Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Mercury Mountaineer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. While pulling into the driveway at 20 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from under the hood. Within five minutes, the vehicle burst into flames without warning. She received a recall letter (05s28) in August of 2007. The manufacturer was notified and they advised her to send photos under reference number 383940900. The Ford investigation concluded that the motor was too badly burned to determine if the fire was caused by the recall. The investigator agreed with her, but he had to follow the company's decision. The current and failure mileages were 60,000. Updated 12/12/07
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. The contact stated that smoke emitted from under the hood area. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed black smoke and flames in the engine area. The fire department was contacted to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to the contact's insurance company for further investigation. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 165,000. Updated 06/26/13 the consumer believed the speed control deactivation switch was the cause of the fire. Updated 06/27/13 updated updated 07/02/2013
I was driving to an intersection with my family while going 45 MPH. I noticed black coming through the vents. I pulled off to a gas station parking lot. I proceeded to use fire extinguishers under the hood, the fire department had to come put it out. They did a look through and determined the fire started at the fuse box. I went home and researched that this is a recurring problem with this type of vehicle. I'm now out the 6500 I used to purchase it. I cant fix it or trade it in now.
Brake lights were not lighting. Fuse was blown, replaced fuse, stepped on brake pedal, then poof of smoke at fuse inside, and under hood smoke continued for 2 minutes. Found connector for switch on master cylinder was melted and switch is still bad. Disconnected connector from shorted switch causing fuse to blow. Then replaced fuse and now brake lights work. Cruise control was intermittent for the past 2 months prior to this event. Connector is tied to keep it secure until repair is made.
2000 Mercury Mountaineer 2wd. Caught fire in a parking lot within a few minutes of turning off the ignition. Sparks fell from under the engine compartment and then caught fire. Fire dept. Responded to fire.
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. …
While sitting in drive ie: at a light the car will start to race and then accelerate and take off the brakes will not stop the car. The only way to stop the car is to put throw it into park. The first two times it happened I thought it was something I had done. However on the third time while pulling out of my driveway the car took off and shoot across the street I was only able to stop it after entering my neighbors' front lawn. I was very fortunate that no cars were coming down the street and no children were nearby. However it did take down part of my driveway fence. Of course it was taken back to the dealer they couldn't find anything wrong . Then a week and a half later it happens again while sitting at a light twice. The dealer had my car since thurs and can't find anything wrong I'm afraid to go and get it.
While I was parking the car in the garage, I came to a stop about 12 inches from a file cabinet against the back wall. Then I put the car in reverse to move back a few inches for better clearance. All of a sudden the car unexpectedly accelerated forward and crashed into the file cabinet and totaled it plus damaged the front bumper, grill and hood. Note that applying the brake did not stop it. Very thankful that no one was in the front of the car when this happen.
Dt: 4/28/05 brake lights stopped working, fuses were checked by technician, cruise control/brkake fuse was blown. Fuse was replaced by technician, after technician parked vehickle, smoke was noticed coming from underneath the dash. Technician disconnected cruise control from master cylinder and smoke stopped. Technician noticed wires were melted. Vehicle is regularly serviced with service records available.
While driving, the throttle became stuck in the open position. The consumer had to place both feet on the brake to try and stop the vehicle. The vehicle continued to surge forward while depressing the brake with both feet. Upon entering the interstate; the throttle stuck again. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer. The service center performed a cleaning on the throttle.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch May, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected…
Vehicle speed control › Cables
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control and 4.0l sohc engines, if the strand cover on the speed control cable becomes flared at the end, the speed control cable May bind when the speed control is activated.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the speed control cable and, if necessary, replace it. Owner notification began August 29, 2003. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Acceleration complaints in other Mountaineer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2000 Mercury Mountaineer?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2000 Mercury Mountaineer, 23% of the model year's 123 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Mercury Mountaineer acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 07V-336 (vehicle speed control, Aug 3, 2007); NHTSA recall 03V-280 (cables, Aug 5, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Mercury Mountaineer acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 6 fires and 5 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.