1998 Mercury MYSTIQUE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
176 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
74,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 176 complaints (17.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 10.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 8.5% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 30 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 5 |
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 30; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Suspension: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 6; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 124 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 | 35 |
| 2001 | 42 |
| 2002 | 29 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 35; 2001: 42; 2002: 29; 2003: 17; 2004: 22; 2005: 9; 2006: 5; 2007: 6; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 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 10005886 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045376 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)
WENT TO FORD DEALER REGARDING 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE- ABS LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. THEY TESTED IT AT $90.00 AND THEN SAID THAT THE WHOLE HCU WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $3,000. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS PART DOESN'T BRAKE DOWN OR NEED REPLACEMENT OFTER. NO RECALLS AVAILABLE I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS. THEY SAID THAT THE REGULAR BRAKES ARE FINE, HOWEVER, I NOTICE THAT I SOMTIMES DON'T STOP LIKE I SHOULD.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 70,903 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033300 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
I HAVE HAD SHIFTING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ON A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS TRANSMISSION MADE BY A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN MAZDA AND FORD HAS HAD MAJOR PROBLMES. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER SEVEN TIMES TO GET IT FIXED. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS ALL ELECTRICAL BUT NOW TELL ME THEY NEED TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION AND CHECK THREE THINGS INSIDE IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN UNDRIVEABLE FOR THREE MONTHS THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $650.00 AND NOW THE REAL EXPENSED PROCESS STARTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033967 · 2003-08-14 (August 14, 2003)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR, AND DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007221 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007221 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029774 · 2003-07-21 (July 21, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, AND HE COULD NOT DRIVE IT BUT ABOUT 5 MPH. HE HAD TO STOP AND PUT TRANSMISSION FLUID IN VEHICLE AND WAIT A WHILE. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT A LITTLE WHILE LONGER AT A HIGHER SPEED. THEN, IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING. THEY HAD THE AUTOMOBILE TOWED IN FOR SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036835 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)
I CAME TO THIS SITE LOOKING FOR RECALL INFORMATION TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL RELATED TO MY PROBLEMS WITH THE 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. SO FAR NOTHING TOO DANGEROUS HAS HAPPENED, BUT I AM FEELING VERY UNSAFE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. ONE BY ONE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN MY CAR ARE SHORTING OUT. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO POWER DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THEN THE RADIO (ALWAYS FAULTY -- THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO FIX IT EVEN BY REPLACING IT) SHORTED OUT COMPLETELY ON THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW. THEN THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD AND F…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050324 · 2003-12-09 (December 9, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THIS OCCURRED STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038227 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE TIMING BELT COMING OFF THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BELT HAD BEEN REPLACED, BUT DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10356984 · 2010-09-22 (September 22, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 83,240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10356984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 753841 · 2001-10-29 (October 29, 2001)
TSB NUMBER 98-15-3, AUG 98 FREQUENT SHUTOFF OF FUEL HANDLE WHEN FILLING FUEL TANK, THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE BY OTHER PEOPLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 753841 at NHTSA ↗