1997 Mercury Mountaineer Wheel & Tire Problems

Which parts fail

• Tread/belt
  81
• Sidewall
  3
• Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
  1

Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Mercury Mountaineer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

We no longer have the tires on our car. However, all four tires had the steel belts fall apart at one time. The rear right tire had a blowout while we were driving causing close to $11,000 in damage on our vehicle, $3,000 in personal expense for us and other expenses to our insurance company for property damage. The week before our trip in which the tires fell apart, we had our tires rotated, aleigned and checked. We always have our vehicles in top shape not only for a trip, but throughout the year as well. I would also like to mention that I did not know some of the information asked for on the form. I did my best. I am hoping that the investigation into the Firestone tires would help to recover some of the expense we and our insurance company had to pay. Due to the accident, our rates have increased as well.( dot number: ? Tire size: unknown )

While driving freeway speed, my rear left tire experienced tread separation causing me to lose control of my vehicle. It was noted that this tire was still completely inflated, only the tread was missing. A witness directly behind my vehicle watched the tread come off of my tire and hit her car. At the accident scene, a firefighter told me of the news special on cbs channel 2 news that aired July 25th. I broke my hand, broke a rib, and badly sprained my neck. I am now paying for a rental car. I am a single mother of three. I would like to be made aware of any updating information on the Firestone tire investigation. I have lots of pictures of the tire, and I even have access to the tire (until they total my car - which May be soon) it is still inflated. It looks as if it was scalped. Thank you!( dot number: )

While driving on a dry road in clear conditions, the car hit another vehicle going approximately 30 MPH on the front passenger side. This impact caused the vehicle to tilt to the drivers side, sliding for about 60 feet on its side then flipping over onto the roof sliding for another 40 or so feet before stopping. The Firestone tires were taken off in August of 2000 and replaced with another brand. I have forgotten which they are but can find out. I have the full police report if you should request it. I feel that the tires are not the problem with this vehicle but the vehicle design itself is the problem.

The left rear tire tread came off and damaged the brake system and rear panel. We were going approx. 50 miles per hr. The tire did not go flat but did catch on fire. The Firestone dealer in alexander city, ala. Replaced the tire and repaired the brake system. Total cost $985.75. The cost to repair panel is $534.21. Firestone in kennasaw, ga. Replaced all four tires on aug. 5, 2000, at a cost to me of $100.00. I would like to receive reimbursement for all my costs related to the tire recall. I have all receipts if needed.( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )

Pe00 020; consumer was traveling about 65mph on highway and heard a loud thumping noise. Right rear tire tread had separated. There was no sidewall , and tread was stranded. Actually, they were driving on the rim. Tire was Firestone wilderness #at. There were no injuriues, and they had to replace the tire and rim. Firestone wilderness at p235/75/r15

As you can see, I have Firestone wilderness at tires. Fortunately or unfortunately, they are not the tires recalled. They were inspected by two different dealers and they are a different size (larger) and they were made at the south carolina plant. I have only had the tires for one year (June 1999) and have only put about 13,000 miles on them when I experienced a blow-out. My tires are always properly inflated - I was not in a hot climate - and I was not going at a high rate of speed. I was going 35 MPH on a main street in cincinnati, ohio, in June. My left rear tire literally exploded - the sound was deafening, like shattered glass. Fortunately, my five-year-old son was not with me, but what if he was and something worse had happened? Additionally, although not relevant to the recall, the tires make the vehicle harder to control and provide a very rough ride. …

About 1 week prior to the August 17, 2000 date, I noticed a change in the way the tires felt while driving at slow speeds. I then had my wife drive the vehicle slowly down the street and I walked behind and noticed a bulge in the left rear tire. I then took it to the Firestone store in garland, texas and they said it was a road hazard problem. I knew I hadn't hit anything in the road since I had been driving the vehicle since October of 1999 and it had driven fine until this incident. They sold me a discounted tire and charged me $65.23 to replace it. I had them move the spare (same dot and size) to the left rear and put the new tire on the front. They kept the bad tire and sent me on my way. Then about November, 2000 the same thing happened to the tire that I had them put on the left rear. I then took it to an independent dealer that sells Firestone in irving. …

I was on the freeway with my son it was hot when we got off it sounded like I had a flat tire when we looked the half tread around and half width was raised way up so we took side roads home. The dealership told me it's firestones problem ..Firestone told me to pay $58.75 for a new one so I did ...no one ever checked the rest of my tires until I made them after the recall started one tire had 46lbs. In it the others were way off too. I am now stuck with a Firestone tire thats not on the recall for my spare and I have purchased 4 Goodyear tires to go on my car. I have sent away for the $400. I suposely get for the Goodyear and I also asked for my $58.75 for the tire that almost killed us... …

Upon hearing about the tire recall, I went to mertz Ford where I purchased my vehicle for inspection. I was told my tires weren't on the recall list. As additional news reports continued, we inspected the tires ourselves to find a crack at the treadline that ran around the outside perimeter of all four tires. I returned to the dealer and was told by their sales manager that something needed to be done as the tires were not safe. We returned when the service dept. Was open and were again told they would work something out. After the vehicle had been dropped off, we received a call indicating that we would need to pay for all 4 new tires (replaced with Goodyear wrangler rt/s (tires, labor, tax: $379.01). I kept the defective tires and my receipt. I don't know how Firestone can maintain that tires manufactured only at the decatur plant are the unsafe tires for the recall. …

My tires are causing the truck to go thump thump thump all the time. They have cracks around the tread area. The one tire (I was told by expert tire has the steel belt showing. The tires had been rotated 2 months earlier and that tire had been put in the back where I couldn't see it. By sherwood. Both places say that the thumping noice is due to front wheel ailgment needed. Plus that is the reason why they say the one tire is bad. I feel that both these problems are bad ones and I need to tell you all. Thanks pamela s pwhen I brake (not everytime, but a lot) it seems that they do not catch. I put on the brakes and I can fell it draging. It causes the truck to pull but not enought to cause me to lose control. It does however causes the truck to go farther out in the street after the stop light or sign.this has happened about 10 to 15 times.( dot number: w2hl tire size: 235-75r15 )

Wheel & Tire complaints in other Mountaineer years