2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The contact's daughter owns a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that while her husband and her daughter were inspecting the engine compartment of the vehicle, the hinges of the hood failed, causing the hood to drop inadvertently. The contact's husband sustained a laceration on the arm but did not seek medical assistance. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the hood hinges were replaced. Additionally, the contact purchased a stick to hold the hood open. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

I unlocked my vehicle, put the key in the ignition and it made a noise, then immediately after that failure to start, everything stopped working. No lights, will not lock doors, no clicking sound as if it were a dead battery.

THE O/D LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND IT DOESN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC ITS VARY DANGEROUS FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS GRADUALLY BECAME DIM AND SHUT OFF. AFTER THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED BACK ON AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK(APPROX 12 MILES) AND DECIDED I'D TRY OUT THE CRUISE CONTROL IN MY NEWLY ACQUIRED 2000 MOUNTAINEER 302 AWD. THE FIRST PART OF THE COMMUTE IS WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER HARMLESS AND A VERY SAFE STRETCH TO TEST OUT THIS FEATURE SO I PRESS THE CRUISE BUTTON TO SET MY SPEED AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55MPH. ALL WAS WELL UNTIL I APPROACHED A SHARP HAIR PIN CURVE ABOUT 4 MILES INTO THE TRIP. I GENTLY STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE TO CANCEL THE CRUISE BUT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T RESPOND TO MY ATTEMPT. IN A STATE OF PANIC, I FIRMLY APPLY THE BRAKE TO REDUCE SPEED AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO DROP APPROXIMATELY 6-7 MPH. STILL WELL ABOVE THE ADVISED LIMIT FOR THAT PARTICULAR CURVE. AFTER MAKING IT THOUGH THE CURVE, THE MOUNTAINEER TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED AND I WAS OFF TO THE RACES. I PANICKED AND IN DOING SO, FAILED TO PROCESS AND THINK CLEARLY. MY INSTINCT WAS TO KEEP POUNDING ON THE BRAKES IN HOPE THAT THE CRUISE CABLE WITH BREAK OR POP FREE. AT 70MPH MY BRAKES WERE USELESS. IT ACCELERATED JUST PAST 80MPH AND FINALLY RIGHT BEFORE MY TURN OFF ONTO THE ROAD THAT I LIVE, MY HEAD CLEARED AND I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AS I EXITED THE VEHICLE, EVERY OUNCE OF COOLANT WAS BEING SHOT OUT OF THE RADIATOR AND ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS WERE GLOWING CHERRY RED. I WAS SCARED THE THING WAS GOING TO CATCH FIRE. LIKE INCIDENT REPORT PRIOR TO MINE, MY CRUISE CABLE RETAINER HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS NO LONGER ANCHORED TO ITS USUAL POSITION. FORD HAS A MAJOR FLAW IN THE WAY THIS SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED AND NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION SO SOMEONE DOESN'T GET KILLED. HANDS DOWN, THE ABSOLUTE SCARIEST SITUATION I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED.