1997 Ford Mountaineer Problems & Complaints

Averageabout as many complaints as a typical year of the Mountaineer at the same age

Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 1997 Ford Mountaineer with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the Mountaineer at the same age. The most reported problem area is the speed control & acceleration (2 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles).

7complaints
0recalls
0crashes
1fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 1997 Ford Mountaineer problems

  • Speed control & acceleration~90,000 miles
    229%
  • Wheels & tires
    114%
  • Brakes
    114%
  • Steering
    114%
  • Locks & latches~80,000 miles
    114%
  • Seats~38,000 miles
    114%
  • Air bags~68,000 miles
    114%

Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Ford Mountaineer complaints by model year

199719981999200275611
Owner complaints per model year, Ford Mountaineer. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Mountaineer years: 1998. Compare all years →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 1997 Ford Mountaineer a good car?

Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Mountaineer rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Mountaineer at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 1997 Ford Mountaineer?

The speed control & acceleration — 2 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about accelerator pedal. Next are the wheels & tires (1) and brakes (1).

How many recalls does the 1997 Ford Mountaineer have?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Ford Mountaineer. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Ford Mountaineer?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1998. See the full Ford Mountaineer years comparison.

At what mileage do 1997 Ford Mountaineer problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.