12 of the
326 complaints about the 1998 Mercury Mystique are about the
steering — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
87,000 miles.
1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. ELECTRICAL SUB-HARNESS CONNECTOR PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC, BECAUSE THE AC WASN'T COOLING PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OVER HEAT, WHILE IT WAS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS TWO FANS IN THE FRONT AND THEY FOUND THE COOLING FAN MELTED AND THE SUB-HARNESS CONNECTOR BURNED UP. IN ADDITION, THEY SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE PART OF THE SUB-HARNESS WITH THE INSULATION JUST FALLING OFF THE WIRE. THEY HAD TO REPLACED THE FAN MOTOR UNIT AND HAD TO SPLICE IN A FAN CONNECTOR AND WIRE INTO THE REST OF THE SUB-HARNESS, BECAUSE FOR SAID THE SUB-HARNESS WAS OBSOLETE AND NOT AVAILABLE. WHILE IT FUNCTIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS SINCE ILLUMINATED FOR A CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS RELATED TO THE SUB-HARNESS. ALSO, THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, FRONT STRUTS, REAR STRUTS AND REAR MOUNTS, NUMEROUS O2 SENSORS, RADIO ANTENNA, RACK AND PINION, DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW AND SWITCH CONTROLLER WERE ALL REPLACED. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10637913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 87,000 milesMassena, NY
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FRONT END PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT TIE RODS TWICE IN A YEAR AND A HALF. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STRUTS .CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED TO CHANGED. ALSO STABILIZERS LINKAGE HAD TO BE CHANGED. HAVE ALSO PUT NEW BALL JOINTS IN.
NHTSA complaint #10207384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Detroit, MIFire
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
HORN DOES NOT WORK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. HORN WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, BUT CURRENTLY IT HAS FAILED COMPLETELY.*AK THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE. THE POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR, AND FRONT BRAKES FAILED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUGHT ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #8014643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Detroit, MI
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. STEERING MADE A LOT OF NOISE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. TOOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SPINDLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE WAS DEFECTIVE. SPINDLE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS NOT.
NHTSA complaint #8000994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING IN VERY HEAVY RAIN. POWER STEERING WAS INTERMITTENT AND THEN GONE COMPLETELY. THE DEALER SAID THE RACK&PINION AND PUMP NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #750928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING IN VERY HEAVY RAIN. POWER STEERING WAS INTERMITTENT AND THEN GONE COMPLETELY. THE DEALER SAID THE RACK&PINION AND PUMP NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #750928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mapleville, RI
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHEEL THAT BELT MAKES MOVE AROUND AND MAKES POWER STREEING PUMP WORK FAILED. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET.
NHTSA complaint #881789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
STEERING
WHEN ROAD IS WET AND CHANGING LANE ENGINE WOULD STALL AND VEHICLE STEERING WOULD LOCK UP WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #871138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miramar, FL
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING UNDER WET CONDITIONS POWER STEERING GOES OUT, MAKING THE STEERING STIFF. IF CONSUMER IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN SHE HAS TO MANUALLY RETURN THE STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *MJS
NHTSA complaint #846272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelphia, PA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DURING RAINY AND WET CONDITIONS,THE POWER STEERING FAILS DURING THE ENACTMENT OF A TURN. THE DEALERSHIP "CANNOT DIAGNOSE"THIS DANGEROUS OCCURANCE.
NHTSA complaint #711894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntsville, AL
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE STEERING HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO HOLD AN ALIGNMENT. I HAD AN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GO ON AND HAD TWO SERVICE TRIES BEFORE IT WAS FIXED. I HAVE HAD A ROTTEN EGG SMELL AND ENGINE PINGING FOR THE LAST 6,000 MILES. I ONLY HAVE 10,500 ON IT NOW. THE DEALER WILL NOT EVEN TRY TO FIX IT. I'M TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF THE DISTRICT REP TO TRY TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #701543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charolette, NC
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING STEERING NOISE WHEN TURNING SHARPLY IT MAY LEAD UP TO A STEERING LOCK UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE A REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #832097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.