21 of the 326 complaints about the 1998 Mercury Mystique are about the lighting — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 112,000 miles.
21
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10818563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
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.
NHTSA complaint #10174724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
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.
NHTSA complaint #10147635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
WE PURCHASED A FORD MERCURY VEHICLE, USED, AND FOUND IT HAD NO TAIL LIGHTS. WE IDENTIFIED A RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY SAID THE RECALL WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND FOUND IT HAD ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, WITH THE DEFECT STILL PRESENT. FORD REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL, CITING THAT IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. THE BROKEN PART WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND HAD THE CITED PROBLEM IN THE RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #10082545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THE PLASTIC LENS OVER THE HEADLIGHT ARE DISCOLORING AND CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10083271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
BOTH HEADLIGHT LENS ASSEMBLIES HAVE BECOME CLOUDY/HAZY, SO THE LIGHT EMITTED IS GREATLY REDUCED, CREATING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. REPLACEMENT COST IS $400 PLUS LABOR. I FEEL FORD SHOULD COVER THIS, AS THE ASSEMBLIES ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10037029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
WHEN EVER IT HAS BEEN RAINING OR THERE IS HEAVY DEW OUTSIDE, RAIN OR MOISTURE WOULD ENTER THE REAR LIGHTS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS INFORMED EACH TIME IT WAS THE FACTORY SEALANT THAT HAD FAILED. THE SEALANT CAN NOT BE RESEALED. WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF DASHBOARD. CONSUMER HAS RESEARCHED, THERE IS RECALL 99V103000 FOR HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS. HOWEVER, RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #8014202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
AFTER RAIN TAIL LIGHT FILL ED UP WITH WATER AND CRACKED LENS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8007682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN DRIVING, AND THERE ARE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBACK WILL NOT STAY UP. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8000887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN DRIVING, AND THERE ARE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBACK WILL NOT STAY UP. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8000887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
LIGHTING---- 12 SECOND LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING WHEN DOOR WAS OPENED. WENT TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE BULB WAS NOT BURNED OUT BY TURNING ON SWITCH WHEN LIGHT FIXTURE ASSEMBLY BROKE AND SWUNG DOWN ALMOST HITTING ME IN HEAD. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THIS IS OUR FAULT NOT MANUFACTURER DEFECT. AGAIN. ENGINE--- DRIVING APPROX. 30 MPH WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND AFTER TESTING SAID THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN GETTING ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF OIL FOR UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME. COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACENMENT. ARGUED ABOUT WHO WAS TO PAY FOR RENTAL CAR. WAITED.... STILL NO DECISION ON RENTAL CAR AFTER TWO WEEKS. AFTER ONE MONTH FOUND OUT COMPANY THAT MAKES THIS TYPE OF ENGINE FOR FORD HAD BROKEN ITS CONTRACT. NOW NO SUPPLIER WAS AVAILABLE. WAITED. HAD TO ORDER EACH INDIVIDUAL PART FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. AFTER OVER TWO MONTHS. CAR WAS FIXED.... SUPPOSEDLY. AFTER ONE WEEK CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR OIL AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKS, BROKEN LIGHTING FIXTURE, AND GAS MILEAGE THAT HAS NOW BEEN CUT IN HALF. WAS TOLD BREAK IN PERIOD WAS REASON FOR POOR GAS MILEAGE. YET, EVERY MANUAL CLAIMS NO BREAK IN PERIOD IS NECESSARY. CAR STILL IN SHOP AFTER 5 DAYS.
NHTSA complaint #736555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE REAR RIGHT LIGHT FIXTURE BY THE TRUNK CAUSING IT TO LEAK FROM THE FIXTURE WHEN THE TRUNK IS OPEN OR IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #555440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DIRECTIONAL LAMP SOCKET KEEPS BLOWING BULBS. WHEN USING T BLINKER SYSTEM, RIGHT SIDE LIGHT FLICKERS VERY FAST BEFORE THE BULB BLOWS. DEAELR HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #869535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERIOR LIGHT HARNESS JUST BROKE OFF AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THERE WAS NO APPLIED FORCE TO THE HARNESS, AND THE FORCE IT HIT ME WITH CAUSED ME TO MOMENTARILY LOOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. THE PART SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO CHEAPLY BUILT.
NHTSA complaint #729263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
CONSUMER IS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE NUMBER (6) OF RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS VEHICLE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #552002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER IS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE NUMBER (6) OF RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS VEHICLE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #552002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA RECALLS 00V075000 AND 99V103000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALLS 99S14 AND 00203 CONCERNING ABS BRAKES AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE RECALL PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #860879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
RECALL COMPONENT (HEADLIGHT SWITCH)REPAIR CANNOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS (99S14). NLM
NHTSA complaint #550852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
THERE IS WATER IN THE TAIL LIGHTS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #857391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 399V103000. CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON DATE GIVEN. THE REMEDY FAILED. HAVE NO TAILLIGHTS. THE RIGHT TAILLIGHT WOULD FLASH ON/OFF ON ITS OWN. HAD NO PROBLEM UNTIL RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #849472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.