NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 241 owner complaints for the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer. Most complaints involve tires (96) and vehicle speed control (36). The EPA rates it 14–16 mpg combined.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L SOHC ENGINES AND STILL RETAIN THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODY (PART NUMBERS 97JF-9E926AB OR 97JF-9E926-AC). SOME OF THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODIES INSTALLED ALLOWED A GAP BETWEEN THE PLATE AND BORE TO BE BUILT TOO NARROW. THIS REDUCED CLEARANCE ALLOWED THE ENGINE DEPOSITS NORMALLY PRESENT IN THE THROTTLE BODY TO CONTACT OR BRIDGE THE GAP. IF THE ENGINE DEPOSITS BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN THE THROTTLE PLATE AND BORE AND THEN HARDENED, ON THE INITIAL APPLICATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE ENGINE HAS COOLED, THE OPERATOR WOULD NEED TO APPLY ADDITIONAL FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BREAK THE BRIDGE.
TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Mountaineer model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 331 |
| 1998 | 241 |
| 1999 | 160 |
| 2000 | 125 |
| 2001 | 22 |
| 2002 | 389 |
| 2003 | 152 |
| 2004 | 210 |
| 2005 | 82 |
| 2006 | 117 |
| 2007 | 81 |
| 2008 | 96 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 13 |
“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”
“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.”
“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”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountaineer 2WD Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 16 | $3,900 | 555 |
| Mountaineer 4WD Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 15 | $4,150 | 592 |
| Mountaineer 2WD Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 12 | 17 | 14 | $4,450 | 635 |
| Mountaineer 4WD Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 17 | 14 | $4,450 | 635 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
6 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 241 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are tires (96), vehicle speed control (36), electrical system (24). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer at 14–16 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).