Complaints
298
Crashes
29
Fires
31
Injuries
36
Fatalities
2
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Mercury Mountaineer Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#153 complaints
Tire Defects
Avg mileage:91,350 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:1
#248 complaints
Tires:Tread/Belt
Crash-related:1
#318 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:81,313 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:4
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tire Defects | 53 | 5 | 1 | 91,350 mi | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 48 | 1 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 18 | 5 | 4 | 81,313 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 13 | 1 | — | 74,420 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 10 | — | 5 | 94,509 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 | 1 | 3 | 74,388 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 | — | 2 | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 7 | — | — | 68,500 mi | |
| Body Structure | 6 | — | 1 | 75,000 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 6 | 3 | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 6 | — | 5 | 134,000 mi | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 5 | — | — | 65,167 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 4 | 1 | 4 | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Tire Defects
53
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
91,350
Tires:Tread/Belt
48
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
18
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
4
Avg Miles
81,313
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,420
Electrical Faults
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
94,509
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
74,388
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
68,500
Body Structure
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
75,000
Suspension:Front
6
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
134,000
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,167
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mercury Mountaineer Years
1998 Mercury Mountaineer — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 1998 Mercury Mountaineer has 298 NHTSA complaints, 29 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Tire Defects with 53 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?
Top reported problems: Tire Defects (53 complaints, avg 91,350 mi); Tires:Tread/Belt (48 complaints); Unintended Acceleration (18 complaints, avg 81,313 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 86,193 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer include 29 crash-related reports, 31 fire reports, 36 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mercury Mountaineer reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Mercury Mountaineer
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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