1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER Electrical System Problems

I WAS AT A GAS STATION MAKING A PURCHASE WITH MY DISABLED MOTHER. WE LEFT THE STORE, AND GOT INTO MY TRUCK. I STARTED MY TRUCK AND PROCEED TO DIVE TOWARDS THE EXIT OF THE GAS STATION WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING LIKE BURNING RUBBER. I SAID TO MY MOTHER THAT SOMETHING SMELLED FUNNY AND THEN LOOKED AND SAW A THIN STEAM OF SMOKE COMING UP FROM IN BETWEEN MY LEGS. I PARKED THE TRUCK AND JUMPERS OUT LEAVING MY OM IN THE CAR. I THEN SAW A FIRE INSIDE OF THE METAL TRACK IN WHICH MY SEAT MOVES MECHANICALLY UNDERNEATH MY SEAT, WHERE THE WIRES ARE. I RAN INTO THE GAS STATION PANICKED AND ASKED THE ATTENDANT FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, TO WHICH HE REPLIED " NO, I DON'T KNOW I DON'T HAVE ONE" AND DID NOTHING. SO I RAN BACK OUTSIDE TO MY TRUCK WHERE MY MOTHER WAS HAVING TROUBLE EXITING MY TRUCK AS SHE HAS ANXIETY AND HEALTH ISSUES. SHE FINALLY GOT OUT AND A TOW TRUCK THAT WAS DRIVING BY, SAW THE SMOKE GETTING HEAVIER AND FLOWING OUT OF MY TRUCK, HE STOPPED AND OUT THE FIRE OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. THE FLAMES WERE COMING THROUGH MY SEAT AND I WAS AT A GAS STATION. I WAS TERRIFIED. I HAVE PTSD AND THIS HASN'T HELPED MY SLEEP AT ALL. ALSO, WE WERE AT A GAS STATION AND AS YOU KNOW, FIRE IS VERY DANGEROUS AT A GAS STATION. WE COULD'VE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE.

Mileage: 3

WHEN I USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THEN TURN IT OFF I CAN'T SEEM TO PUSH MY GAS PEDAL WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNTIL SOMETHING BREAKS OR POPS AND THEN IT ALLOWS ME TO PUSH THE PEDAL. I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SMOKE COMING FROM ON TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING, NOW I HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS TO WHERE MY HORN WILL NOT WORK ANYMORE. I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT FRAME OF THE SUV. THE FRAME SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL APART AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE DRIVING OR STATIONARY. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT IS THE SWAY BAR THAT IS CAUSING THAT PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN CALLING FORD ABOUT IT AND THEY KEEP SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED; HOWEVER, A FIREFIGHTER SPECULATED THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000. UPDATED 07/14/09 *BF UPDATED 07/15/09

Mileage: 125,000

IF DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPLASHES WATER ONTO SERPETINE BELT, RESULTING IN TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL/ ALTERNATOR CHARGE, AND AIR CONDITIONING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING BATTERY TO GO DEAD. BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASHBOARD. PLEASE PROVDIE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING BATTERY TO GO DEAD. BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASHBOARD. PLEASE PROVDIE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING BATTERY LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON DASHBOARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING BATTERY LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON DASHBOARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSTUMER STATED THAT THERE IS A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS, DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR.*YH

CONSTUMER STATED THAT THERE IS A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS, DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR.*YH

TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT UP WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY TURNED OFF DUE TO SHORT IN THE IGNITION. (DETERMINED BY THE FIRE DEPT.)*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH KEY IN IGNITION, NOT RUNNING. 2 1/2 YR OLD TURNED KEY, AND WAS ABLE TO PUT GEAR IN NEUTRAL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN HILL. CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET INSIDE VEHICLE AND STOP IT. DEALER STATED YES THIS COULD NOT HAPPEN. *AK

ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHEN GOING OUT TO START VEHICLE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE, LEAVING CONSUMER STRANDED. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD RELEASE . DEALER HAS REMOVED IGNITION, BUT CLAIMED NO DEFECT EXISTED. DEALER ONLY ADVISED CONSUMER TO MAKE SURE WHEELS WERE STRAIGHT WHEN PARKING. *AK

ELECTRICAL LINE ROUTES OVER POWERSTEERING LINE HAD RUBBED AGAINST EACH OTHER, CAUSING A HOLE AND A SHORT, RESULTING IN A FIRE.*AK THE ELECTRICAL WIRE INVOLVED WAS THE HOT WIRE CABLE RUNNING FROM THE BATTERY TO THE STARTER. THE SPARKS CREATED ALSO IGNITED THE POWER STEERING FLUID THAT WAS LEAKING. YH

AS I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED FLAMES IN THE UPPER PART OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL. I PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FIRE HAD STARTED IN THE RELAY/FUSE BOX LOCATED IN THE LEFT REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I ASKED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY (UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION), IF A RECALL OR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND BEEN ISSUED BY FORD CONCERNING THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY FROM EITHER. *AK

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.

FUSES FOR WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHORTED.

ALTERNATOR FAILED.