10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 0 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
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1998 Mercury Mountaineer will catch on fire in engine compartment.
- Williamstown, NJ, USA
Consumer had just turned off the highway and was traveling on a dirt road when vehicle jerked to right and then rolled over. Consumer and her daughter were thrown out from vehicle. Consumer was knocked unconscious, and daughter was killed upon impact. Also vehicle exploded into flames.
- Hutchinson, KS, USA
After driving 20 min.on I-75 at 65mph the car was parked in a lot of a shopping mall. 1 minute later, the car made a loud hissing noise for 5-10 seconds and there was a loud explosion from the engine and a fire that was flaming under the hood, the side fenders, & the radiator grill. The fire melted aluminum and plastic engine components so fast along with the interior of the car and the windshield. This was an extremely dangerous fire I believe caused by defect of manufacturer. If this fire was on the highway at 70 mph.the fire would be a torch and fumes, heat, and fire would have entered the interior making driving impossible. The intensity of the fire would have destroyed the brake system and the power steering system, leaving the car with no braking and steering to stop and pull over. I contacted Ford to see if they knew about problems with Mountaineer.the receptionist claimed that Ford entered my case in their database as a collision that caught fire which is false and a cover up. After asking them to clear up the entry in their computer system they investigated the car claiming in writing they have no conlusion on what caused the fire. I continue to believe my vehicle contained manufacturing defect and that Ford is avoiding investigative conclusions due to fear of recall. I want Ford to investigate all accident, death & fire cases nationwide due to Explorer & Mountaineer to find out what the problem is that would causes fire. I want Ford to refund the cost of the vehicle plus expenses. I now recall smelling gas from behind the car twice in mid Feb.1999.
- Grosse Ile, MI, USA
- Williamstown, NJ, USA