FaultScore

1998 Mercury Mystique transmission problems

42 of the 326 complaints about the 1998 Mercury Mystique are about the transmission — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,000 miles.

B

42

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 20 47.6%
Power Train 5 11.9%
Axle Assembly 4 9.5%
Gear Position Indication (Prndl) 3 7.1%
Torque Converter 3 7.1%
Floor Shift 3 7.1%
Column Shift 1 2.4%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 1 2.4%
Axle Shaft 1 2.4%
Floor Shift Assembly 1 2.4%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Mercury Mystique year

1995 59 44.0%
1996 33 24.6%
1998 42 31.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

North Hills, CA

POWER TRAIN

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 158,689 miles Valley Center, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FAILED TO GO INTO GEAR FROM PARK, CHANGING GEARS DIFFICULT, DID NOT MOVE IN DRIVE, WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING 35 M.P.H MADE LOUD NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10171231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Augusta, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANS IS OUT NOT WORKING. IT WORKED FINE,AND JUST STOP,MADE A FUNNY NOISE AND JUST STOPED. IPULLED IN MY YARD.KNOW IT WANT MOVE.FOR KNOW REASON.

NHTSA complaint #10133485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Augusta, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

THE TRANS IS OUT NOT WORKING. IT WORKED FINE,AND JUST STOP,MADE A FUNNY NOISE AND JUST STOPED. IPULLED IN MY YARD.KNOW IT WANT MOVE.FOR KNOW REASON.

NHTSA complaint #10133485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BIG Stone GAP, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE, ANDI THINK THE TRANSMISSION OUGHT TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN COUNTLES NUMBERS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND I HAPPEN TO BE ONE TOO , THE TRANSMISSION WEN T OUT ON OURS A FEW YEARS AGO WHILE THE CAR WAS BASICALLY NEW, FOUND OUT I HAD WARRENTY ON IT STIILL GOT THAT FIXED , NOW A LITTLE OVER A YEAR SINCE THENAND IT'S WENT OUT AGAIN, BUT I HAVE NNO WARRENTY NOW WHICH REALLY SUCKS, SO THEY HAS TO BE SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR BECAUSE THERE IS TOO MANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH SO MANY PEOPLE. PLEASE WRITE BACK AND LET ME KNOW SOMETHING. THANX ALOT.

NHTSA complaint #10114380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Roslyn Heights, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THAT HAD LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION HAD REVERSE ONLY). CAR ONLY HAS 55000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10086731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Winamac, IN

POWER TRAIN

TOOK MY CAR IN OCTOBER 15, 2003.JIM DOBSON FORD IN WINAMAC TO CHECK MY CAR OUT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION IT WAS HYDROLIC OR THE SECOND SPEED GEAR WENT OUT. I TOLD THEM TO GO AHEAD AND REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THEY PULLED THE TRANSMISSION OUT ON THE 16TH. CALLED THEM ON THE 17TH. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MECHANIC CALLED OFF SICK AND THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO OPEN THE TRANSMISSION UP TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. MECHANIC CALLED OF AGAIN ON THE 18TH AND THE 20TH. ASKED THEM ABOUT A LOANER CAR. THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE LOANER CARS . DOESN'T MY TRANSMISSION LOOK PRETTY ON A PEDESTAL!

NHTSA complaint #10071076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,200 miles Newburg, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10055134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,116 miles Cobalt, 00

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH IT'S AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE' ALSO LEAKED FLUID AT THE TRANSMISSION JOINT. THE VEHICLE LEAKED 2 1/2 QTS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID IN APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER REFUSED TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA complaint #10055853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles RED Wing, MN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10033300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Worth, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

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.

NHTSA complaint #10029774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pontiac, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE.

NHTSA complaint #10007221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Toms Rivers, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION GEARS DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. MR

NHTSA complaint #8022117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Watertown, NY

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENLY GAS LIGHT BECOME INOPERABLE AT THE SAME TIME THE SPEEDOMETER GOT CRAZY UP AND DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORAMTION. TS

NHTSA complaint #8021865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STARTED UP THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE RACED UP AND DOWN THEN IT SLOWED DOWN, HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR THEN HE HEARD SOMETHING POPPED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED; CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RIGHT AXLE SHAFT WAS BROKEN.

NHTSA complaint #565706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Picksaw, LA Crash

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIIIVING 55MPH FRONT AXLE BROKE, CAUSING FRONT RIGHT TIRE TO COME OFF. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER.

NHTSA complaint #8007558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicargo, IL

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATES THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE COLLAPES WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8006456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chattanooga, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING OUT OF TOWN ON CHRISTMAS DAY -- THE DRIVE HOME WAS UNSETTLING BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT JERKING IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC -- IT WAS HOOKED ON A COMPUTER WHICH INDICATED A CODE 1744 INDICATING EXCESSIVE SLIPPAGE ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE REPORTED BECAUSE THIS IS POTENTIALLY A RECALL ISSUE AND THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. MY CAR IS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS BELOW AVERAGE MILEAGE.

NHTSA complaint #756300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chattanooga, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AFTER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED -- HE TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER INDICATED TORQUE CONTROL SLIPPAGE -- THEN TOOK THE CAR TO MOUNTAIN VIEW FORD WHERE THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT MY TRANSAXLE PUMP NEEDED REPLACING AND THAT IT WOULD COST JUST OVER $1000 -- THIS CAR ONLY HAS JUST OVER 32000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MY 100000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT -- THIS IS A DEFECT ON THE CAR AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #756361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austell, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF CAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING IN TH E MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #754868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bowie, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL. DEALER DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #899530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norfolk, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS SINCE 11/2000 I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM OF MY FLOOR SHIFT COMPONENT LOCKED IN THE PARK POSITION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS PROBLEM THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE GROUP FOR CAMPAIGN 98V233000. MY PROBLEM LIES WITH WHY WOULD I BE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN DETECTED IN OTHER VEHICLES, BUT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE VIN # WAS NOT AMONG THE GROUP THAT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, I SHOULD BE BURDENED WITH THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THIS COMPONENT. I WOULD JUST LIKE A LITTLE FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING MY CONCERN. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #743863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newport, VT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

THE SHIFTER DOES NOT SHIFT INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #559797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Somerset, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

APPROX. 3 WEEKS AGO, THE ORIGINAL BATTERY IN MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD . IT HAD SHOWED NO SIGNS OF LOSING POWER PRIOR TO THAT DAY. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND WHEN I HOOKED IT UP THE ENGINE STARTED TURNING OVER. THE KEYS WERE IN MY POCKET. AS A RESULT THE STARTER DIED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION. THEY REPLACED THE STARTER AND A CRACKED SERPANTINE BELT. A FEW DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING FROM NJ TO PA WHEN I HEARD A STRANGE BUZZING SOUND UNDER MY HOOD AND I SMELT THE FAINT SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEAR BYE SERVICE STATION. AGAIN THE STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH A BURNED RELAY WIRE AND A BATTERY. WHEN I WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP, THE NEW BATTERY HAD DIED AND WE NOTICED SOME MORE BURNT WIRES NEAR THE FUSE BOX. I THAN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HALDEMAN LINCOLN MERCURY IN ALLENTOWN, PA 610-797-5005. UNTIL THIS POINT I WAS RELUCTANT TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN EXTREMELY UNRESPONSIVE TO PAST ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING DELAYED AND HARD AND ALSO WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A ENGINE TIMING ISSUE. THESE ISSUES HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND DESPITE THREE SEPERATE LETTERS TO FORD, THE COMPANY DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS MY SITUATION. I CONVEYED THIS ENTIRE STORY TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR, MIKE SIEMONS, AT HALDEMAN LINCOLN MERCURY DEALERSHIP AND HE GAVE ME THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER FOR FORD. ON 2/10/01 I SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. WHO STATED THAT HE WOULD RELAY MY REPORT TO A AREA ACCOUNT REP. WHO WOULD HELP REMEDY MY PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THE REP. WOULD CALL ME BY THE END OF BUSINESS TODAY. SO FAR HE HAS NOT CALLED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME TODAY THAT I NEEDED TO PAY $2K+ FOR A NEW WIRE HARNESS AND A 3RD STARTER IN AS MANY WEEKS. THEY ATTRIBUTE THE PROBLEM TO A BATTERY THAT LEAKED ACID. THIS ISN'T THE PROBLE

NHTSA complaint #740848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Port, VT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #880250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Iowa Park, TX

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING SPEEDOMETER/CRUISE CONTROL AND OVERDRIVE MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER IS REPLACING THE SPEED SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #865659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Iowa Park, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING SPEEDOMETER/CRUISE CONTROL AND OVERDRIVE MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER IS REPLACING THE SPEED SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #865659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Durham, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

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.

Salisbury, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #720185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philadelphia, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

Other 1998 Mercury Mystique problems

← Full 1998 Mercury Mystique report