AI Damage1998 Ford Mountaineer: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Ford Mountaineer filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and tires. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 40% of all complaints
- 2 Tires 40% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 20% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 20% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Tires: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The passenger front door does not release: now the car would not start. We've boosted it and it would run but once turned off it would not turn on again.
A few times the vehicle would not start, sounding as if the battery was dead. It was happening during the cold weather so we attributed these symptoms to the cold. We had battery checked and it was fine. On march 9,2006 while my vehicle was sitting in my driveway it caught fire.
Consumer replaced firestone tires because they were included in recall 00t-005, consumer requests reimbursement.
#p23575r15,while check tires noticed some separation on all four tires. Dealer has been notified. Firestone dealer confirmed that all four tires were defective, but indicated the tires were not on recall.
Dealership has advised consumer that defect can cause the power steering to go out without warning.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mountaineer has 5 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 5, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ford Mountaineer?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, tires, structure. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: won't start (40%), smoke, burning smell, fire (20%), steering or power steering problems (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Ford Mountaineer?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Ford Mountaineer from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.