Fallen out of love with my Mountaineer

[Jesse 1965]

Need some help. I've just reached my 1 yr anniversary with my '99 5.0 Mountaineer and I have to say, it sucks. I have had nothing but trouble with it. Things like brake chatter, pinging, knocking, fuel pump, wheel bearings, radio, a/c problems and not to mention the joy of fighting with the dealer each time.

The truck only has 43k on the clock but I am afraid to drive it around the corner.

Anyone else having these issues with their Merc or X?

 

[Opera House]

Niskay una........

Isn't that indian for high taxes? I don't think about it much , but I have repaired just about everything on my Explorers.

 

[section525]

My '96 5.0 has been awesome... aside from some coil packs and wheel bearings! Nothin horrible though! 135,000 and still runs perfect!

 

[jjue]

Other than the blend door, my '97 Mountaineer has been great. Nothing but maintenance and TLC here, starting at 34k miles when I got it Dec. '98 through present at 89k miles.

 

[Fusion213]

My 98 Explorer has been great... only problems I have is my a/c, and that's because my friend punctured the condensor... i still need to get a job so i can get some of these things fixed. Oh and my radio display goes in and out but that's due to heat.

 

[Digger196]

I love my 95 X. Has ~63K miles on it and a replaced tranny (old one was slipping on first gear). Does need some more power for my taste but that can wate till i guess i'll supercharge it or something. That's on down the road.

 

[SaleenEXP]

My mom bought one of the 1st 97' Mountys when they came out, and traded it in a few months ago for a 00' Mounty, both were 2wd and 5.0. The 97 was traded in with 74,000 miles and not one problem with it, we never even had to replace anything and we were hard on it. She traded it for the 00' (dealer didn't have any 02's left and she fell in love with this white one anyway) w/ 16,000 on it and not one problem was had by the previous onwner who turned it in and we now have about 30,000 on it and not one problem yet. Still runs awsome, fast and no rattles.

Also I recieved my 94' for my 16th B-Day four years ago, it had 50,000 on it and now has 102,000 and the only thing besides normal maintainance was a few days ago we had to replace the evaporator, thats it. Still on the 1st trans and it still shifts smooth with no slipping, I don't know how so many people had this transmission fail on them, and I've driven it hard as hell, even towed our 27ft Fountain a few times when we had it off the dock. My mom gave it to my sister now , but made it up to me for getting an 02' 4.6 Mounty, just have to weight until our dealer gets a Mineral Grey in.

Maybe you just got a lemon. I've even know people that have had a lexus that were complete lemons so goes to show you.....
Sorry so long

EDIT - actually the only thing that ever went wrong with our 97' was by the time she traded it in it started to develop that ticking noise from the mainfold which is common on every single 5.0 Ex/Mounty

 

[garyt]

My 97 5.0 Mounty has 70k on it and has been reasonably trouble free. Sounds like you got a Monday vehicle.

 

[rgiles]

Originally posted by garyt
My 97 5.0 Mounty has 70k on it and has been reasonably trouble free. Sounds like you got a Monday vehicle.

That's a funny way to put it but there's some truth to that! I do have pitty for those that get the Lemon vehicle.

I know a guy that had a Mercedes M class SUV, and had nothing but wiring trouble with it. They eventually fixed it after about 3 years and many trips to the shop. There are those quality problems that are by design, and those that are introduced by bad process, and some that are just bad luck like the person who worked on it partied all night before. There's also the used vehicle that the previous owner never took care of.

I have to say that despite the problems I had with the '91 explorer transmission, I still had to get an '02 X instead of any alternative, because it is just a much better designed vehicle in my opinion than the Mercedes or Lexus SUV's (and much cheaper). I will take good care of this one, and I expect to own it for more than 12 years to come.

 

[rwolson]

KNow what you mean about problems. Purchased my 2000 Explorer with 29K on the dial.

a. Two trips to dealer for Check Engine and O2 sensor replacement.

b. Ford replaced tranny because of slippage (replaced at 35 K)

c. Idler/Tensionor replaced

d. Appt next week to check out thermostat and a howling noise in the air intake - probably a bypass valve.

Most of the problems are small one's, OK tranny a big one, but sometimes you wonder when everyone else has no problems. However, a much better vehcile than some of other cars and trucks like an '87 Mitsubishi Montero; two engines with head gasket problems (poor design same engine used in Dodge Caravan) rebuilt tranny because of design defects, leaking steering box (expensive to fix). I put a 137 K on that truck, poured a quart of oil in every two days and a gallon of water every 3 days.

Yes, my Explorer is a much better vehicle than the rice burner.

 

[cobrajeff]

My guess is that if you bought it used (which I'm guessing you did, since you're coming up on 1st year anniversary with a '99 truck) that the truck may have been abused, wrecked, neglected, or even had the mileage spun-back. Sounds like you are having more than your share of problems. Sorry to hear that.

I have had two X's and two Mounty's, and have not had trouble with any one of the four (they were all new vehicles, though). These were my company lease cars, so they all saw pretty high mileage - with no issues. When it came time to turn in the last one, I bought it (don't care for the styling on the new Mounty). It's still running strong, and, now that it's MINE, I can start personalizing it beyond the fancy wheels & tires.

Good luck with yours.

Regards,

cobrajeff