Mercury MYSTIQUE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
750 owner complaints analyzed
19 distinct recall campaigns
69,213 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 193 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 58 of 750 complaints (7.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 87 | 11.6% |
| Braking behavior | 83 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 59 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 53 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 52 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 28 | 3.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 58 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 45 |
| Structure | 43 |
| Unknown Or Other | 40 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 36 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 29 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 27 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 26 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 58; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 45; Structure: 43; Unknown Or Other: 40; Engine And Engine Cooling: 36; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 29; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 27; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 26
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 38 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 60 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 47 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 31 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 60; 75,000 to 99,999: 47; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (60). 557 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 19 |
| 1996 | 28 |
| 2000 | 134 |
| 2001 | 177 |
| 2002 | 88 |
| 2003 | 88 |
| 2004 | 81 |
| 2005 | 48 |
| 2006 | 27 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 19; 1996: 28; 2000: 134; 2001: 177; 2002: 88; 2003: 88; 2004: 81; 2005: 48; 2006: 27; 2007: 21; 2008: 20; 2009: 8; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 87 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 83 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 59 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 10005676 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
CALIVIAR FORD IN CHESAPEAKE VA. REFUSED TO COMPLETE RECALL OF ENGINE COOLING FAN ELECTRONIC FUSE DUE TO MELTED WIRING HARNESS. THIS FAULT WAS CAUSED BE A PREVIOUS RECAL (CAMPAINE ID NUMBER : 01I0090000) (VISABILITY: DEFROGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:CONTROLS:WIRING) CAUSING THE ATTACHED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS TO MELT. I JUST SPENT $2000.00 AND REPLACET CAR WITH NEW MOTOR BECAUSE THE MOTOR BLOWED UP DUE TO ANOTHER FACTORY RECALL ID# 00V367000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH OVER 100,000 MILES AND THIS WORK WAS NEVER PERFORMED AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006935 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE ENGINE COOLANT FAN 01 I 009 000, BECAUSE OF A MELTED WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 125,796 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052081 · 2003-12-29 (December 29, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, EVEN WHEN SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THIS RESULTED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER/MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069646 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
6/15/03 I DO NOT HAVE THE EXACT DATES OF PROBLEMS, BUT I WILL RELATE MY EXPERIENCES. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE USED IN 1999, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, WHICH ALSO CONTROLS THE SHIFT INTER- LOCK, FAILED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND AN OPEN CONNECTION BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX THAT CONTROLS THE SWITCH OPERATION. THEY FIXED THAT OPEN CONNECTION AND THE SWITCH WORKED FINE. THEN THE SWITCH PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. TRIED A NEW SWITCH AND THAT FAILED AFTER A FEW MONTHS. HAVE GONE THROUGH SIX OR SEVEN SWITCHES AND HAVE ONE NOW THAT SEEMS TO WORK. I P…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039298 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN THE CAR AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY? COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME I HAVE SPENT TO MUCH MONEY NOW. 1995 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040304 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO DOWN SHIFT WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP REPLACE DTHE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246743 · 2008-10-26 (October 26, 2008)
FLUID ON THE GROUND APPARENTLY COMING FRO THE POWER STEERING LINE UNDER THE PUMP. ALSO THE VEHICLES AT IDLING 1000 RPM WILL STALL OUT. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 114,390 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501954 · 1996-03-12 (March 12, 1996)
POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING IT TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029640 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
THE CONSUMER STATED MOST OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, BUT WHEN IT DID START IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033682 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLED AT 35 MPH AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS HAD DETERIORATED AND CAUSED A SHORT. *AK MULTIPLE SHORTS OCCURRED AS THE INSULATION THROUGHOUT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BADLY DETERIORATED. THE ENGINE STALLED TWICE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006695 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
NHTSA#94-V-203-000, HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL TANK AT CONSUMER EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044455 · 2003-10-21 (October 21, 2003)
REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF GAS TANK SINCE IT IS A PRODUCT OF A DEFECT.*MR GAS STATION ATTENDANT WAS FUELING THE VEHICLE WHEN A LARGE PUDDLE OF GAS LEAKED FORM UNDER THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE GAS TANK KEPT SHUTTING OFF AUTOMATICALLY AND THE ATTENDANT HAD TO PUMP IT SLOWLY TO KEEP IT FROM SHUTTING OFF WHILE BEING FILLED. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE WOULD BE LOOKED OVER AND IT WAS DEPENDENT UPON THE MILEAGE AND CONDIT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044455 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 1997 | 4 |
| 1998 | 8 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1994: 0; 1995: 8; 1996: 7; 1997: 4; 1998: 8; 1999: 2; 2000: 3; 2001: 0; 2002: 0