1997 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

ABS ON BRAKES CUT IN WHEN SHOULD NOT. MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP.*AK

Mileage: 99,500

I NEEDED MY BRAKES (ALL 4) DONE, AND NOTICED WHEN I STEPPED ON MY EMERGENCY BRAKE THE SUV WOULD NOT STOP AND BARELY SLOWED, AFTER GETTING IT BACK FROM DEALER WHICH I INFORMED OF TH E BRAKE, I TESTED THE E BRAKE AGIAIN AND ALL THOUGH IT NOW GRABBED THE CAR WOULD STILL MOVE FORWARD IN DRIVE WITH NO APPLIED PREASUR TO THE GAS. I TOOK IT BACK AND TOLD THEM THE E BRAKE STILL DID NOT WORK RIGHT , THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION(KEEPING THE SUV FROM MOVING AT 1100 RPMS). THIS IS WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME ALL MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS AND FORD EXPLORERS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT CAN'T BE HELPED, HE TOLD ME HE COULD BRING OUT A BRAND NEW ONE AND IT WOULD DO THE SAME. I ASKED WHAT ABOUT INSPECTION- IT WON'T PASS HE SAID BRING IT TO THEM FOR INSPECTION AND THEY WOULD PASS IT . "NOT GOOD!" WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? IF IT IS TRUE ALL SUVS EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS ARE LIKE THIS THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED DON'T YOU THINK.?

ABS SYSTEM FAILED AT 72,000 MILES AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. *MJ

GAS PEDAL KEEPS STICKING, AND IT IS TOO HARD TO STOP VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

THE PROBLEM I,M REPORTING HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND I REFUSE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT . AFTER COMING TO A STOP , THE VEHICLE MOVES AHEAD AND AS HARD AS YOU BRAKE THE FASTER IT MOVES . HAS ALMOST CAUSED 2 ACCIDENT THE BOTH TIMES ITS DONE IT . MY FEARS ARE THE DEALERSHIP (MANUFACTURER ) WILL NOT OWN UP TO THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM . WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MY LEGAL RIGHTS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM AND ALSO REPORT WHAT I BELIEVE IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION .

WHEN APPROACHING STOP SIGN, AT INTERSECTION, VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, CAUSING A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE ENGINE ROARED AS IF ACCELERATING. WE HAVE HAD ONE OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE BRAKING. DEALER EXPLAINED THAT DRIVER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT SAME TIME. IN SECOND INCIDENT, I AM SURE THAT I HAD MY FOOT ONLY ON THE BRAKE. DEALER EXAMINED VEHICLE AFTER EACH INCIDENT AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.

BRAKE CALIPER CAME LOOSE DUE TO BOLTS BREAKING/FAILING. INFO SENT TO FORD/MERCURY 2-22-01 AND THEY SAID THIS WAS INCIDENTAL AND NOT A CONCERN TO THEM. I INFORMED THEM THAT THE DEALER WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM WAS OUT OF BUSINESS. THE GENTLEMAN WHO I TALKED TO WAS NAMED WAYNE. I CAN EMAIL LETTER AND PHOTOS OF THE SCORED RIM AND FAILED BOLTS THAT I HAD MAILED TO FORD. WE HAD TO REPLACE RIM AND TIRE DUE TO DAMAGE COSTING US ABOUT $600. SERVICE MANAGERS AND MECHANICS TOLD US THIS WAS FREQUENT FOR THESE BOLTS TO BREAK WITH FORD BRAKE SYSTEMS. I WAS JUST DRIVING TO WORK....I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS OR PULLING OUR CAMPER!! I REQUESTED FORD TO REIMBURSE FOR PARTS AND WORK TIME LOST. *AK

BRAKES WORE OUT IN ABOUT 3TO 6 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE . CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES ABOUT 4 TIMES. FIRST TIME CONSUMER DID TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT REMEDIED. *AK

BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. SOMETIMES WHEN PRESSING BRAKES FOOT IS ACTUALLY ON GAS PEDAL, ONCE CONSUMER RAN RIGHT INTO GARAGE.*AK *SLC

WHILE PARKING AT A RIGHT ANGLE ON A STEEP HILL OVERLOOKING A BUSY ROAD, THE CAR ALMOST AT A STANDSTILL, THE DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED SCREAMING, THE GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED ON ITS OWN AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD OVER A CONCRETE PARKING CURB AND MOWED DOWN A TALL PALM TREE. MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF NOT FOR HITTING THE TREE, AS SHE HAD ALREADY TAKEN OFF HER SEATBELT AND OPENED HER DOOR - WE WERE SO CLOSE TO A STANDSTILL. THE TREE STOPPED THE CAR FROM GOING OVER A VERY STEEP HILL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ONTO TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD BELOW. THE REPLACEMENT VALUE OF THE TREE IS NOT YET KNOWN. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED VIA CHANNEL 4 TV IN UK, AND DATELINE NBC THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, AS MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF NOT FOR THE PALM TREE. I HAVE NOW HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISABLED ON THE VEHICLE SO THAT I CAN DRIVE IT, AS I CAN NOT ETHICALLY TRADE IT IN AND LET SOMEONE ELSE BUY IT WHEN I KNOW IT HAS A PROBLEM. I HOPE THAT BY REGISTERING THIS BRIEF COMPLAINT THAT IT WILL HELP YOU TO INFLUENCE FORD LINCOLN MERCURY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAULT RECALL THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU. *AK

PLEASE BE ADVISED, I AM A POLICE OFFICER OPERATING THIS LEASED VEHICLE AND I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I'VE INDICATED AT LEAST SIX TIMES TO ME IN THE PAST MONTH, THIS VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO EXCCERATE ANY TIME YOU DEEPLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS GENERALLY HAPPENS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN YOU MAY INADVERTENTLY JUST HOLD DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT ALSO WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF YOU WERE FORCED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES, AS YOU WOULD GENERALLY PANIC AND TRY TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT OVERLY CLOSE TO THE EXCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT APPARENTLY THE NORMAL FOOT MOVEMENT FROM ONE PEDAL TO ANOTHER IS NOT FAR ENOUGH TO AVOID DEPRESSING BOTH. I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW SERIOUS THIS SITUATION CAN BE, IT HAS CAUSED SUDDEN BURSTS OF EXCELERATION FROM COMPLETE STOPS, AND CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD DO AT HIGHER SPEED PANIC STOPS. I WOULDN'T DOUBT THAT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN THE SUBJECT OR CAUSE OF MANY MINOR AS WELL AS HIGH SPEED ACCIDENTS, AS THE DRIVER WOULD ACTUALLY BE ACCELERATING AT THE SAME TIME HE OR SHE IS TRYING TO BRAKE.

ABS FAILED AT LOW SPEED , SLID INTO CURB BECAUSE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP, BROKE WHEEL

ABS FAILED AT LOW SPEED , SLID INTO CURB BECAUSE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP, BROKE WHEEL

AT LOW SPEEDS ABS WOULD KICK IN, AND CONSUMER COULD FEEL PULSE IN BRAKE PEDAL. MECHANIC SAID THAT ROTORS RUSTED AND DELAMINATED.*AK

AT LOW SPEEDS ABS WOULD KICK IN, AND CONSUMER COULD FEEL PULSE IN BRAKE PEDAL. MECHANIC SAID THAT ROTORS RUSTED AND DELAMINATED.*AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE RUSTED WITH MARKS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER CALLED MANUFACTURER & WAS TOLD THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM, BUT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. VEHICLE WAS FIRST TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AT 5,000 MILES BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED & THE DEALER SAID IT WAS FINE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL WAS HARD AND WOULDN'T GO DOWN. CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUME R STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, VEHICLE STOPPED MADE A LOUD NOISE LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. *AK

THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE PURCHASE. I AM WRITING THIS DEFECT REPORT TO WAHT CAN BE DONE AND SO OTHER DRIVERS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES DO NOT GO THROUGH THE HASSLES I'VE BEE THROUGH. THANK YOU.

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY PLACED AUTOMOBILE IN CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER A WHILE AUTOMOBILE BEGAN TO SPEED UP OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER COULD NOT DISENGAGE AUTOMOBILE. APPLIED BRAKES UNTIL REAR BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND THE CONUMER STILL HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES. VEHICLE KEPT GOING CONSUMER SAID THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. *AK

BRAKES HAVE FAILED TWO TIMES DUE TO OVERHEATING.

THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE WIRES WERE TAMPERED WITH. CONSUMER DENIED THE ALLEGATION. *AK

THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE WIRES WERE TAMPERED WITH. CONSUMER DENIED THE ALLEGATION. *AK

AS CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A STOP, CONSUMER'S FOOT ALSO RESTED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. IF CONSUMER HAS WIDE FEET IT COULD CAUSE MISAPPLICATION ON THE PEDAL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK *TT

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *AK

THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN AN PANIC STOP DRIVER STEPS ON THE ACCELERATOR ALSO. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKES RESISTED, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO JUMP THE CURVE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR OF THE BRAKES. *AK

BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY FAIL, ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN A COLLISION.

BRAKES FAILED.

ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ONCE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.

BRAKES: PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY UNDER 5MPH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND HIT A CAR. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SHOP AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM.AK

FRONT ABS BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A CRASH. *AK

THE TRUCK CAME TO A STOP, THE OWNER HIT THE BRAKES BUT THE TRUCK KEPT GOING, AND DRIVER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE AND HIT ANOTHER CAR, AND WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN. THE ENGINE WAS RACING THE ENTIRE TIME WITH HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. *AK

BRAKE PEDAL TOO CLOSE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THEM TO BE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY.

THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

ABS BRAKE FAILURE, APPLIED BRAKES AND ENGINE AREA ROARED, , PEDAL WENT THE FLOOR, LOSS OF EFFECTIVENESS, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION , SPEED 10MPH, LOW SPEED. *AK

APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK

OWNER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60MPH AND TAKING FOOT OF GAS THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, OWNER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS GAINING SPEED WHILE APPROACHING OTHER VEHICLES. OWNER HAD TO USE BRAKES CONSISTENTLY TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

ON FOUR OCASSIONS WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY EXHIBITED MINIMUM BRAKING ABILITY/ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE ON ANY OCCASION. *AK