1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

HEADLIGHTS ARE MALFUNCTIONING. MY 17YO DAUGHTER GOT PULLED OVER BECAUSE ONLY HER HIGH BEAMS WERE WORKING. THE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES AND UNEXPECTEDLY.

WHEN YOU HAVE TRAVELED 30MINS/15 TO 18 MILES THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN/THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO DROP EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE PUSHING THE GAS PEDDLE AND THE RPM GAUGE IS WAVING BACK AND FOURTH. IT HAPPENED ON 09/25/15, 10/08,13,14/2015. I WAS TRAVELING 60MPH AND 45MPH.

1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. ELECTRICAL SUB-HARNESS CONNECTOR PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC, BECAUSE THE AC WASN'T COOLING PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OVER HEAT, WHILE IT WAS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS TWO FANS IN THE FRONT AND THEY FOUND THE COOLING FAN MELTED AND THE SUB-HARNESS CONNECTOR BURNED UP. IN ADDITION, THEY SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE PART OF THE SUB-HARNESS WITH THE INSULATION JUST FALLING OFF THE WIRE. THEY HAD TO REPLACED THE FAN MOTOR UNIT AND HAD TO SPLICE IN A FAN CONNECTOR AND WIRE INTO THE REST OF THE SUB-HARNESS, BECAUSE FOR SAID THE SUB-HARNESS WAS OBSOLETE AND NOT AVAILABLE. WHILE IT FUNCTIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS SINCE ILLUMINATED FOR A CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS RELATED TO THE SUB-HARNESS. ALSO, THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, FRONT STRUTS, REAR STRUTS AND REAR MOUNTS, NUMEROUS O2 SENSORS, RADIO ANTENNA, RACK AND PINION, DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW AND SWITCH CONTROLLER WERE ALL REPLACED. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

RECALL ON A FUEL FILLER NECK VALVE FOR A 98 MERCURY MYSTIQUE, GAS BEING UNABLE TO FLOW FREELY INTO GAS TANK,SPITS GAS BACK OUT ON YOU. AUGUST IS THE FIRST TIME I KNEW THERE WAS A RECALL. FORD SAYS MY VIN # WASN'T ON RECALL , BUT THE PART IS DEFECTIVE ANYWAY.( DANGEROUS ) OCCURS EVERYTIME YOU TRY AND PUT GAS INTO CAR. THEY PUT A CANISTER VENT VALVE ON WHICH WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THEY KEPT THE OLD PART THAT WAS GOOD. PROBLEM IS FUEL FILLER NECK VALVE. *TR

FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. *TR

I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF MY 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2004. IT HAS A COMPUTER DEFECT THAT GIVES A FALSE READING FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS CAR QUALIFIED FOR THE NJ LEMON LAW BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH ITS 1ST OWNER. HOWEVER, THAT OWNER WAS TOO KIND TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER GAVE ME A FILE FILLED WITH SERVICE INFORMATION FROM THE DATE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BRAND NEW IN DECEMBER 1997. SHORTLY AFTER HIS PURCHASE HE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HE HAD IT BACK A COUPLE MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME THING AND THEY ALWAYS FIXED IT. OBVIOUSLY, THEY PUT A BAND-AID ON A MAJOR DEFECT. I NOTICED THE LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE FORMER OWNER SAID HE HAD IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD NOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT. WELL, SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN TOLD AT INSPECTION THAT IT HAS TO BE FIXED EVERY TIME. SO IT GOES TO MY MECHANIC WHO WILLS REPAIR/REPLACE THE NECESSARY PARTS PER THAT DAY'S COMPUTER READING. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS (OCCASIONALLY MONTHS) THE LIGHT GOES ON AGAIN. PREVIOUS TO THIS YEARS INSPECTION (DECEMBER 31ST) I HAD MY FRIEND LOOK IT OVER AND HE REPLACED THE VALVE/SENSOR THAT WAS DEFECTED (PER THAT DAYS COMPUTER READING). WELL, RIGHT BEFORE INSPECTION THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT BACK ON. AND OF COURSE, SINCE IT WAS ON, IT FAILED AGAIN. I MENTIONED TO THE INSPECTOR THAT IT HAD A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY RECOURSE AND HE TOLD ME TO LOOK INTO THE NJ WAIVER PROGRAM. I CALLED THE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION TO LEARN ABOUT THE WAIVER PROGRAM. I UNDERSTAND TO BE CONSIDERED, THE REPAIR COST HAS TO BE ABOUT $400 OR MORE. SOME TIME AGO THE REPAIR COSTS LIMIT WAS ABOUT $250 OR MORE. WELL, FOR THE REPAIR I HAD DONE BEFORE THIS LAST INSPECTION, IT COST ME ABOUT $250 AGAIN. I BELIEVE THAT FOR THESE REASONS I SHOULD QUALIFY FOR A VEHICLE WAIVER FOR THE EMISSIONS INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE. *TR

LOST 4 TIRES WITH LESS THAN 35K MILES DUE TO SIDEWALL FAILURES. TIRES INSTALLED ON MARCH 2006, LOST ALL FOUR BETWEEN APRIL 2008 AND JUNE 2008. FIRST ONE HAD A BULGE ON THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL, OTHER 3 WERE SIDEWALL BLOWOUTS. TIRES INSTALLED ON A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. TIRES WERE FULDA CARAT ASSURO, P205/60-15. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HER FUSE BOX MELTED, WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 114,708.

Fire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HER FUSE BOX MELTED, WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 114,708.

Fire

TRIED TO BRAKE FOR A FAMILY OF GEESE CROSSING THE ROAD. FOLLOWING THE BRAKING, I NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AND THE CAR PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE CAR WAS ALSO MAKING AN UNUSUAL NOISE. AFTER SLOWLY DRIVING THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WAS BROKEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A CURB AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE, CAUSING A BLOW OUT. THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V255000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. IN ADDITION, THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL FLICKER ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE FELT EXCESSIVE HEAT UNDERNEATH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FRONT END PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT TIE RODS TWICE IN A YEAR AND A HALF. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STRUTS .CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED TO CHANGED. ALSO STABILIZERS LINKAGE HAD TO BE CHANGED. HAVE ALSO PUT NEW BALL JOINTS IN. *TR

THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR DETERIORATED AND DOES NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION.

TIRE FAILURE. *TR

RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE RUBBED AGAINST STRUT CAUSING THE HOSE TO BREAK AND LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID ON A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE GS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE VEHICLE'S HEATER BLOWER FAILED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE CONCERNING THE BLOWER ,AND THE CONNECTOR ON THE HEATER BLOWER CABLE WAS REPLACED. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THIS VEHICLEWAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 01V230000. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 102,000.*AK

FORD MOTOR CO. IS REFUSING TO REIMBURSE FOR REPAIRS RELATED TO SAFETY RECALL #01S23, 98 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FOR THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL #99V103000 REGARDING EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

FAILED TO GO INTO GEAR FROM PARK, CHANGING GEARS DIFFICULT, DID NOT MOVE IN DRIVE, WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING 35 M.P.H MADE LOUD NOISE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE RPM'S REVVED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE OVERDRIVE SERVO PISTON SEAL AND O RING WAS REPLACED. FIVE WEEKS LATER, WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND IT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. IN ORDER TO FASTEN THE BELTS, THEY MUST BE UNTANGLED BEFORE BEING FASTED BECAUSE THE BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. THE MATERIAL HAS BECOME DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE TO RETRACT WHEN NOT IN USE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THIS COMPONENT HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND FAILED A SECOND TIME. THERE IS NHTSA RECALL, CAMPAIGN 99V103000, REGARDING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK

VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT HAY-WIRE, CAR STARTING HESITATING, AND SLAMMING FROM GEAR TO GEAR. TOOK TO A SERVICE CENTER THAT ADVISED ME THAT IT HAD A BAD SENSOR. PAID CLOSE TO $800.00 TO HAVE REPLACED. CAR STARTED WITH MORE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. (IE: LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO ON, ETC) TOOK BACK TO SERVICE CENTER THAT THEN ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE CAR WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSES THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO SHORT CIRCUIT. THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND WIRING ON CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE REDONE COSTING CLOSE TO $3000.00. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, THAT IT WOULD BE JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAR WOULD CATCH FIRE. DID NOT HAVE $$ TO MAKE REPAIR, CONTINUED TO DRIVE CAR HAVING NO OTHER OPTION WITH A BABY, AND YOUNG CHILD THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN TO SCHOOL, ETC. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DAYS LATER, THE CAR WENT FROM 75 MPH TO 10 MPH LIKE HITTING A WALL. ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED AND HAD TO EXIT, DRIVING HOME AT 10 MPH THE WHOLE WAY. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN #01V230000 CONCERNING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE *AK

I HAVE A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE VEHICLE RECENTLY BEGAN RUNNING ABNORMALLY. SO IN INSPECTION OF THIS, I DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLES ACCELERATION IS BEING RAISED WITHOUT ME EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS. I WAS ON THE ROAD AND MY VEHICLE WAS SPEEDING UP ON IT'S OWN AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY. IT SEEMS AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS CONSTANTLY ON OR SOMETHING. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT WAS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. SHE SAID THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. SHE HAD IT LOOKED AT, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS IN THE WIRING. SHE SAID WHEN THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. A MECHANIC TOLD HER THE WIRES WERE BAD, AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE WAS TOLD THIS BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS. SHE FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL 01V230000 ON THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER TOLD HER THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. MANUFACTURER SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

THE TRANS IS OUT NOT WORKING. IT WORKED FINE,AND JUST STOP,MADE A FUNNY NOISE AND JUST STOPED. IPULLED IN MY YARD.KNOW IT WANT MOVE.FOR KNOW REASON.

DT: CONTACT' SSON SEAT BELT BROKE DURING AN ACCIDENT AND HE WAS EJECTED FROM THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED ON 7-7-05. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. SHE TOOK PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT. SHE TOOK PICTURES OF THE SEAT BELT ITSELF. THE CLIP THAT WENT INTO THE BUCKLE WAS MISSING SOME OF ITS PARTS AND THE BUCKLE WAS BENT. HE WAS HIT ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE CAR AND TOTALED THE CAR. HE WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 30 MPH. HE BROKE HIS NECK, HAD SEVEN BROKEN RIBS AND PUNCTURED HIS LUNG AND HAS A BROKEN COLLAR BONE. THE VEHICLE WAS A 1998 AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND THE MOTHER STATES ALL OF THE RECALLS THAT WERE SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE CAR WERE DONE AND SHE HAS ALL OF THE RECORDS ON IT. SHE HAS NOT YET CONTACTED THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT AND SHE BELIEVES THAT THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT BROKE .*AK

Crash 1 injured

DT: WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE THE PUMP TO THE GASOLINE TANK KEPT CUTTING OFF. WHEN THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO PUMP THE GASOLINE IT LEAKED ONTO THE PAVEMENT AND CAME OUT OF THE OPENING OF THE FILLER TANK. IT TOOK ALMOST 30 MINUTES TO PUT HALF A TANK OF GASOLINE INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER YET. *AK

DT: WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH. I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OPENED THE HOOD AND THE FIRST THING I SAW WAS FIRE COMING FROM BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED JUST FIVE AFTER I PULLED OVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS, LOOKED AT TEMP GAUGE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE BEFORE THE FIRE. CALLED 911 AT 5:44 PM, FIRE DEPT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THIS WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. *NM *SB

Fire

I HAVE A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE, ANDI THINK THE TRANSMISSION OUGHT TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN COUNTLES NUMBERS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND I HAPPEN TO BE ONE TOO , THE TRANSMISSION WEN T OUT ON OURS A FEW YEARS AGO WHILE THE CAR WAS BASICALLY NEW, FOUND OUT I HAD WARRENTY ON IT STIILL GOT THAT FIXED , NOW A LITTLE OVER A YEAR SINCE THENAND IT'S WENT OUT AGAIN, BUT I HAVE NNO WARRENTY NOW WHICH REALLY SUCKS, SO THEY HAS TO BE SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR BECAUSE THERE IS TOO MANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH SO MANY PEOPLE. PLEASE WRITE BACK AND LET ME KNOW SOMETHING. THANX ALOT. *AK

FAN STOPPED WORKING ON 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE, NO HEAT IN CAR. MOST LIKLY CAUSE IS THE RESISTOR ON THE HEATER BLOWER MOTER. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED ON FORD RECALLS 01S22 OR 01M07, BUT FORD WILL NOT FIX IT. FORD DID REPLACE THIS PART UNDER RECALL 99M07 ON 01/17/2001, THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE AND ALL MYSTIQUES SHOULD BE COVER UNDER 01M07.*AK

NO TURN SIGNALS, ONE BRAKE LIGHT AND TAIL LIGHT, ONE HEADLIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE. REPLACED ALL BULBS STILL NO LIGHTS. RELAY ON DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WENT OUT. TIRES WEAR CONSTANTLY. TAIL LIGHTS FLOOD AS DOES FRONT FLOORBOARD MUST PARK CAR FLAT WHEN IT RAINS TO KEEP FROM BEING FLOODED OUT OF CAR. SUNROOF MOTOR SHOT. HAD RECALL ON HEATER DONE AND NOW WHEN IT RAINS I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH HEATER. REPLACED SENORS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. CAR HAS BEEN STUCK IN PARK BEFORE HAD TO HAVE MECHANIC COME TO HOUSE TO FIX. MUST REPACE ROTORS ON CAR @ EVERY 6 MONTHS. CAR MAKES A CLICKING NOISE IN THE DASH ( NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS) HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGY AS WELL. CAR IS COSTING US A FORTUNE. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX ALL THE RECALLS THEY TOLD ME THE TIME HAD RUN OUT AND SORRY.*AK