1997 Mercury MYSTIQUE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
77,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 48 complaints (8.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 18.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 10.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 3; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 36 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
2000: 10; 2001: 13; 2002: 6; 2003: 5; 2004: 3; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2012: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10173033 · 2006-11-09 (November 9, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE OVERDRIVE ACTIVATED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE A CERTIFIED MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE SENSOR OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #98V233000, REGARDING THE POWERTRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: FLOOR SHIFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. ALSO, THE CLOCK LIGHT ON THE INSRUMENT PANEL WENT P…
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10463487 · 2012-06-28 (June 28, 2012)
MY 97 MERCURY MYSTIQUE HAS A BAD BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM A PART ON THE BRAKE LINE (PRESSURE CONSCIOUS RELEASE VALVE) THAT WAS RECALLED #06E022000. FLUID MUST BE ADDED EVERY FEW DAYS WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. FORD TELLS ME THERE IS NO RECALL INFO FOR MY CAR AND WON'T DO ANYTHING. THEY COULD NOT SAY IF ANY RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE ON MY CAR. BOTTOM LINE, THIS IS NOT PREVENTATIVE, MY CAR IS DANGEROUSLY LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM A RECALLED PART. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034407 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THE TAIL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL # 99V103000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH/WIRING HARNESS DEFECT. BUT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. SHE WANTED TO KNOW WHY, SHE DID NOT THINK THIS WAS FAIR.*AK CONSUMER SPOKE WITH THREE OTHER MECHANICS WHOM STATED THE MILEAGE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120999 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)
DT: THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE BLOWER RESISTOR WAS FIXED WHICH WERE ON RECALL. ON 4-22-05 AND ON 5-06-05 WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR GAVE A TICKING NOISE. THEN THE CAR GAVE A PUFF OF BLUE AND BLACK SMOKE AND THE CAR STOPPED. AFTER THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE CAR, THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE WAS GONE. THE CAR UNDERWENT REGULAR CHECK UPS AND OIL CHANGES. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE ENGINE WAS HAVING ANY PROBLEMS OR MALFUNCTIONS. THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE COST FOR REPLACING WAS MORE THAN THE CONSUMER …
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069177 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE IN MOTION. T WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069177 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170229 · 2006-10-08 (October 8, 2006)
RECALL ON 1997 MERCURY MYSTIQUE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 48V233000. POWER TRAIN. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER AND LINKAGE FLOOR SHIFT. DEALER REFUSING TO HONOR RECALL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718352 · 2000-02-05 (February 5, 2000)
MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN THRU A PUDDLE AT 5 TO 10 MPH SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON UNTIL BELT DRIES OUT THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE DAY ONE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 857385 · 2000-02-23 (February 23, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING CAR VIBRATES AND INTERFERES WITH STEERING, CAUSING TIRES TO GO BALD. DEALER SAID TO REPLACE STEERING WHEEL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 857385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8001452 · 2002-10-01 (October 1, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE BECAME HOT AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. *AK THE SPEED SENSOR AND EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8001452 at NHTSA ↗