1999 Mercury MYSTIQUE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
118 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 47 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 118 complaints (19.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 16.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.6% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 6.8% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 4.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure | 23 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 4 |
Structure: 23; Unknown Or Other: 18; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 71 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 | 15 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 15; 2001: 14; 2002: 10; 2003: 18; 2004: 24; 2005: 13; 2006: 9; 2007: 6; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 10044119 · 2003-10-16 (October 16, 2003)
HEATER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, AND THE BLOWER SWITCH WAS REPLACED. ALSO, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO RISE UP FROM THE DASHBOARD MOUNT. DEALER HAD NOT YET RESOLVED THE DASHBOARD PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WOULD BE INFORMED OF THE MYRIAD OF PROBLEMS CONSUMER WAS HAVING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053439 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE A SQUEALING NOISE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT TIMING BELT PULLEY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE REAR BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE DRUMS DUE TO AN OIL LEAK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021948 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL WIRING BURNED WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSED SMOKE TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *CB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025475 · 2003-07-06 (July 6, 2003)
1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILING. CORROSION AND OVERCHARGING OVER ELECTRICAL WIRES. WAS INFORMED BY REPAIR SHOP THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER FORD CONTOUR. ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS IS NOT PUT TOGETHER PROPERLY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032157 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT RECALL# 99V060000 CONCERNING VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH UTILIZE A PARK/LOCK SOLENOID. IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO LOCK POSITION AND REMOVE KEY WITHOUT SHIFT LEVER BEING IN PARK, THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114 CONCERNING "THEFT PROTECTION." THEREFORE, VEHICLES THAT COME WITH IGNITION KEY REMOVABLE IN GEAR POSITION OTHER THAN PARK, WILL HAVE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT HAD TO …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049414 · 2003-12-08 (December 8, 2003)
I HAVE TO DATE HAD 4 STARTERS REPLACED IN MY 99 MERCURY MYSTIQUE 2.5L V6. I HAVE HAD CONCURRENT IDLING PROBLEMS/SURGING THAT LEADS TO JERKING AND STALLING. DASH WARPAGE WHICH IS NOW CAUSING A BLOCKAGE OF THE VENTING SYSTEM CAUSING A DEFROST PROBLEM. PROBLEMS WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN (LOSS OF POWER STEERING). ALL OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIPS/SERVICE DEPT.'S ATTENTION. AS WELL I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORDS CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER AND THEY WILL NOT HONOR THEIR RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED THE 4TH TIME THE ST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049414 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048556 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB THE CONSUMER TALKED TO ANOTHER CONSUMER WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE MODULE THAT CONTROLLED THE COMPUTER MODULE (POSSIBLY THE IGNITION MODULE) AND A FLIGHT RECORDER WAS ADDED AND FOUND THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. (THE PROBLEM HADN'T BEEN EXPERIENCE SINCE PER THE CONSUMER WHO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM, NOT THE CONSUMER OF THIS LETTER) *SC…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065977 · 2004-04-12 (April 12, 2004)
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. AT 68,900 MILES THE FUEL PUMP ON THE CAR FAILED. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT FIXED AND MY MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE OLD FUEL PUMP AFTER HE'D REMOVED IT FROM THE CAR. THE GROUND WIRE WAS BASICALLY FUSED TO THE SIDE OF THE PLASTIC WHICH MY MECHANIC ASSURED ME SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION AT ANY TIME. I WILL BE LODGING A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD/MERCURY COMPANY AS WELL BUT I THOUGHT THAT ANYONE ELSE WHO OWNS A CAR OF THIS TYPE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS D…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142865 · 2005-11-16 (November 16, 2005)
ON MONDAY, AUGUST 8TH, 2005 IN THE MORNING I DROVE THE CAR TO WORK WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. ON OUR WAY FILLED THE GAS TANK AT ESSO STATION AT 7:30 A.M. SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING THE CAR OUT OF THE GAS STATION I HEARD TWO LOUD BANGS IN QUICK SUCCESSION FOLLOWED BY A ROUGH SOUND WHICH SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS DRAGGING A PIECE OF METAL ON THE ROAD. STOPPED THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER AND HAD THE INSPIRATION TO LOOK UNDER IT. I SAW TWO PIECES OF WHAT LOOKED LIKE PUTRID STEEL STRAPS HANGING FROM UNDER THE GAS TANK AND TOUCHING THE PAVEMENT.…
Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068434 · 2004-05-06 (May 6, 2004)
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE HASS BEEN SLIPPING FOR 2 YEARS AND IT FINALLY WENT OUT. WHEN I WENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, I HAD 2 REPAIR SHOPS TELL ME THEY COULD SELL ME A NEW OR REBUILT TRANSMISSION, BUT THEY WOULD SEE ME AGAIN IN A YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND TRANSMISSIONS. I CAN'T FIND A RECALL THAT'S BEEN ISSUED. HOW CAN A NEW CAR HAVE SUCH POOR PROBLEMS WITH IT'S TRANSMISSION AND LINCLOLN MERCURY NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT? I'VE TRIED FOR TWO YEARS AND NO HELP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068434 at NHTSA ↗