMENT (F77Z-6006??ARM FOR 1998 M/Y VEHICLES, XL2Z-6006-AARM FOR 1999 M/Y VEHICLES) FROM YOUR LOCAL SUPPLIER. THE BRACKET AND THE ENGINE MUST BE INSTALLED AT THE SAME TIME.?? I CONCLUDE THAT THE REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT $4,828, SHOULD NOT BE BORN BY ME. I FEEL THAT EQUAL COST SHARING IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT. SINCERELY, PAUL G. BARBOZA. *NM

TWICE WHEN WE HAVE STARTED TO BRAKE, THE ENGINE HAS SPEEDED UP TO VERY HIGH RPMS. ON SAT. 9/17/05 AS I TRIED TO STOP THE ENGINE REVVED SO HIGH THAT I COULD NOT STOP THE VANS FORWARD PROGRESS WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT WAS ABLE TO SQUEEZE BY. VERY SCARY. MY WIFE HAD IT HAPPEN WHEN SHE WAS ON AN ICY ROAD AS SHE STARTED TO BRAKE THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP. THE ONLY THING THAT WILL WORK IN THIS SITUATION IS TO TRY & SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL BUT IT HAPPENS SO FAST THERE ISN'T MUCH TIME TO REACT. IF IT HAPPENS IN THE RIGHT SITUATION IT COULD BE VERY DISASTROUS. *NM

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME--APPROXIMATELY AROUND 6:00 AM THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION!*JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE ALTERNATOR FAILED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER 1, 2002. CURRENTLY, AGAIN THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THE MILEAGE WAS 64,965 MILES ON THE CAR. CURRENTLY. 3 YEARS LATER THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE PRIVATE MECHANIC TO BE FIXED. THE ALTERNATOR THAT WAS REPLACED IN 2002 WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY EITHER. THE OWNER WAS DRIVING THE DIED. THE OWNER HAD TO PAY $700.00 FOR THE REPAIR BILL ON THE FIRST ALTERNATOR. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED UP. THE FIREMEN INDICATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND LOOKED LIKE IT STARTED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THIS DOCUMENT WAS MAILED TO HER HOME IN ERROR.*JB

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 *NM

DT: WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH HAVING TO FORCE THE ACCELRATOR DOWN TO ACCEL AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. HAD FOOT ON BRAKE, RELEASED BRAKE PRESSURE, AND TRIED TO PUSH GAS PEDAL, BUT THE GAS PEDAL BROKE, AND WAS DANGLING BY WIRES. HAD TO COAST VEHICLE TO CURB TO GET OUT OF STREET TO SAFETY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. TOWED VEHICLETO OWNERS HOME. FORD ISSUED RECALL ON SAME MODEL AND YEAR BUT THIS VEHICLE WASNOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN . MECHANIC SUGGESTED IT COULD BE A THROTTLE BODY. *AK

DT: A BROKEN ROD UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT ALLOWED THE SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. IT FELT LIKE THE SEAT MAY BREAK COMPLETELY AND CAUSE THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. A SEAT BOLT RECALL WAS DONE IN 2003. *NM CONSUMER BOUGHT A NEW SEAT TRACK AND PUT IT ON THEMSELVES.*SB

PURCHASED USED 1998 MECURY MOUNTAINEER FROM LOCAL MERCURY DEALER, DISCOVERED THE HEATER PLEANUM DOOR ACTUATOR WAS FAULTY AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WOULD ONLY PROVIDE CONSTANT HOT AIR ON ALL SETTINGS, OTHER THAN MAX-AC. THE PROBLEM IS THAT DUE TO THIS FAULTY PART, DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD IS A CHALLENGE, CAUSING MY SON TO DRIVE FREQUENTLY WITH A FOGGED WINDSCREEN. MERCURY DEALER SERVICE SHOP AND OTHER SHOPS LOCALLY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE MODELS, AND REPAIR IS DONE BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEATER PLENUM WHICH HOUSES A NEW TYPE OF DOOR ACTUATOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED!*AK

I HAVE A 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE SINCE NOV. 1999. HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH VEHICLE. REAR WIPER HAS WORKED ABOUT 20% OF THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE. IT DOES NOT WORK AT PRESENT AND HAS NOT WORKED FOR OVER TWO YEARS. GOT TIRED OF TRYING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. LIGHTS ON STEREO HAS BEEN GOING OFF AND ON SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES LIGHT WILL STAY OFF FOR A WEEK. AFTER PLAYING A CD IN THE CD PLAYER (NOT CHANGER), CD BECOMES VERY HOT AND IT USUALLY DESTROYS CD. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK DID NOT WORK FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND THEN STARTED WORKING. SOMETHING FELL OUT OR BROKE OFF OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND DOOR LOCK WILL NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. POWER ANTENNA STARTED NOT GOING DOWN COMPLETELYABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND NOW WILL NOT WORK AT ALL EVEN THOUGH POWER IS STILL GOING TO IT BECAUSE YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR. HAVE HAD ALL RECALLS DONE ON VEHICLE EXCEPT THE BOLT REPLACED ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT FOUR RECALLS ON VEHICLE SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. POWER LOCK ON REAR DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK UNLESS YOU USE THE KEY. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE IS SOME MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHECKED ON THESE VEHICLES LONG AGO. *AK

TOOK IN FOR THROTTLE BODY REPAIR AND DRIVER SEAT BOLT RECALL 9-03. THEY SAID DIDN'T NEED THE THROTTLE BODY REPAIR..NOW THAT WARRANTY IS UP I CAN'T GET THIS HAZARD TO DRIVING FIXED. I HAVE ALMOST HIT CARS IN PARKING LOTS AND IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHY ISN'T THIS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND RECALL. WHY DOES IT HAVE A MILEAGE AND TIME LIMIT. I TRIED TO GET IT DONE AND THEY WOULDN'T DO IT NOW IT'S TOO LATE. THE THROTTLE HESITATES AND THEN SURGES. FORD IDENTIFIES THIS AS A PROBLEM, BUT WON'T FIX IT. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON ITS OWN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S RESIDENCE. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE STICKING UPON DEPRESSION ON 1998 5.0 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE OR WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS COLDER. LAST NIGHT WHEN I LEFT TO GO TO WORK, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE THROTTLE STUCK AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I STRUCK MY OWN HOME DOING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE HOME (PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE) , BOUNCED OFF THE HOUSE (STILL ACCELERATING) AND HIT A GARBAGE DUMPSTER (DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE) , THEN BOUNCE OFF THE GARBAGE DUMPSTER AND STRUCK A BASKETBALL GOAL (FRONT OF VEHICLE). THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY (THIS IS THE 2ND FRONT END ACCIDENT IN WHICH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY). THIS THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM WAS A RECALL FOR THE 4.0 VEHICLES BUT NOT THE 5.0, AND I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THROTTLE STICKING ON THE 5.0 AS WELL. VEHICLE IS NOW IN THE SHOP, BELIEVED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. (CURRENTLY $6800 DAMAGE, AND NOT FINISHED WITH ESTIMATE YET). I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL THOUSANDS DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO MY HOME, WHICH MUST BE SUBMITTED TO MY HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE SINCE AUTO INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY FOR YOUR OWN PROPERTY DAMAGE. TODAY I HAVE NECK & BACK PAIN, THOUGH I DID NOT GO TO THE DOCTOR LAST NIGHT. NOT TO COUNT THE MENTAL ISSUE OF BEING HEADED STRAIGHT FOR YOUR HOME AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP OR CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THESE VEHICLES OR SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. SHERIFF WAS CALLED, AND DID COME TO THE SCENE, BUT THEY SAID THEY DO NOT DO REPORTS IF IT IS YOUR OWN PROPERTY THAT IS DAMAGED, ONLY IF THERE IS A SECOND PARTY INVOLVED.*AK

MERCURY MOUNTAINEER DRIVERS SEAT LATCH ASSEMBLY BROKE. SEAT IS IN AN UN-DRIVABLE POSITION. DEALER MAINTENANCE SAYS IT WILL COST $250 PLUS LABOR AND TAXES AND FEES TO REPAIR THIS POORLY DESIGNED FORD COMPONENT. I BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT SHARE THIS COSTLY PREDICAMENT AND IT IS ALL DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS IT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR SCHEDULED MANUFACTURERS REPAIR FOR THIS ITEM. IN A CRASH A REAR SEAT PASSENGER COULD POSSIBLY THRUST THE SEAT BACK OF THE DRIVER FORWARD CAUSING THE DRIVER SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE. *NM

THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS BROKE, BECAUSE THE BOLT HAD BROKEN. THE CONSUMER HAD THE SEAT REPAIRED AT HER EXPENSE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEAT AND THE CONSUMER NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE SEAT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SHE WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE FIRST REPAIR. NOW THEY ARE REFUSING A REFUND SINCE IT HAS BEEN A YEAR. 03V281000. *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT EVERY YEAR SHE HAS TO REPLACE THE HEAT SENSOR. LAST YEAR SHE HAD TO REPLACE IT BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD PASS EMISSIONS BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS YEAR THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE HEAT SENSOR. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TIRES DUE TO THE RECALL ON THE TIRES (DEFECT NUMBER : 01X001000). THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD CAME APART. *TC *JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING BACK TO WORK AT LUNCH, CLEAR DAY, UNLIMITED VISIBILITY, CLEAR ROAD CONDITIONS, WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE TIRE WAS PUT ON THE VECHICLE BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL. A PASSERBY HELPED MY WIFE CHANGE THE TIRE. THIS IS A GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTS, P235/75/15.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH,THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HIT A PATCH OF ICE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT THEN HIT A TREE. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME UNLACED DURING THE COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS COME ON 10 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS. ALL TIMES, EXCEPT ONE, WERE DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED, YET THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I'VE CONTACTED MERCURY EVERY TIME, & GET NO SATISFACTION. THE LAST TIME I WAS TOLD "PARTS WEAR OUT...DEAL WITH IT." MY DISPUTE ISN'T THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG, IT'S WANTING TO KNOW WHY IT CAN'T BE FIXED. NO ONE CAN GIVE ME AN ANSWER.

FORD REFUSES TO HONOR EXTENDED WARRANTY, PROGRAM # 01M01 ON 1998 MOUNTAINEER; VIN [XXX], " ANY OTHER ENGINE DAMAGE CLEARLY RESULTING FROM A WORN OR BROKEN FRONT CAM CHAIN GUIDE IS ALSO COVERED"! REAR CASSETTE BAD, ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST.*AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIRS UNDER RECALL 03V281000. THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE RECALL ASSERTED THAT THE LEFT FRONT RECLINER CONTROL WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL SCOPE AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE COMPONENT. *LA THE RECLINER CONTROL LEVER BROKE DUE TO METAL FAILURE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECLINE THE SEAT BACK. *JB

VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BOLT AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED. *PH THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE SEATS PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL. THE REPLACING BOLT WAS STILL NOT PROVIDING THE PROPER SUPPORT NEEDED TO KEEP THE DRIVER'S SEAT FROM EXPERIENCING LOOSENESS, WHICH OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO MAKE FREQUENT STOPS TO BRING THE SEAT BACK TO ITS PROPER POSITION. *JB *NM

1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HEADLIGHTS GO DARK MOMENTARILY WHEN USING TURN SIGNALS OR CHANGING FROM LOW TO HIGH BEAMS

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE ROUGH AND MAKE NOISES. THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED FLUID LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASING HAD A LARGE HOLE. THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEPARATED FROM ITS LINKAGE AND FELL OFF. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE WELDING BECOMING DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-WELDED. *AK *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

CD RADIO DISPLAY HAS GONE OUT, FIRST BEGAN TO FADE IN AND OUT AND NOW I HAVE NO DISPLAY. MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE FORUMS ON THE INTERNET THAT SPECIFICALLY DISCUSS THIS ISSUE. IT HAS ALSO OCCURED WITH MANY EXPLORERS AS WELL. HOW CAN FORD/MERCURY NOT RECALL AN OBVIOUSLY WIDESPREAD FLAW? THIS REALLY MAKES ME DOUBT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE EFFORTS.*AK

MY POWER DOORS WON'T UNLOCK ALONG WITH ITS REMOTE, THE KEY AND THE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST MONTH. HOWEVER, WHEN THE CAR GOES INTO DRIVE, THE DOORS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY. *LA

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER FOR A SEAT RECLINER BOLT. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THY COULD NOT REPAIR AND DO THE RECALL AS THE SEAT WOULD NOT RECLINE. THE LEVER TO RECLINE THE SEAT BROKE OFF IN MY HAND ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. I FIGURED THAT WAS THE SHABBY CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT WAS BEING REPAIRED. NOW I HAVE AN AUTO STILL IN NEED OF SAFETY REPAIR AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX IT. I HAVE CALL MERCURY DIRECTLY AND THEY TOLD ME ITS UP TO THE DEALER. *JB

WHEN HANDLING A CD THAT WAS EJECTED FROM THE STEREO OF MY 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, THE DISC WAS SO HOT I RECEIVED A FIRST DEGREE BURN. APPARENTLY, HEAT BUILD-UP WITHIN THE DASH BOARD OF THE FORD EXPLORER/MERCURY MOUNTAINEER IS CAUSING EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THE TEMPERATURE IS ALSO HIGH ENOUGH TO CAUSE COMPONENT FAILURES WITHIN THE STEREO HEAD UNIT ADDING TO MY CONCERN OF A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. MANY INTERNET FORUMS HOST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE HEAT BUILD-UP CAUSING THE DISPLAY UNITS OF THE STEREOS TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, OR COMPLETELY. ACCORDING TO THE DISCUSSIONS, THIS IS VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE, HAPPENING ON SEVERAL FORD AND MERCURY MODELS OVER SEVERAL YEARS. (INCIDENT DATE IS APPROXIMATE). *JB

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING THAT FRONT WHEEL AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL . HOWEVER, DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY, AND THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.*AK

WHILE THE CHILD WAS IN THE BOOSTER SEAT, THE SEAT BELT WAS TOO TIGHT. WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO LOOSEN THE BELT, IT BECAME SO TIGHT, THE CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO GET THE CHILD OUT. *AK *JB

ELECTRONIC CONTROLS OPERATED BY THE GENERIC CONTROL MODULE (WIPERS, REAR DEFROSTER, POWER WINDOWS ETC.) HAVE LOCKED UP. THROTTLE STICKS AFTER FULL STOP AND USE OF CRUISE CONTROL AND NEEDS EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MOVE FORWARD. EXISTING RECALLS SHOULD COVER THESE REPAIRS, AS WELL AS TWO OTHER RECALLS FOR THE CORROSIVE HOOD LATCH, AND SPEED CONTROL WHERE THE THROTTLE COULD ICE UP IN PROLONGED COLD WEATHER. I WENT IN ARMED WITH DOCUMENTATION AND THE RECALL INFORMATION FROM THE WEBSITE BUT THE SAYVILLE FORD DEALERSHIP IN SAYVILLE, NY, REFUSED TO SERVICE THEM, STATING THEY WERE "CAMPAIGNS" NOT ACTUAL RECALLS. IF YOUR VEHICLE DOESN'T COME UP FOR SERVICE ON THEIR COMPUTER, THEY DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEGAL RECALLS AND WON'T DO THE REPAIRS. RECALL #'S: 00V072000, 99V062001, 99V164000, 97V074000.*AK

1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK. THIS ALSO CAUSES A PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY(WON'T UNLOCK).HE HANDLES BRAKE WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF CAR. I WAS STUCK IN MY CAR AT THE POST OFFICE TODAY AND HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE WINDOW TO GET OUT. THANK GOD THIS WAS NOT AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND KIDS WERE NOT WITH ME.*AK

1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. *MR THERE WAS NO THIRD GEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE EGR SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE (3RD) GEAR WENT OUT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHECKED AND PIECES OF THE GEAR WAS FOUND. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION MECHANIC (NORTHEASTERN TRANSMISSION). THE PARTS WERE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO INSPECTED THE PARTS. THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO ASSIST. (NORTHERN OHIO AUTOMOTIVE, 7513 TYLER BLVD; MENTOR OH 44060, 440 942 2524 *JB

WHILE TURNING RIGHT THROUGH A CLOVERLEAF INTERSTATE ENTRANCE RAMP AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND MERGE WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POPPED AND WENT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND VISUALLY VERIFIED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET HAD BROKEN. THIS IS THE METAL BRACKET THAT WAS SPOT WELDED TO THE COWL PANEL/("FIREWALL"). THIS LEFT 3 HOLES IN THE COWL PANEL, EACH BEING APPROXIMATELY 7/32" IN DIAMETER. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME BY PULLING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TOWARDS ME UNTIL I WAS ABOVE 30 MPH, THEN I CONTROLLED THE SPEED USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. I WAS OUT OF MY HOME STATE WHEN THIS OCCURED, AND BECAUSE OF MY LOCATION AT THE TIME OF FAILURE I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION FOR 3 HOURS. BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAD EXTREME HEADACHES THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT AND MY 2 YR OLD DAUGHTER SCREAMED MOST OF THE TRIP AFTER THAT OCCURENCE. THIS POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING DUE TO THE 3 HOLES LEFT IN THE COWL PANEL WHICH ARE DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE LH CYLINDER HEAD OF THE ENGINE. WE ALL FELT FINE THIS MORNING. I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN SO I WILL LIKELY REPAIR THIS MYSELF USING SCREWS AND LOCTITE.

MY DISPLAY LIGHTS ON MY RADIO STARTED DIMMING IN AND OUT. NOW THEY ARE COMPLETELY GONE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $350 FOR THEM TO SEND IT OFF AND HAVE IT REPAIRED. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER SAME VEHICLES WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *NLM

THE VEHICLES BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. CONSUMER STATES SOMETIMES ALL THE LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHEN WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE IN FOR THE BRAKES TO BE CHECKED, THE ROTORS WERE SO BADLY DAMAGED FROM THE METAL PEELING THAT THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT FOR A VEHICLE WITH THE AMOUNT OF MILES THAT OURS HAD ON IT THAT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED UNLESS THE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE. HE TOLD US TO CHECK FOR A RECALL ON THIS PART.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, RIGHT REAR TIRE BEGAN TO MAKE A FLAPPING NOISE, TREAD SEPARATED AND SIDEWALL BURSTED. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES, NO OTHER TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN, *SLC

WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAME OFF, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF DRIVING OR STANDING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

SEATBELT WILL NOT LATCH INTO BUCKLE, CAUSING IT TO BE USELESS IN EVENT OF A CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

MERCURY CLAIMS A RECALL WAS MAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS, A YEAR APART. OTHER RECALLS WERE RECEIVED AND WORK COMPLETED. OTHER MERCURY OWNERS REPORTING SAME PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NEVER RECEIVED THIS RECALL. NHTSA WEBSITE HAS NO INFORMATION ABOUT SUCH A RECALL OR WARRANTY ON THE TIMING CHAIN OF THIS VEHICLE.*AK

THE FLOORBOARD GOT SO HOT IN A SIX MILE DRIVE THAT THE PASSENGER COULD NOT SIT WITH FEET ON THE FLOOR. I MY WARRANTY WAS ALMOST UP AND I HAD NO SUCESS WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT LES JACOBS FORD IN FIXING THIS IN THEIR OVER 10 ATTEMPTS. I THEN TRADED THE VEHICLE OFF TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT ACCORDING TO THE CARFAX REPORT IT WAS WRECKED IN 3/22/98. I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE OF THIS AUTO. I HAVE FILED A REPORT WITH THE MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND I HAVE NOTIFIED LES JACOBS FORD & MERCURY. I HANDED A COPY OF THE CARFAX REPORT TO THE FORMER SERVICE MANAGER NOW GENERAL MANAGER, [XXX]. NOTICE THE NAME IS THE SAME AS THE DEALERSHIP. HE IS THE SON OF THE OWNER. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO TWO 98 EXPLORER OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND I HAVE ENCOURAGED THEM TO ALSO FILE WITH YOU.*AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. I PURCHASED A NEW BULB WHICH ACCORDING TO THE PARTS BOOK SHOULD WORK. THIS BULB WOULD NOT FIT INTO THE "SOCKET." THE ONLY BULB IN THE STORE THAT WOULD FIT WAS A SIGNAL LIGHT BULB WHICH PROMPTLY BURNT OUT. I THEN WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND REQUESTED A BULB. THE PARTS MANAGER LOOKED UP THE PART AND I GOT A NEW BULB WHICH WOULD NOT FIT INTO THE BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET. I THEN ASKED FOR A FORD MECHANICS ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING THE BULB. HE COULD NOT GET IT TO GO INTO THE SOCKET AND HE THEN LOOKED UP THE BULB NUMBER. I WAS GIVEN THE CORRECT BULB. IT WOULD NOT FIT INTO THE SOCKET. THE MECHANIC THEN GROUND ONE SIDE OF THE BASE'S NOTCH OFF SO THAT IT WOULD SLIDE INTO THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY SO THAT I GO HOME. THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS WORKING AT THAT TIME. I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME OR TOOLS TO GROUND A PIECE OF THE BULB BASE OFF EVERY TIME I NEED A BRAKE LIGHT REPLACED. THIS MAKES ME WONDER HOW MANY MORE NON-STANDARD PARTS I HAVE ON THIS "AMERICAN MADE" PRODUCT.*AK

THE BRAKCET FOR THE SLIDING SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD GOT SO HOT THAT IT BLISTERED MY THUMB WHEN I BUMPED IT TRYING TO GET THE INHALER THAT I DROPPED. MY DAUGHTER HAD BEEN HAVING ASTHMA ATTACKS IN THIS AUTO. I NOW HAVE HER RIDE WITH SOMEONE ELSE AND THE ATTACKS HAVE STOPPED. BECUASE THE MERCURY'S FLOORBOARD GETS SO HOT, I NO LONGER ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO RIDE IN IT.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE BEHIND THE CONSUMER RAN INTO THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND THE WHOLE REAR BUMPER WAS DAMAGED, $800 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE, THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS A MALIBU HAD ONLY MINOR SUPERFICIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S BUMPER FACIA. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. NLM TT

ROTORS AND CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. NLM

THE RADIO DISPLAY LED READ OUT WILL GO BLACK INTERMITTANTLY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD DUE TO A BAD DESIGN. THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED THEY HAD IT TOO CLOSE TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE DISPLAY WHERE THE CAPACITORS WOULD GIVE OFF HEAT AND CAUSE OVER HEATING AND BLACK OUTS. *JG NLM

HANDLE TO ADJUST VERTICAL SEAT ALIGNMENT BROKE OFF. DEALER SAID IT WAS COMMON VEHICLE PROBLEM.*AK

THE FRONT FLOORBOARD OVERHEATED. THE FRONT SEATS BECAME WARM AS IF A SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NONE. THE FRONT TIRES BEGAN MAKING A WHOMPING SOUND AS IF FLAT. I PULLED OVER CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE. IT WAS NORMAL. I CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. THE ABS LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT THEN BEGAN TO FLASH. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. UPON REACHING MY DESTINATION, I REACHED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT TO GET THE KEYS I DROPPED. I ACCIDENTLY BUMPED THE SEAT BRACKET WITH MY LEFT TALL FINGER BLISTERING IT.

ON WARM DAYS, ESPECIALLY WHEN AIRCONDITIONER IS USED THE FLOORBOARD AND SEAT BRACKETS GET HOT. I HAVE MELTED PLASTIC GAME PIECES, CRAYONS, AND HEATED FOOD ITEMS BY LAYING THEM ON THE FLOOR BOARD NEXT TO THE BRACKETS. I BUMPED THE SEAT BRACKET WHEN I PICKED UP MY KEYS AND BLISTERED MY HAND. I CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER REALTIONS DEPARTEMENT FOR MERCURY WHO TOOK A REPORT AND PROMISED TO FOLLOW UP. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM OR MY DEALER. I ONLY HAVE 10,000 MILES LEFT ON MY WARRANTY. THIS WILL ONLY BE THREE MONTHS FOR ME. THE LOCAL SERVICE MANANGER AND THE MECHANICS HAVE TRIED TO CONVINCE ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR AN SUV. IF THIS IS THE CASE, WHY ARE THEY ON THE ROAD? MY FEAR IS THAT THIS AUTO WILL BURST INTO FLAMES AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET MY KIDS OUT. THE FUMES WHEN THIS AUTO GETS HOT ALSO CAUSE MY DAUGHTER TO HAVE ASTHMA ATTACKS. I CAN NOT TRADE THE AUTO BECAUSE I OWE TO MUCH ON IT. THIS IS WHAT THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED. I FEEL THAT I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHER MOTORISTS TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE ISSUE OF THIS AUTO BEING A SAFTY HAZARD TO MYSTELF AND OTHERS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. MECHANIC STATED THAT IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

SEAT BRACKET WAS HOT ENOUGH TO BLISTER THE SKIN WHEN TOUCHED. *AK

MOUNTAINEER'S FRONT FLOOR BOARD AND SEAT MOUNTING BRAKETS, ESPECIALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE, GET HOT ENOUGH TO BLISTER THE SKIN. WHEN THE FLOOR BOARD IS HOT THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND IT IS HARD TO STEER. THE MOUNTAINEER ALSO HAS EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT WHICH HAD LEAD TO TWO SETS OF TIRES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. IN 3000 MILES THE TIRES ARE WORN ENOUGH THAT THE MERCURY MAKES A WHOMPING SOUND MUCH LIKE A FLAT IS HARD TO TURN AND IS DIFFICULT TO STOP UNTIL I HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED. THE WHOLE PROCESS THEN HAS TO BE DONE AGAIN IN ANOTHER 3000 MILES WHICH ACCORDING TO FORD "SHOULD BE DONE EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE AND THIS IS NORMAL FOR AN SUV."*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THROTTLE BECAME STUCK, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. READ WINDOW EXPLODED OVER NIGHT. GLASS WAS ALL OVER THE GARAGE. ONLY A COUPLE PIECES BIGGER THEN A DIME.

AFTER TAKING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS 30' (FEET) BEFORE IMPACTING A TREE. ONE PERSON INJURED: PELVIS FRACTURE/DISLOCATED LEG, AND LACERATED LIVER. NO CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE GAS PEDAL WILL STICK, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON I-71 NEAR LODI, OH I DRIFTED ON TO THE GRASSY MEDIAN AND WHEN I TRIED TO PULL IT BACK TO THE PAVEMENT WITNESSES SAID THAT THE VEHILCE FLIPPED FIRST LANDING ON THE REAR END THE CONTINUE UNTIL IT LANDED ON ITS WHEELS. ALTHOUGH I WAS DRIVING, I DON'T REMBER ANYTHING AFTER TURNING THE WHEEL UNTIL THE STATE TROOPER SPOKE TO AS THE RESCUE SQUAD WAS REMOVING ME FROM THE CAR. *AK (DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRESIZE: STANDARD)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT FOURTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WILL CATCH ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WILL CATCH ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

TIRE SEPARATED ON THE SIDEWALL AND WAS VIBRATING VERY BADLY. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75/R1)

INTERMITTENTLY THROTTLE STICKS. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON OTHER MAKES AND MODELS. HOWEVER ,THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WILL REPLACE THROTTLE BODY AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THROTTLE STICKS WHENEVER APPLIED, HOWEVER MORE OCCASIONAL WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE MECHANIC SAW THE FRONT BUSHINGS WERE SHREDDED. *SLC

TRAVELLING SOUTHBOUND ON I-35 AT MILEMARKER 20 NEAR CLARKS GROVE MN WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE BLOWOUT OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING, COMPLETELY SEPARATING TREAD. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO A SAFE STOP ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER WHERE SPARE WAS INSTALLED.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: P235-75R15)

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, CONSUMER PRESSED ON ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE, NOR DID ENGINE REV. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ACCELERATOR RESPONDED AGAIN. DEALER DISCONNECTED SPEED CONTROL CABLE, AND ADVISED CONSUMER THAT WAS WHAT HAD CAUSED THE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, PEDAL FEELS TIGHT AND POPPS BACK WHEN CONSUMER LETS GO OF IT. *AK

THE VEHICLES RIM SPLIT IN THE TREAD AREA FOR UNKNOWN REASON. *YH

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, CONSUMER THEN SWERVED, AND SIDESWIPED A SEMI TRUCK, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.(FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ESS AT 15 W2HL P235/75R-15)*JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, CONSUMER THEN SWERVED, AND SIDESWIPED A SEMI TRUCK, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.(FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ESS AT 15 W2HL P235/75R-15)*JB

VEHICLE WAS GOING 70MPH AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THROTTLE WAS STUCK. CONSUMER HAD TO STOMP ON THROTTLE TO GET IT UNSTUCK, ALMOST RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT. *SLC

DRIVESHAFT REPLACED. *SLC

FUEL FILTER REPLACED. *SLC

THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY 44 NEAR SULLIVAN MO. EVEN THOUGH NO ONE WAS INJURYED IT WAS CERTAINLY A SCARY EVENT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2UU TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK IN IDLE POSITION AND COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED. HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC. HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD AND MANUALLY HAND MANIPULATE PEDAL TO GET IT MOVING AGAIN.

PE00 020; ALL FOUR FIRESTONE TIRES HAVE TREAD SEPARATION. FIRESTONE COMPANY HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P23575/15. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED FIRESTONE (VNHL1PY108) TIRES SHOWING SIGNS OF CRACKING AROUND THE TREAD, ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED AND FIRESTONE AGREED TO GIVE CONSUMER PARTIAL CREDIT FOR EACH TIRE, EVEN THOUGH TIRES WERE NOT APART OF RECALL, BUT THE TIRES WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. *JB

ACCELERATOR HAD BEEN STICKING. ON FEBRUARY 22 VEHICLE WAS AT STOP LIGHT, LIGHT CHANGED, CONSUMER APPLIED GAS, NOTHING HAPPENED , APPLIED GAS WITH MORE FORCE AND VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT . $ 1700 DAMAGE TO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ON MERCURY, MOUNTAINEER 1998 ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. THREE OF TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE CRACKING. *AK *SLC

GAS PEDAL CAME OFF WHILE HE DRIVING. CURRENTLY, BEING TOLD THAT IT WAS ONE PIECE AND HAD TO BE WELDED. *AK

GAS PEDAL CAME COMPLETELY APART. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. MR *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*741060

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE P235/75R15 SIZE, DOT#: W2HL. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

FRONT END ALWAYS OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHEN CHECKED EVERY 3,000 MILES. HAD TO REPALCE TIRES BECAUSE OF UNEVEN TREAD WEAR 2 TIMES. FIRST TIME REPLACEMENT VEHICLE HAD ONLY 12,000 MILES. SECOND TIME WE REPLACED TIRES WAS AT 29,680 MILES. METAL-ON-METAL SOUND OFTEN COMES FROM FRONT END AS WELL. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL WITHOUT ANY DRIVER PROVOCATION AND CASHED INTO ROAD SIDE RAIL. REAR-END SPUNOUT AND VEHICLE DID A 360. NO OTHER VEHICLES PRESENT AND BRAKES NOT APPLIED LEADING TO SPIN-OUT. LIGHT SNOW WAS FALLING. DEALER ADMITS TO FRONT END/SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, BUT CLAIMS MANUFACTURER "DOES NOT STAND BEHIND PROBLEMS" MY FAMILY IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *AK

BEFORE THE TIRE BLOWOUT I HAD THE TIRES INSPECTED AT THE LOCAL FIRESTONE STORE AND WAS TOLD I HAD NO TIRES THAT FELL UNDER THE TIRE RECALL. WHEN I WENT TO ANOTHER TIRE STORE TO HAVE THE BLOWOUT REPLACED I WAS INFORMED THAT TIRE WAS UNDER THE RECALL, THE VEHILCE WAS INSPECTED AGAIN AND TWO MORE TIRES WERE RECAL TIRES. I WENT BACK TO THE FIRESTONE STORE WERE THE TIRES WERE FIRST INSPECTED AND THE MANAGER TOLD ME I WAS WRONG ABOUT THE TIRES BEING RECALLED AFTER I TOLD ME ANOTHER TIRE STORE HAD REPLACED FOR FREE UNDER THE RECALL DOT NUMBER, I WAS THEN TOLD I COULD NOT PROVE THE TIRES WERE ON RECALL TO HIM SO LEGALLY HE DID NOTHING WRONG BY TELLING HE THE TIRES WERE SAFE SO NOW IT WAS MY WORD AGAINST HIS. I CALLED FIRESTONE CORPORATION AND TOLD THEM THE SAME STORY BUT GOT NO RESPONCE FROM THE COMPANY EATHER.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRESIZE: 235/75R15)

ALL FOUR TIRES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION, TIRES HAVE CRACKS AROUND THE BASE OF THE TREAD, DEALER WILL NOT REPLACED TIRES BECAUSE TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T-OO5. *CJ

STEEL BELT SHOWING THROUGH TIRES, CONSUMER TOOK TIRES TO FIRESTONE DEALER BUT WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PROPER DOT CODE (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 DOT W2HL). NLM

WHEN DRIVING HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. HAD IT REPAIRED, GRINDING HAPPENED AGAIN. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER CAN'T PUT IN DRIVE ONLY SECOND. *AK

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE IS CRACKING AT THE TREAD LINE, THE OTHER THREE TIRES SHOW SAME SIGNS OF CRACKING, THESE TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235-75R-15). NLM

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A POPPING NOISE. VEHICLE VEERED OFF INTO A BAR DITCH, AND IT TRAVELED DOWN BAR DITCH, AND HIT GUARDRAIL. THEN WENT SIDEWAYS INTO THE LANE OF TRAFFIC, AND THEN HIT ENBANKMENT. INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A TIRE BLOWOUT. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. TAKEN TO DEALER ONCE A MONTH SINCE PURCHASE IN MARCH 2000, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK *SLC

P23575R15; WHILE HAVING TIRES SERVICED NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION. *AK FIRESTONE PAID FOR PART OF THE TIRE EXPENSES. *YH

WAS TRAVELING 40MPH WHEN RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW. REPLACED IT WITH THE SPARE. TOWED TRUCK TO DRIVER, HE INDICATED ALL TIRES WERE BAD. CAN SEE THE STEEL BELTS COMING THROUGH RUBBER. CONTACTED FIRESTONE & INFORMED NO RECALL ON TIRES.*AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) CAUSED VEHICLE TO VIBRATE, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AND HAS NO MORE PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. *SLC

THIS TIRE WAS NOT A RECALL WITH THE VD CODE. IT SUDDENLY FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED BY LOSING PART OF ITS TREAD. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE PLY FOR A DISTANCE OF APPROX 18" ON ONE SIDE OF THE TIRE. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. (DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY2HL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT STILL HAS NOT RECIVED REFUND. NLM

THE BELTS OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE BROKEN AND SEPARATING CAUSING A ROUGH RIDE, CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM A COMPETITOR PRIOR TO AUG 9, 2000. NLM

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15SL TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO VISIBLE CRACKS BETWEEN THE SIDEWALL AND THE TREAD, THE TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE (OOT-005) RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15SL TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO VISIBLE CRACKS BETWEEN THE SIDEWALL AND THE TREAD, THE TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE (OOT-005) RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN TO FISHTAIL, THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING SO LOW THAT THE JACK COULD NOT BE USED PROPERLY. NLM

PLEASE ADVISE RE: WILSON NC WILDERNESS AT RECALL POSSIBILTY - PER INFO AVAILABLE, THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN, WILSON MANUFACTURED TIRES ARE EVEN MORE LIKELY THAN THOSE FROM DECATUR TO EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEMS BUT AS OF YET DO NOT APPEAR TO BE RECALLED. WHY NOT? I AM DRIVING ON DOT W2... SERIAL TIRES AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO ANY DISTRIBUTION LISTS ON THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION ON A RECALL OF ALL WILDERNESS AT TIRES AND FURTHER STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON THE WILSON LOCATION. THANK YOU. (DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235 75 R15 EXPERIENCED LEAKING. *SLC

I DID PROCEED TO THE MERCUERY DEALER FOR SEAT BELTS, OUR RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT WAS ON ORDER FOR 10 MONTHS AND MERCURY DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT . I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SEAL BEALTS NOT RETRATING AND THEY WOULD STICK, I DID FOLLOW UP WITH A LAW SUIT AND LOST BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT MY SEAT BELT WASN'T A PROBLEM. THE REAR RIGHT WAS ON ORDER FOR ALMOST 10 MONTHS AND STILL NOTHING WAS DONE .IN NOV 1998 I HAD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE AND THE DEALER SHIP THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND NOTHING WAS DONE. WILL JUNE 2000 A NEW ENGINE WAS PUT IN BECAUSE UPTOWN COULD'T FIND A PROBLEM. THE MOST I WANT IS TO HAVE FORD TAKE THIS TRUCK BACK AND FORGET THAT LAWSUIT. WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLEYS ARE NOT WORK . ITS A SAFTEY MATTER (DOT NUMBER: VD TIRESIZE: P225/75R75)

I'VE BEEN TO A FIRESTONE DEALER AND THE PLACE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, BOTH TELL ME THAT MY TIRES AREN'T ON RECALL, BUT CAN SELL ME NEW ONES.MY TIRES ARE CRACKING AROUND THE TREADS JUST LIKE THE RECALLED ONES I'VE SEEN ON TELEVISION, BUT THEY BOTH ARE TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT! I JUST CAN'T GO OUT AND AFFORD NEW ONES, AND THESE ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. WHO CAN I GET TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THESE TIRES AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY? THE FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL OF MY TYPE OF SPLITTING, BUT THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO (HE WAS QUITE RUDE ALSO) ABOUT IT EXCEPT SELL ME NEW ONES. NOW IF THESE FIRESTONES AREN'T RECALLED AND ARE BAD, WHY WOULD I PURCHASE OTHER NON-RECALLED FIRESTONES. I HAVE RETAINED AN AIR PRESSURE OF APPROX. 34PSI SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. THESE TIRES ARE CRACKING AND ANYONE WHO WISHES TO VIEW THESE CAN JUST CONTACT ME AND I WILL MAKE THEM AVAILABLE AT ANY TIME. PLEASE CONTACT ME, I'M ABOUT AT THE END OF MY ROPE AND THESE TIRES SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED, UNLESS OF COURSE MINE ARE DEFFECTIVE ALONE, AND THEN THEY (FIRESTONE OR FORD) SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM TO..THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME..V/R, J. MATT DUFFIN (DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15) (DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

TREAD IS SEPERATING FROM TIRE ON SIDE WALL, TIRES ARE NOT RECALLED TIRE DOT VDHL (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15). *ET

TREAD IS SEPERATING FROM TIRE ON SIDE WALL, TIRES ARE NOT RECALLED TIRE DOT VDHL (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15). *ET

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES(P235 75 R15) DON'T HOLD AIR PRESSURE, CONSUMER HAD TIRES SERVICED EVERY 3-5 WEEKS BECAUSE OF THIS. *SLC

FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED UNEVEN WEAR, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 00T005 AFTER ALREADY REPLACING TIRES NOT KNOWING IF THESE FAULTY TIRES WERE WITH THE RECALL, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

LEFT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. NLM

THESE FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS/AT, P23575R15 ARE EQUIPPED ON A MERCURY, MOUNTAINEER 1998. THEY HAVE BEGAN TO DEVELOP CRACKS WERE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL AROUND THE WHOLE TIRE,AND PARTS HAVE SEPARATED. FIRESTONE, AND FORD CONTACTED.*AK THESE TIRES HAVE A C HEAT RATING WHICH MEANS THEY CAN BE DRIVEN AT 85 MILES PER HOUR FOR 30 MIN. *YH

RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRE (P225 70 R15) EXPERIENCED BLOW OUT. *SLC

ON 09/14/00 I LEFT MY HOUSE AND ENTERED MY VEHICLE, TO RUN ERRANDS. UPON PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED THAT MY TIRES WERE SLIPPING. UPON GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, I NOTICED I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I CALLED A FRIEND TO CHANGE MY TIRE. ONCE THE TIRE WAS OFF THE VEHICLE, I BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE REASON THE TIRE WENT FLAT. MY FRIEND AND I BOTH SOON REALIZED THAT MY TIRE WAS FLAT BECAUSE THE TREAD WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE IN MY GARAGE. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS HURT. I HAVE CONTACTED FIRESTONE, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT MY TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO MY TIRES THAT HAPPENED TO THE TIRES BEING RECALLED. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH THESE TIRES ON IT. BEING A FULL-TIME COLLEGE STUDENT, I NEED TO DRIVE MY CAR. I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO AFFORD THE EXTRA COST OF NEW TIRES EVEN IF I MAY BE REIMBURSED SOMETIME DOWN THE ROAD. FIRESTONE WILL NOT HELP ME. I'M HOPING YOU CAN DO SOMETHING FOR ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

SEPTEMBER 20, 2000 I OWN A 1998 MOUNTAINEER. IT CAME WITH FIRESTONE P235/75R15 WILDERNESS AT TIRES. THE FOUR MOUNTED TIRES ARE ALL DOT W2HL 1PY 397. I RECENTLY HAD THESE TIRES INSPECTED BY MY FORD DEALER'S MECHANIC BECAUSE I WAS GOING ON AN OUT OF STATE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY357 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

PE 00 020/TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERINCED A FLAT TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. TIRE TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE CENTER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TIRE WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF WALL SEPARATION. THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE IT AT A PRORATE EXCHANGE. TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND MOUNTED ON A 1998 MERCURY, MOUNTAINEER; TIRE SIZE P235/75R15 AND DOT# W2HL1PY288 *AK THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE THAT HAVE BECOME DEFECTIVE. THE INNER SIDE WALL CRACKED AND THE TIRE DOES NOT HOLD AIR. *YH

PE#00020 - CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPERATION ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMAELY 65 MPH. REPLACEMENT TIRE ISSUED BY FIRESTONE WAS A RECALL TIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE REPLACED ON RECALL. THE OTHER 3 ORIGINAL TIRES, WHICH WERE THE SAME SIZE OF P235/75R15, HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE PLANT CODE WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE RECALL TIRES. HOWEVER, ALL 3 TIRES EXPERIENCED CRACKING AROUND THE ENTIRE TIRE OF WHERE THE TREAD MET THE TIRE. CONSUMER HAS ADVISED FIRESTONE OF PROBLEM, WHO ALSO RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT OFFER CONSUMER SATISFACTORY SERVICE. TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE A 1998, MERCURY TRUCK, MOUNTAINEER. *AK FORD COMPANY BLAMES FIRESTONE FOR THE TIRE PROBLEM. *YH

THE SIDEWALLS ON ALL FOUR TIRES CRACKED. THE CRACKS WERE LOCATED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE WHERE THE TREAD WRAPS FROM THE FACE OF THE TIRE TO THE SIDEWALL. I WENT TO TWO FIRESTONE STORES. BOTH AGREED THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD BE REPLACED ON A PRO-RATE. NO TIRES WERE AVAILABLE ON 9/18/00 DUE TO THE DEMAND ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. I WAS PUT ON A WAITING LIST. DECIDING NOT TO TRUST THE TIRES ANY LONGER, I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE AND PURCHASE KELLY-SPRINGFIELD TIRES THE SAME DAY. I KEPT THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. THREE OF THE TIRES HAVE DOT NUMBERS THAT ARE VNHL1PY397. THE OTHER HAS A DOT NUMBER VNHL1PY387. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CONSISTENT IN THE PATERN OF THE CRACKING. I WANTED TO ADVISE YOU OF THIS DEFECT AS THE RECALLED WILDERNESS AT ARE BEING REPLACED WITH TIRES MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME CANADIAN PLANT AS THE DEFECTIVE TIRES ON MY MOUNTAINEER.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY397 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

BECAUSE OF THE NEWS REPORTS OF TIRE PROBLEMS I DECIDED TO ROTATE THE TIRES ON MY MOUNTAINEER. ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE I FOUND CRACKS WHERE THE STEEL SHOWED THROUGH. I PUT ALL THE TIRES BACK ON THE CAR AND DROVE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER. THEY WERE WILLING TO GIVE ME AN ADJUSTMENT ON THAT TIRE ONLY. I REFUSED THE OFFER AND WENT TO ANOTHER TIRE COMPANY WHERE I PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES. I KEPT THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES IN CASE THEY ARE NEEDED IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE ON GOING INVESTIGATION BY YOUR ORGANIZATION.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY897 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THROTTLE BODY FAILED, CAUSING STICKING. *SLC

STEEL BELT WAS SHOWING ON FIRESTONE TIRE. *SLC

THROTTLE BODY FAILED, CAUSING STICKING. *SLC

STEEL BELT WAS SHOWING ON FIRESTONE TIRE. *SLC

ORIGINAL TIRES P235/75R15, DOT VNHL348, 1998, MERCURY, MOUNTAINEER. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO BE SERVICED, AND MECHANIC SAID THAT 2 OF THE TIRES WERE CRACKING LIKE THE RECALL TIRES. THEN, DEALER NOTICED A THIRD TIRE HAD A CRACK. *AK

BEGINNING TIRE SEPERATION AND BEADING WAS DISCOVERED WHEN I HAD MY TIRES CHECKED AND UNLTIMITELY REPLACED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY358 TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

FIRESTONE P235/75R15 DOTW2HL EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION ON RIGHT REAR PASSENGER TIRE, CONSUMER HAD JUST PREVIOUSLY HAD TIRES CHECKED AT A FIRESTONE DEALER WHO STATED TIRES WERE OKAY, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED STRESS CRACKS, HOWEVER THE TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECENT RECALL. *MJS

PE00 020; TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER FROM FIRESTONE. THERE WERE NO TIRES AVAILABLE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS#AT, P2357515, #DOT VD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

BLOW OUT, VEHICLE ROLLED, HOSPITAL/SAN ANTONIO BY AIRFLIGHT. POLICYHOLDER CONFIRMED FIRESTONE TIRE ON VEHICLE EXACT MODEL NOT KNOWN YET BUT MOST LIKELY WILL BE WILDERNESS. HE SAID THAT HE HAD FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES ON THE MOUNTAINEER. HE SAID THAT THE WRECKER YARD DOES HAVE THE PIECE OF TREAD THAT SEPERATED AND IT PEELED OFF ALL IN ONE PIECE. HE SAID THAT THE TIRE THAT IT CAME OFF OF IS STILL INFLATED. EXPLAINED AGAIN HE SAID THAT SINCE HIS FAMILY SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, HE IS GOING TO CONSULT WITH A LAWYER TO PURSUE A BL CLAIM AGAINST FIRESTONE. (CLAIM# 53-C601-172) *MW

TIRE BLEW-FIRESTONE ATX P235-75R15. (CLAIM# 36-A113-742) *MW

PE00-020, TIRE SIZE P23575R15 DOT VNHL, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MERCURY, MOUNTAINEER, 1998. DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD CAME OFF ,CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE PULLED OFF THE ROAD. TIRE STAYED INFLATED, BUT TREAD CAME COMPLETEY OFF ,RIGHT DOWN TO STEEL BELT, AS THOUGH IT WAS RECAP TIRE. CONSUMER TOOK TIRE TO FIRESTONE, AND WAS TOLD IT HAD CORRECT AIR PRESSURE. *AK

VEHICLE PARKED WHEN NEWS WAS HEARD ON TV ABOUT TIRES. CHECKED TIRES AND LEFT FRONT TIRES SHOWED TREAD SEPARATION AND STEEL BELT STICKING OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD & MECHANIC REPLACED TIRE WITH THE SPARE. LATER, TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE & WAS INFORMED TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL DUE TO NOT BEING FROM DECATUR PLANT. FIRESTONE TIRES ON 1998, MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 38,000 MILES. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 WITH 34,000 MILES.*AK

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: ALL FOUR TIRES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. TIRES HAVE CRACKS ALONG THE SIDEWALL. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 AND ABOVE, THERE IS A VERY LOUD HUMMING NOISE. TIRE SIZE IS P235/75R15, DOT #W2HL. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 98, MOUNTAINEER. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 30,000. *AK THE CUSTOMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR FIRESTONE TIRES, BUT THE DEALER AFTER LOOKING AT THE TIRES INDICATED THAT THEY WERE NOT COVERED. *YH

VEHICLE HAS THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/AT P23575R15, BUT IT WAS MANUFACTRUED IN NORTH CAROLINA. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE IS STARTING TO SEPARATE. TREAD HAS WORN COMPLETELY, AND IS NOW DEVELOPING CRACKS. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK BOTH FRONT TIRES STATED WEARING QUICKLY AND THE TREAD BEGAN SEPARATING. THEY ARE UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *YH

PE00020, TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. THERE IS A TEAR BETWEEN THE LETTERS R AND E IN FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE, WILDERSNESS AT, P23575R15, DOT #VNHL. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT WITH ABOUT 16,100 MILES.*AK

CONSUMER HAD SEEN RECALL INFORMATION ON FIRESTONE TIRES. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECALL, AND FIRESTONE WAS NOT WILLING TO HELP. *AK

THERE IS A CRACK (LINE) THAT GOES AROUND THE SIDE OF THE TIRE APPROX 1 TO 1.5 INCHES BELOW THE TOP OF THE TREAD( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THERE IS A CRACK (LINE) THAT GOES AROUND THE SIDE OF THE TIRE APPROX 1 TO 1.5 INCHES BELOW THE TOP OF THE TREAD( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00020, ORIGINAL TIRE ON 1998, MERCURY, MOUNTAINEER. ALL FOUR TIRES HAD CRACKS ALONG TREAD AND SIDEWALL. IT SEEMED THAT TREAD HAS BEEN PEELING OFF. TIRE SIZE P235/75R15 AND DOT # VNHLIPY337.*AK

AFTER READING INFORMATION ON THE RECALL, INSPECTED THE TIRES, AND FOUND CRACKS ON THEM, AS WELL AS TREAD SEPARATION. FIRESTONE P235/75R15 DOT # VNHL1PY437. *AK THE FIRESTONE DEALERS CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FIRSTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES HAD CONTINUOUS CRACK ON OUTSIDE OF THE TREAD LINE. *YH

DRIVING EASTBOUND ON I-12 LOUISIANA EN ROUTE TO MD WHEN VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND WE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND DID A 360 AND SLAMMED INTO TREES . VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS AND 2 ANIMALS PERISHED , SPOUSE AND I WERE TAKEN VIA AMBULANCE TO SLIDELL MEM. HOSPITAL( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

NOTICED A ROCKING/ROLLING MOTION ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT. LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BUBBLED AREA WHICH HAD WORN AND BURST A HOLE IN THE TIRE. STEEL THREAD SHOWING. I PUT THE SPARE ON AND WHEN GOT BACK HOME I BOUGHT 5 NEW TIRES . I THINK I CAUGHT THE PROBLEM JUST IN TIME TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TOOK TIRES TO FIRESTONE DEALER, HE FOUND SEVERE CRACKS IN 2 TIRES, FRONT, BUT THEY WERE NOT PART OF RECALL. BOUGHT GOODYEAR TIRES TO REPLACE THEM. CAR SPENT 2 WINTERS IN BRADENTON, FLORIDA. TRIP DOWN LAST YEAR WAS IN OVER 90 DEGREE HEAT. RETURN TRIP THE SAME. PSI (30) AT ALL TIMES.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: 15 )

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NOTICED A ROCKING/ROLLING MOTION ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT. LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BUBBLED AREA WHICH HAD WORN AND BURST A HOLE IN THE TIRE. STEEL THREAD SHOWING. I PUT THE SPARE ON AND WHEN GOT BACK HOME I BOUGHT 5 NEW TIRES . I THINK I CAUGHT THE PROBLEM JUST IN TIME TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TOOK TIRES TO FIRESTONE DEALER, HE FOUND SEVERE CRACKS IN 2 TIRES, FRONT, BUT THEY WERE NOT PART OF RECALL. BOUGHT GOODYEAR TIRES TO REPLACE THEM. CAR SPENT 2 WINTERS IN BRADENTON, FLORIDA. TRIP DOWN LAST YEAR WAS IN OVER 90 DEGREE HEAT. RETURN TRIP THE SAME. PSI (30) AT ALL TIMES.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: 15 )

THE STEEL BELT HAS BEEN EXPOSED ON THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES. THE STEEL BELT ON 2 OF THE TIRES CAN BE LIFTED UP BY MY FINGERS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIRE WEAR LIKE THIS. I WOULN NOT HAVE NOTICED THIS UNLESS I READ OF CURRENT PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRES. UPON MY INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THIS EARLY WEAR PROBLEM. I FEAR FOR MY SAFTY AND MY FAMILY DRIVING ON AMY FIRESTONE TIRE OF THE WILDERNESS 'AT' TYPE. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE TIRES MFG. AT THE N.C. PLANT WILL BE RECALLED. I AM KEEPING THE CAR AT HOME. I CALLED FORD MOTOR AND THEY SAID ALL THEIR TIRES ARE SAFE. THEN WHY ARE THERE TIRES WEARING AND FAILING SO EARLY. I NEED HELP REGARDING THESE TIRES. ASAP. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE STEEL BELT HAS BEEN EXPOSED ON THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES. THE STEEL BELT ON 2 OF THE TIRES CAN BE LIFTED UP BY MY FINGERS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIRE WEAR LIKE THIS. I WOULN NOT HAVE NOTICED THIS UNLESS I READ OF CURRENT PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRES. UPON MY INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THIS EARLY WEAR PROBLEM. I FEAR FOR MY SAFTY AND MY FAMILY DRIVING ON AMY FIRESTONE TIRE OF THE WILDERNESS 'AT' TYPE. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE TIRES MFG. AT THE N.C. PLANT WILL BE RECALLED. I AM KEEPING THE CAR AT HOME. I CALLED FORD MOTOR AND THEY SAID ALL THEIR TIRES ARE SAFE. THEN WHY ARE THERE TIRES WEARING AND FAILING SO EARLY. I NEED HELP REGARDING THESE TIRES. ASAP. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THIS MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS THREE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/AT TIRES P23575R15 MANUFACTURED IN CANADA THAT ARE DEVELOPING CRACKS AROUND OUTSIDE AND INSIDE WALLS. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK DOT VNHL. *SLC

APPARENT TREAD SEPERATION CAUSED TIRE FAILURE. I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ON I294. DEFECT APPEARS EVIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P23575R-15 )

APPARENT TREAD SEPERATION CAUSED TIRE FAILURE. I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ON I294. DEFECT APPEARS EVIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P23575R-15 )

WHILE INSPECTETING TIRES AFTER SEEING THE NEWS ON TV, FOUND TREAD SEPARATION ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TIRES. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75 R15, DOT VNHNL. *AK

PREIVIOUSLY CONTACTED NTSHA REF # 866987 (INFO ON FORME SENT ME IS INCORRECT) CORRECT INFO FOLLOWS: WHILE DRIVING TO FL, IN GEORGA NOTICED A VIBERATIONS IN FROM END. CONTACTED FORD, THEY SAID TRY TO HAVE TIRES BALANCED. FIRESTONE STORE SAID CAN'T BALANCE TIRE BECAUSE THE STEEL BELTS HAVE SEPERATED INTERNALLY. THERE IS AN APORX. HIGHT DIFFERANCE BETREEN TREADS OF 1/2": I DIDN'T WANT TO PAY $120 FOR A NEW TIRE SO I HAD THE STORE MOUNT THAT TIRE AS MY SPARE. I STILL HAVE THIS TIRE. FIRESTONE HAS SINCE SAID THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THAT TIRE, BUT SINCE IT IS NOT IN THE RECALL, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT THIS TIRE SINCE IT DID NOT TOTALLY FAIL?( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY467 TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

ON APRIL 2,2000 WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 10 AT 70 MPH I EXPERIENCED A TIRE SEPARATION AND BLOWOUT. AT THE TIME I HAD ALL FIVE ORIGINAL TIRES ON MY MOUNTAINEER. AFTER THE SEPARATION I PUT THE SPARE IN SERVICE AND THE NEXT MORNING I PURCHASED THREE NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES AND PLACED THEM IN SERVICE WHICH GAVE ME FIVE TIRES WITH ZERO MILES ON THEM.AFTER HEARING OF THE FIRSTONE RECALL AFTER RETURNING TO MINNESOTA I HAD MY FIRESTONE DEALER CHECK MY TIRES. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TIRES DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RECALL BECAUSE THEY HAD THE DOT#W2HL INSTEAD OF THE DOT#VDHL.ALL OF MY TIES HAVE THE W2HL NUMBER AND YET I WAS ONE OF THE PERSONE THAT EXPERIENCED A TIRE SEPARATION AND BLOWOUT JUST AS THET-V REPORT STATED WAS THE REASON FOR THE RECALL. I HAVE NO TRUST IN THESE TIRES. I WOULD LIKE A SUGGESTIONOR INSTRUCTION AS TO WHAT TO DO. M. L. GEISZLER, BEMIDJI,MINN.ESTONE RECALL( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P235/75R15) TIRE EXPERIENCED A SPLIT ON THE SIDEWALL AREA. *MJS

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE(P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, ALL TIRES EXCEPT 1 WERE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T0050, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRE THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *SLC

I HAS HAD 3 OF THE ORIGINAL 5 TIRES FAIL. ONE FAILED AT 7000 MILES; THE OTHER TWO AT 30,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DAMAGE WAS INTERNAL. THE TIRES BEGAN TO BULDGE ON THE EXTERIOR WALL. ONE OF THE TIRES FLATTENED AT 75 MPH ON THE FREEWAY BEYOND REPAIR; IN FACT, THIS TIRE IS IN MY GARAGE. THE LOCAL DEALER MADE THE PROBLEM MY FAULT--IMPROPER INFLATION. HOWEVER, THE DOT NUMBER ON MY TIRES DID NOT MATCH THOSE FROM THE RECALL. I WAS PROMPTED TO WRITE BECAUSE I DO HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THESE PARTICULAR TIRES AS WELL HAVE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. MY PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED TO ME AS BELT SLIPPAGE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THESE WERE THE "BEST" TIRES FIRESTONE MAKES. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO REPLACE MY FIRESTONE TIRES WITH ANOTHER SET OF "DEFECTIVE" TIRES. NEVERTHELESS, OTHERS ARE PUTTING THESE SAME TYPE TIRES ON THE VECHICLES AS REPLACEMENTS FOR THE DEFECTS. I AM STATING FOR THE RECORD THAT THESE WILL ALSO WARRANT INVESTIGATION. ISN'T IT ODD THAT I HAVE REPLACED THREE OF FIVE TIRES WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES FOR BELT SLIPPAGE. WHAT ARE THE STATISTICAL ODDS OF THAT HAPPENING? KNOWING A BIT ABOUT STATISTICS, THIS NUMBER IS SIGNIFICANT, NOT A RANDOM OCCURRENCE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

WIFE OF OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON LEVEL ASPHALT PAVEMENT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT SPEED LIMIT. TIRE "EXPLODED" AND CAME APART SO VIOLENTLY THAT CHROME STEEL RIM WAS BENT ON IMPACT WITH PAVEMENT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PULL OFF ONTO SHOULDER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED FOR SERVICE. ALL TIRES AND ONE RIM WERE REPLACED. INFANT CHILD WAS A PASSENGER AT TIME OF INCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00-020; 26,540 MILES WILDERNESS AT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1998, P235/75R15 AND DOT #W8JN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER TO CHECK TO SEE IF HAD A RECALL ON TIRES. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A RECALL , BUT THE LEFT REAR HAS WEATHER CRACKS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD OR FIRESTONE WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRES, BUT FORD WOULD PRORATE TIRES. FIRESTONE CLAIMED THERE WAS NO DEFECTIVE TIRE. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS MAKING NOISE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. BUT WHEN STOPPED, COULD SEE THAT IT WAS TREAD SEPARATION. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R15 05SMF. *AK *SLC

MY FAMILY WAS ON VACATION AND TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 85 SOUTH. ABOUT 1/2 HOUR BEFORE STOPPING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A CROSS WIND OR AIR POCKET CREATED AS WE PASSED OR WAS PASSED BY TRAITOR TRAILERS ON THE ROAD. THE FAMILY DECIDED TO STOP FOR LUNCH AND EXITED OFF I85 SOUTH AT 12B. WE PROCEEDED TO GOLDEN CORRAL - 807 E. ATLANTIC STREET - SOUTH HILL, VIRGINIA. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE LEFT REAR TIRE GOING FLAT. I INSPECTED IT AND NOTICE TWO SLASHES ABOUT TWO INCHES IN LENGTH ON BOTH SIDES IF TIRE ABOUT TWO FEET APART. THE CUT WAS ON THE SIDE OF TIRE WHERE THE TREAD BEGAN AND WAS SEPARATING. AT THIS TIME A CUSTOMER LEAVING THE GOLDEN CORRAL APPROACHED ME AND INSPECTED THE TIRE AND TOLD ME THIS IS THE SAME TIRE THAT WAS REPORTED ON THE 6PM NEWS ONE DAY EARLIER AS BEING DEFECTIVE. I CONTACTED AAA TO CHANGE MY FLAT TIRE. LATER THAT AFTERNOON WE STOPPED IN RALEIGH, NC AND PURCHASED ONE NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE. ONE USED TIRE BECAME THE SPARE AND TWO NEW TIRES WERE ON THE REAR(THE ORIGINAL SPARE AND THE NEW TIRE JUST PURCHASED). WE CONTINUED SAFELY ON OUR TRIP TO EUFALA, AL. ON AUGUST 23, 2000 I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP IN REFERENCE TO THE TIRES BEGING EXCHANGED. THE PERSON ANSWERING THE PHONE INDICATED THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REPLACEMENT BUT A FIRESTONE DEALER IN EMERSON, NJ WAS INVOLVED. LATE IN THE MORNING OF 8/23/00 I WENT TO THE EMERSON, NJ FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP AND THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD ONE TIRE WAS OK(I SUPPOSED THE ONE PURCHASED ON 8/3/00). HOWEVER, I WAS PLACED ON A WAITING LIST AND TOLD THE BACKLOG WAS ABOUT ONE MONTH. I PROCEEDED TO MY DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED DURING VACATION AND I WANTED MY TIRES REPLACED. DEAN GRIFFEN WAS HELPFUL BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY TIRES NOR DID TWO OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WERE CALLED. I ON MY OWN PURCHASED 5 TIRES FROM GOODYEAR IN BERGENFIELD, NJ.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15S )

CONSUMER HAD JUST TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TRAVELING ON A DIRT ROAD WHEN VEHICLE JERKED TO RIGHT AND THEN ROLLED OVER. CONSUMER AND HER DAUGHTER WERE THROWN OUT FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS, AND DAUGHTER WAS KILLED UPON IMPACT. ALSO VEHICLE EXPLODED INTO FLAMES. *AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED/HESITATED UPON ACCLERATION SEVERAL TIMES. IT HAS DONE THIS AT LEAST 10 TIMES (STALLED 3 THUS FAR...TODAY 8/23/00 WAS ONE INCIDENT OF THAT) DESPITE EFFORTS BY FORD TO REMEDY. I'VE HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE RECALLED THROTTLE, RE-ORIENT MY FUEL LINES, AND EVENTUALLY REPLACE MY ENGINE WITHOUT ANY REMEDY. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE (ONCE IT STALLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES. FORTUNATELY IT WAS CLEAR). I'VE OWNED EXPLORERS IN THE PAST WITH NO SUCH INCIDENTS.( DOT NUMBER: )

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P23575R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK *SLC

BOTH THE FRONT FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED SEVERE CRACKS, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES WITH GOODYEAR ONES. *MJS

I HAD TWO TIRES EXPERIENCE SIDEWALL FAILURE (LARGE BULGE ON OUTSIDE OF TIRE). TIRES WERE REPLACED BY FIRSTONE. THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE ARE NOT SUBJECT TO CURRENT RECALL DUE TO THE PLACE OF MANUFACTURE.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY308 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. THEN, STARTED LOSING CONTROL, CAR SLID, AND WENT DOWN A HILL/ ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT, SIZE P23575 R15. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK *SLC

A CRACK JUST BELOW THE TREAD ALL AROUND THE TIRE WAS DETECTED BY MY CAR DEALER WHILE IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE.THIS TIRE NOT PART OF RECALL IN THAT IT WAS MANUFACTURED AT QUEBEC FACTORY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75-15 )

MY TIRES HAVE DOT STARTING WITH VH, THEY HAVE A CRACK ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE ALL THE WAY AROUND JUST BELOW THE TREAD LINE. NO TIRE SHOP WILL REPLACE THESE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THEY APPEAR TO BE UNSAFE AND I DO NOT WANT MY FAMILY INJURED DUE TO MANUFACTURING NELIGENCE. I AM UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHERE THESE TIRES WERE MADE. I AM TOLD THE CRACK IS CAUSED BY DRIVING ON DIRT AND PAVED ROADS BUT THESE ARE ALL-TERRAIN TIRES AND SHOULD HOLD UP TO DIFFERENT ROAD TYPES. PLEASE HELP ME GET THESE TIRES OFF MY CAR BEFORE THE TREAD COMES OFF. THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF MILES LEFT ON THESE TIRES BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE WITH THESE TIRES CRACKED!*AK( DOT NUMBER: VH TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

BEEN TOLD MY TIRES HAVE STRESS CRACKS INSIDE AND OUT. NOT SAFE BUT NOT YET ON RECALL. TAKEN TO FORD, SMITH TIRE BARN, HUNTING TIRE, AND FIRESTONE TIRE IN JACKSON TN.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235-75-R1 )

CONSUMER HAD CHANGED THE FOUR SET OF TIRES BECAUSE OF CRACKS ON THE TIRE SIDEWALLS. FIRESTONE P235/75R15 WILDERNESS DOT W2HLIPY457. *AK THE FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE HAD INSPECTED THE TIRES AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SEEN UNTIL THE TIRES ARE REMOVED FROM THE RIM. *YH

THERE WAS NO CRASH INVOLVED. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN WE HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES (WILDERNESS AT) MANUFACTURED IN DECATUR, IL. UPON EXAMINING OUR TIRES, TO SEE IF THEY WERE THE ONES MANUFACTURED IN DECATUR, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT ALL THE TIRES WERE SPLITTING, ON BOTH INBOARD AND OUTBOARD SIDES, WHERE THE SIDEWALLS MEET THE TREAD. THE SPLITS WENT AROUND THE ENTIRE TIRE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THERE IS A FAULT IN THE TIRE DESIGN ITSELF, AND NOT IN JUST THE TIRES MANUFACTURED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS PLANT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY367 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I INSPECTED MY TIRES AND DISCOVERED A DISTINCT LINE OF CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALL WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. THIS LINE OF CRACKS ENCOMPASSES AN EVEN RADIUS AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE SIDEWALL AND DOES NOT CHANGE DIRECTION AS IT PENETRATES EACH BLOCK OF TREAD. I HAVE A "VN" IDENTIFIER WHICH I KNOW IS NOT RECALLED, HOWEVER THE PATTERN I SEE IN MY TIRES IS SUSPECT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE TIRES MAY NEED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL ALSO( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235R7515 )

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS MAKING A NOISE BECAUSE TREAD HAD SEPARATED, BUT TIRE STILL HAD AIR. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15. *AK

ON FRIDAY JAN 7, 2000 UPON LEAVING MY OFFICE, I NOTICED UPON APPROACHING THE 1998 MOUNTAINEER A SHINY OBJECT IN THE LEFT REAR TIRE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A NAIL, BUT UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD DEVELOPED AN INDENTATION THE SIZE OF A QUARTER ON THE TREAD SIDE OF THE TIRE, ON THE TREAD CLOSEST TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THROUGH THAT INDENTATION, YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE WHAT APPEARED TO BE A STEEL BELT. DROVE HOME (ONLY 1 MILE) SLOWLY. SATURDAY MORNING I CHECKED THE AIR IN THE TIRE- IT WAS 29 LBS. THEN I HEADED EARLY FOR MARTIN TIRE WHICH IS 8 MILES AWAY. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MARTIN TIRE THE SIZE OF THE INDENTATION HAD GROWN TO ABOUT 3 INCHES AND THE STEEL BELT WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE FOR MOST OF THE THREE INCHES. FRANK MARTIN DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TREAD/BELT SEPARATION. DURING THE TRIP TO MARTIN TIRE THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF TIRE FAILURE. NO VIBRATIONS WERE NOTED, AND NO ADDITIONAL NOISE (THEY ARE NOISY TIRES TO BEGIN WITH) WAS NOTED. NOT WANTING TO TAKE A CHANCE WITH MY LIFE, I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH A NON-FIRESTONE BRAND IMMEDIATELY. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE WAY TO MY DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE, AND HAD THIS HAPPENED IT MIGHT BE MY ESTATE WHO COULD BE WRITING THIS REPORT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION OF 1 REAR TIRE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

WHILE DRIVING ON ROUTE 34, NEAR TIDEWATER, OREGON, REAR TIRE DISINTEGRATED AND WE WERE ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY NO-ONE WAS COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT THE TIME. WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE ASSISTANCE FROM A NEARBY RESIDENT WHO CALLED TOW TRUCK FROM WALDPORT, OREGON. TIRE WAS IN SHREDS, AND SMOKING WHEN WE STOPPED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE TIRE THREAD BEGAN TO FALL APART. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

WE WERE GOING FROM HOUSTON TO MARYLAND. IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY, BEFORE WE COULD PULL IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE TIRE BLEW OFF THE TRUCK, AND MY WIFE AND MYSELF FOUND OURSELVES WRAPPED AROUND A TREE. WE HAD OUR TWO DOGS AND TWO CATS WITH US, IN THEIR CRATES IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. WE LOST ONE CAT, AND OUR GERMAN SHEPHERD HAD HIS SPINAL CORD CRUSHED, AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO BE PUT TO SLEEP. NOW WE HEAR THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO MORE PEOPLE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY COULD BE SO NEGLEGENT. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE FATALITIES HAD WE NOT HIT THAT TREE EXACTLY WHERE WE DID. WE ARE CONSIDERING FILING SUIT, AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE. THANKYOU. WHEN YOU CALL US, WE CAN PROVIDE THE VIN NUMBER, I JUST DID NOT HAVE IT RIGHT NOW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

ON TWO OCCASIONS ACCELERATOR CABLE SNAPPED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE WITHOUT POWER FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN TRAFFIC, AND SECOND OCCURRENCE ON A DARK ROAD. BELIEVED BOTH INCIDENTS WERE DUE TO FAULTY PARTS. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE AGAIN. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE WALL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, HAD TO SLOW DOWN, APPLIED BRAKES, BUT IT DIDN'T TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. KEPT APPLYING BRAKES, AND CRUISE CONTROL FINALLY TURNED OFF. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED FOR HOOD LATCH RECALL, AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO ORDER A CARBURETOR KIT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND RAN INTO DITCH. DRIVER TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF THE DITCH, AND WHEN STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A LOW WALL. DRIVER SUFFERED CHEST/HEAD, AND NECK INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

MAY 5,1998 CAR DIED WHEN IT WAS GOING UP AN INCLINE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY. JUNE 3,1998 THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK,PLUS THE STEREO WHEN WE STOPPED LET OUT A HIGH PITCHED NOISE AND THEN STOPPED WORKING ABOUT AN HOUR LATER IT WAS OK AGAIN. LATER THAT EVENING THE CAR TRIED TO DIE AGAIN THE LIGHTS WENT DIM. JUNE 9,1998 WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH (50 THRU 80MPH)WENT OUT. JUNE 19,1998 PROBLEMS AGAIN CAR NOT WANTING TO START ALL THE TIME-DEALERSHIP INSTALLED FLIGHT DATA RECORDER UNTIL JUNE 26,1998 WHEN STEREO STARTED AGAIN AND DATA RECORDER WENT OUT. JULY 14,1999 CAR MAKING LOUD NOISE BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEY HAD TO REPLACE ALTENATOR/TENSIIONER/BELT. JULY 26,1999 CAR OVERHEATS AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN A MILE AWAY TOWED TO DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACE THERMOSTAT/THERMOSTAT HOUSING/GASKET . PICK CAR UP ON JULY 29,1999 FROM DEALERSHIP DRIVE 3.3 MILES FROM DEALERSHIP AND THE CAR CATCHES ON FIRE ON DRIVERS SIDE UNDER AROUND WERE THE FUSES ARE. CAR GETS REPAIRED THEN ON SEPT.22,1999 HAD TO BRING BACK AFTER DRIVING CAR THE HEADLIGHTS START TO FLASH ON & OFF. WELL ARE REARVEIW MIRROR HAS THE AUTO DIMING HEADLIGHTS THAT HAVE NOT WORKED FOR A WHILE NOW BUT I AM TIRED OF MESSING WITH THIS LEMON. OH BEFORE THE FIRE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU PUT THE TURN SIGNAL ON IT WOULD BUZZ. THIS IS THE PROBLEMS WE BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. MANY TIMES THE LIGHTS DIMMED BUT IT WOULD BE OK AFTER A LITTLE WHILE. *AK

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL BECAME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

AFTER DRIVING 20 MIN.ON I-75 AT 65MPH THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A LOT OF A SHOPPING MALL. 1 MINUTE LATER, THE CAR MADE A LOUD HISSING NOISE FOR 5-10 SECONDS AND THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE ENGINE AND A FIRE THAT WAS FLAMING UNDER THE HOOD,THE SIDE FENDERS,& THE RADIATOR GRILL. THE FIRE MELTED ALUMINUM AND PLASTIC ENGINE COMPONENTS SO FAST ALONG WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FIRE I BELIEVE CAUSED BY DEFECT OF MANUFACTURER. IF THIS FIRE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH.THE FIRE WOULD BE A TORCH AND FUMES,HEAT,AND FIRE WOULD HAVE ENTERED THE INTERIOR MAKING DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE. THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM,LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO BRAKING AND STEERING TO STOP AND PULL OVER. I CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY KNEW ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH MOUNTAINEERS.THE RECEPTIONIST CLAIMED THAT FORD ENTERED MY CASE IN THEIR DATABASE AS A COLLISION THAT CAUGHT FIRE WHICH IS FALSE AND A COVER UP. AFTER ASKING THEM TO CLEAR UP THE ENTRY IN THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM THEY INVESTIGATED THE CAR CLAIMING IN WRITING THEY HAVE NO CONLUSION ON WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE MY VEHICLE CONTAINED MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT FORD IS AVOIDING INVESTIGATIVE CONCLUSIONS DUE TO FEAR OF RECALL. I WANT FORD TO INVESTIGATE ALL ACCIDENT,DEATH & FIRE CASES NATIONWIDE DUE TO EXPLORERS & MOUNTAINEERS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WOULD CAUSES FIRE. I WANT FORD TO REFUND THE COST OF THE VEHICLE PLUS EXPENSES. I NOW RECALL SMELLING GAS FROM BEHIND THE CAR TWICE IN MID FEB.1999. *AK

THIS IS FOURTH TIME I'VE HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE IN FOR A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE IN FRONT END (METAL TO METAL SOUNDS). *AK

VEHICLE DRIVEN IN FORWARD AND COMES TO A STOP (I.E.- AT A STOP SIGN, TOLL BOOTH, OR TRAFFIC LIGHT) WILL STALL/HESITATE WITHOUT WARNING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED FORWARD AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN THREE STATES AND THEY SAY "FORD/MERCURY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT AT THE CURRENT TIME THERE IS NO FIX." RADIO WHEN TUNING WOULD NOT PICK UP ANY RADIOSTATIONS DUE TO RADIO NOT HOOKED TO ANTENNA. DOOR MOLDING ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR CAME LOOSE AND PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED MORE THAN THREE INCHES. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR TO DRIVE VEHICLE. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ENGINE BURNED OUT AND REAR WIPER DID NOT WORK. BRAKE STUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PLACE VEHICLE INTO GEAR AFTER INITIAL START OF ENGINE. *AK

LEVER TO LOWER SEATBACK HAS BEEN BENDING EACH TIME I GET OUT FOR LAST YEAR, NOW IT BROKE OFF. I BECAME HANDICAPPED LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO AND HAVE TO SLIDE OUT OF SEAT TO GROUND. LEVER HAS BEEN BENDING FOR I HAVE TO GO OVER IT, AND I HAVE TO RE-BEND IT TO ACCESS ELECTRIC LUMBAR BUTTON.

THE REAR WINDOW WIPER DOES NOT ALWAYS COME ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED ON, THE WIPING EFFICIENCY OF BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK WIPER IS POOR, THERE IS NO CONTACT WITH THE WINDOW. *SLC

WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT VEHICLE IDLES TO HIGHT RPM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

THIS REPORT IS ABOUT AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY MERCURY MOUNTAINEER THAT FIRST OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER, 1998, AND CONTINUES INTERMITTENTLY TO THIS DAY. USUALLY IN TEMPERATUES UNDER 55 DEGREES, A HIGH PITCHED WHISTLE/SQUEAL SOUND CAN BE HEARD FROM THE BODY FRONT, BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS ADDRESSED IT IN THEIR TSB 5506, NHTSA ITEM #SB605189. THE CAUSE IS APPARENTLY THE FRONT AXLE SEAL(S), AND FORD'S SOLUTION IS TEMPORARY, TO LUBRICATE THE AFFECTED AREA. THEY SUPPOSEDLY ARE WORKING ON A PERMANENT SOLUTION, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN NEARLY A YEAR SINCE THEY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM, OVER A YEAR SINCE I REPORTED IT TO MY DEALERSHIP. UPON WRITING TO FORD ABOUT MY PROBLEM, THEY ASSURED ME THE PROBLEM WAS NON-DEGENERATIVE, I.E. NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THEY WERE WORKING ON A SOLUTION. IN THE MEANTIME, I SHOULD HAVE THE TEMP. SOLUTION APPLIED. HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD THE TEMP. SOLUTION APPLIED 4 SEPERATE TIMES, AND EACH TIME, THE NOISE COMES BACK AFTER JUST A LITTLE WHILE. EACH TIME THE TEMP. LUBE IS APPLIED, IT QUELLS THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORTER AND SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE TEMP. SOLUTION IS LESS AND LESS EFFECTIVE OVER TIME, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THE WHISTLING/SQUELING NOISE SOUNDS AS IF IT IS A METAL-ON-METAL TYPE OF SOUND, I CHALLENGE FORD'S CLAIM THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE, AND FEEL IT MAY BE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE TIRES BREAK OFF OR THE AXLE SEAL COLLAPSES. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE FORD IS PURSUING A PERMANENT SOLUTION-DEVELOPING NEW SEALS I ASSUME (GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE SUPPOSEDLY BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A YEAR). MY DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN 100% UNDERSTANDING AND HELPFUL, BUT CANNOT PROVIDE A SOLUTION THAT DOES NOT EXIST, ALTHOUGH THEY CONTINUE TO ASSURE ME A PERMANENT SOLUTION IS IN THE WORKS PER FORD. I FEEL I HAVE EXHAUSTED MY OPTIONS IN PURSUING INFORMATION AND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, AND AM VERY WORRIED THAT MY SAFETY IS AT RISK FROM A DEFECTIVE, POORLY DESIGNED FRONT AXLE-TIRE ASSEMBLY. *AK

HORN HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THERE IS STILL NO SOUND. *AK

THE FUSE CONNECTED TO THE A.C. ,SIGNALS,HEAT,AND CRUISE CONTROL KEEPS " GOING OUT " TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED 4 TIMES AND AGAIN IT HAPPENNED . I WAS ABOUT TO GO TO ABTRAINTION HEARING, BUT I GAVE FORD 1 MORE CHANCE WITH THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE ENGINEER. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE SIGNALS AND DEFROSTER NOT ENABLING SAFE DRIVING. I DON'T WHAT TO DO , I TRIED CALLING FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T FIX THIS PROBLEM CORRECTLY. PLEASE HELP ME.

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE PEDAL SNAPS OPEN AND THE THROTTLE STICKS. *AK.

MY INERTIA SWITCH WAS BROKE , 1ST ON JULY 21, 1999 AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. I WAS TOLD BY COVEY DEALERSHIP THAT MY CAR WAS FIXED AND READY TO GO. I ADVISED THEM I WAS TAKING MY CAR OUT ON THE ROAD AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WOULD NOT BE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT, THEY ASSURED ME ALL WAS "FINE"...NINE DAYS LATER, I WAS STRANDED 400 MILES FROM HOME, WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM, THE INERTIA SWITCH. I WAS TOLD THAT THE INERTIA SWITCH SHOULD "NEVER" BREAK DOWN AND IT HAPPENED TO ME TWO TIMES IN NINE DAYS. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH FORD/MERCURY, AS I HAVE INCRUED EXPENSES OF $500 WHILE BEING STRANDED OUT OF TOWN AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS WRITING LETTERS, AND MAKING PHONE CALLS, TO NO AVAIL. I JUST THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF FORD/MERCURY INCOMPETANT CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

ACCELERATOR STUCK BETWEEN 3,000-4,000 RPM'S. DRIVER PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN DRIVER THREW THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WITH BOTH FEET ON THE PEDAL, INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. *AK

WAS DRIVING UP A RAMP WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD AFTER ENTERING INTERSECTION. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. TURNED VEHICLE OFF & SHIFTED INTO PARK TO RESTART. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF STALLING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING WITH ANY BODY PRESSURE ON SEAT THE SEAT WILL MOVE. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

STEERING STIFFENS WHILE DRIVING, REASON UNKNOWN. VEHICLE WAS LOOK AT BY A INDEPENDENT GAS STATION. POWER STEERING FLUID CHECK OKAY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT INFORMED AT THIS TIME. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER SINCE VEHICLE ONLY HAS LOW MILEAGE OF 39000. *AK

RECALL NUMBER 99V164000 SECONDARY HOOD LATCH, ARRIVED TO THE DEALER ON SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT, BUT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. REPAIRED BY DEALER ON 8/18/99. *AK

THE TIRES ARE AN "ALL TERRAIN" DESIGN, HOWEVER THEY PERFORM VERY VERY POORLY IN SNOW/SLUSH/VERY WET CONDITIONSWHEN COMBINED WITH THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALL WHEEL DRIVE. I'VE TALKED TO THREE EXPERTS WHO HAVE ALL CONCLUDED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE RUBBER BAND ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TREAD ON BOTH SIDES (THIS BAND HAS NO LUGS IN IT, RESULTING IN POOR TRACTION IN TURNS.) ESSENTIALLY, THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRIES TO PULL THE CAR FORWARD AND IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST POWER AWAY FROM THE WHEELS WITH POOR TRACTION. WHEN IT DOES SO, THE CAR HAS A MAJOR TENDENCY TO LOSE CONTROL AT ALL WHEELS. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR I HAVE SEEN OR HEARD OF TWO OTHER IDENTICAL VEHICLES GETTING INTO SIMILAR ACCIDENTS WITH THE SAME OPTIONS/TIRES AS MY VEHICLE, SO I ASUME IT IS A RE-OCCURING PROBLEM. THIS INCIDENCE OF TRACTION LOSS HAS RESULTED IN THREE MAJOR INCIDENTS OF SPINOUT, TWO OF THOSE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS, ONE ONLY INVOLVING MY CAR, AND ONE INVOLVING MINE AND ANOTHER. MY DRIVING RECORD HAS BEEN IMPECCABLE BEFORE THESE ACCIDENTS, ALSO NOTE THAT OTHER FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS AND FOUR 4WD TRUCKS WERE ON THE ROADS DOING FINE IN THE CONDITIONS, AND IN BOTH CASES I WAS GOING CONSIDERABLY UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT (30 IN A 50MPH & 15 IN A 25MPH). ALSO, IN BOTH CASES, BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED, SO THAT RULES OUT A CAUSE FOR THE SKID.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75 R15 )

WHEN DRIVER HIT A METAL POLE HEAD-ON THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. DAMAGES TOTALLED $5,000.00. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

RECALL 97V074000, CONCERNING THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL; DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT REGISTERED IN LISTED STATES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DROVE VEHICLE AND PARKED IT, HAD NO WARNING SIGNS, ABOUT 5 MINUTES, VEHICLE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. AAA INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND SAID IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT TAG BRACKET FALLING OFF/ REQUIRED REATTACHMENT. MJS

A/C REPAIRED DUE TO LEAKAGE. MJS

LUG NUT/BOLT ON FRONT HUB REPLACED. MJS

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACED FOR REAR WIPER. MJS

AIR CONDITIONER ODOR PRESENT DUE TO FAULTY CONDENSOR. MJS

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND GEM MODULE FAILED. MJS

FOUR WHEEL HIGH AND LOW LAMPS FLASHING DUE TO POSSIBLE ECM RELATED FAILURE. MJS

CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT WHEN CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. BRAKING WOULD STOP UNPLANNED ACCELERATION

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS CONDITION HAS CAUSED TWO REAR END CRASHES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 OR 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SPARK PLUGS FAILED. *YC

HEADLIGHTS FAILED. *YC

FRONT SEAT BACK ADJUSTMENT IS LOCATED ON LEFT, WHEN DRIVER EXITS THE VEHICLE AND BENDS THE LEVER, BENDING THE LEVER CAUSES STRESS & DAMAGE. YH

NOTICED CD & CASSETTE GETS VERY HOT AFTER 15/20 MINUTES OF PLAY.HEAT BUILD UP ON CD & CASSETTE IS UNUSAL AS I KNOW. WHEN I REPORTED TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, HE SAID "NEVER HEARD". LATTER THEY AGREED. FIRST TIME THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE UNIT. STILL IT IS HOT. THEY INFORMED ME ACCORDING TO FORD THIS HEAT BUILD UP IS NORMAL. I DISAGREE HEAT BUILD UP WILL DAMAGE THE TAPE & MAY EFFECT THE THE CD'S. HEAT IS ENEMY FOR AUDO EQUIPMENT.THIS KIND OF HEAT IS VERY UNUSAL, AS I KNOW. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE DIFFERENT MANUFACURERS CAR, TRUCK ETC, BUT NOWHERE I SEE THIS HEAT BUILD UP.

VEHICLE MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND STEERING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPLACED RACK AND PINION ON OCTOBER 19, 1998. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. REPLACED AGAIN ON DEC 15, 1998 DUE TO A LEAK IN THE RACK AND PINION. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THIS VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL, ROLLING ONTO IT'S SIDE AFTER DRIVER TRIED TO CORRECT AN INAPPROPRIATE LANE CHANGE. THERE WAS NEVER ANY POINT IN TIME IN WHICH THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THERE WERE NO DEATHS OR SERIOUS INJURIES CAUSED, BUT ONLY BECAUSE THERE WAS VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND IT OCCURRED AT A POINT ON THE ROADWAY WHERE THERE WERE NO TREES, GUARDRAILS OR ETC. IT MAY HAVE BEEN A PARTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES, BUT THE SENSITIVE STEERING WAS MOST UNFORGIVING! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO REQUIRE THE MANUFACTURERS TO CORRECT THESE SAFETY HAZARDS, BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

SPARE TIRE MOUNTS FAILED THEREFORE DID NOT HOLD TIRE SECURELY ALLOWING THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE TO RUB AGAINST THE FRAME WEARING THE TIRE.

UPON ACCELERATION THE ENGINE STALLS AND LOSES POWER ,AND COMPLETELY STOPS WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY PRIOR NOTIFICATION. INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VIBRATION IN REAR OF VEHICLE, UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM.

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 98V0600, FUEL LINES:METALLIC, TO HAVE REPAIRS CORRECTED. DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF RECALL AND REFUSED TO REPLACE PARTS. *AK

PLACE TRANSMISSION IN PARK POSITION, WHILE VEHICLE STILL RUNNING, TUN OFF IGNITION, CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD, DRAGGING ME FOR AT LEAST 300 FT. AND JUMP THE CURB, AND WAS STOPPED BY HITTING A TREE.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED , THE FRONT SUSPENSION BROKE IN HALF, DROPPING TO THE GROUND , THROWING THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK