Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 09V399000 · 2009 · reported 10/13/2009
A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1997 Mercury Mountaineer Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Tires:tread/belt — runs 10.5× the fleet median for that category across the 390 model-years tracked on this site.
328Complaints
7Recalls
41Crashes
10Fires
19Injured
1Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Tires:tread/belt (24.7% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Tires:tread/belt complaints here are 10.5× the median for that category across the 390 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires:tread/belt | 81 · 24.7% | Recalled | Recall 00T005000 |
| Tires | 78 · 23.8% | Recalled | Recall 00T005000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 · 11% | Recalled | Recall 09V399000 · Recall 00V422000 · Recall 97V074000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 24 · 7.3% | No official action | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal | 15 · 4.6% | Recalled | Recall 09V399000 · Recall 00V422000 · Recall 97V074000 |
| Air Bags:frontal | 7 · 2.1% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 328 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 7 campaigns
Suspension
NHTSA campaign 00V402000 · 2000 · reported 11/28/2000
VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Tires:tread/belt
NHTSA campaign 00T005000 · 2000 · reported 08/21/2000
IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 00V422000 · 2000 · reported 12/27/2000
THIS COULD RESULT IN ENGINE SURGE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BREAKS FREE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
NHTSA campaign 97V137000 · 1997 · reported 08/19/1997
THE GAS CYLINDER BRACKET MAY NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
NHTSA campaign 98V060000 · 1998 · reported 03/19/1998
THE FUEL LINES CAN LEAK, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 97V074000 · 1997 · reported 04/30/1997
ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE CAN RESULT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“PE 00 020/TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS NOTICED WITH STEEL BELT COMING THROUGH THE TIRE, MOUNTED ON A 1997, MERCURY, MOUNTAINEER, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT…”NHTSA complaint 870355 — filed 09/13/2000 · TIRES:TREAD/BELT
“ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, MERCURY, MOUNTAINEER, P235/75R15 SIZE DOT# WZHL1PY107 AND WZHL1PY296. TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE. FIRESTONE HAS…”NHTSA complaint 869860 — filed 09/07/2000 · TIRES:TREAD/BELT
“PE00-020; P23575R15, DOT W2HC1PY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH 40,000 MILES. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL FROM FIRESTONE , CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE. DEALER…”NHTSA complaint 869741 — filed 09/06/2000 · TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer?
Tires:tread/belt issues are the most-reported category, cited in 81 of 328 NHTSA complaints (24.7%), followed by tires (78), vehicle speed control (36), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (24). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer have?
328 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 41 involved a crash, 10 involved a fire, and 19 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Does the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer have any recalls?
Yes — 7 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09V399000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
