FaultScore

1998 Mercury Mystique window and wiper problems

18 of the 326 complaints about the 1998 Mercury Mystique are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 94,500 miles.

C

18

Complaints

0

Crashes

3

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 6 33.3%
Fan/Motor 4 22.2%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 2 11.1%
Windshield 2 11.1%
Electrical Heating Element 2 11.1%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 1 5.6%
Rear Window 1 5.6%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Mercury Mystique year

1995 20 24.1%
1996 21 25.3%
1997 10 12.0%
1998 18 21.7%
1999 14 16.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

North Hills, CA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

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 114,708 miles Minneapolis, MN Fire

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HER FUSE BOX MELTED, WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 114,708.

NHTSA complaint #10229723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,000 miles Massena, NY

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

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.

at 102,000 miles Elgin, TN

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE VEHICLE'S HEATER BLOWER FAILED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE CONCERNING THE BLOWER ,AND THE CONNECTOR ON THE HEATER BLOWER CABLE WAS REPLACED. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THIS VEHICLEWAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 01V230000. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 102,000.

NHTSA complaint #10186816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles BEE Spring, KY

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

NO TURN SIGNALS, ONE BRAKE LIGHT AND TAIL LIGHT, ONE HEADLIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE. REPLACED ALL BULBS STILL NO LIGHTS. RELAY ON DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WENT OUT. TIRES WEAR CONSTANTLY. TAIL LIGHTS FLOOD AS DOES FRONT FLOORBOARD MUST PARK CAR FLAT WHEN IT RAINS TO KEEP FROM BEING FLOODED OUT OF CAR. SUNROOF MOTOR SHOT. HAD RECALL ON HEATER DONE AND NOW WHEN IT RAINS I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH HEATER. REPLACED SENORS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. CAR HAS BEEN STUCK IN PARK BEFORE HAD TO HAVE MECHANIC COME TO HOUSE TO FIX. MUST REPACE ROTORS ON CAR @ EVERY 6 MONTHS. CAR MAKES A CLICKING NOISE IN THE DASH ( NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS) HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGY AS WELL. CAR IS COSTING US A FORTUNE. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX ALL THE RECALLS THEY TOLD ME THE TIME HAD RUN OUT AND SORRY.

NHTSA complaint #10102487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portersville, PA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR, AND DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #10033967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

White Plains, NY

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. OWNER NOTICED THAT HOT AIR WAS BLOWS OUT OF VENTILATION EVEN WITH AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #8013841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Bend, WI

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

HEATER FAN MOTOR IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONUSMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99M07. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER. THE DEALER WOULDN'T AUTHORIZE THE WORK BECAUSE THE PROBLEM DEPICTED IN THE RECALL WAS STILL WORKING. NOW THAT IT IS INOPERATIVE THE DEALER WON'T FIX BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER MILEAGE. THE DEFROSTER IS ALSO INOPERABLE.

NHTSA complaint #8010203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Bend, WI

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

HEATER FAN MOTOR IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONUSMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99M07. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER. THE DEALER WOULDN'T AUTHORIZE THE WORK BECAUSE THE PROBLEM DEPICTED IN THE RECALL WAS STILL WORKING. NOW THAT IT IS INOPERATIVE THE DEALER WON'T FIX BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER MILEAGE. THE DEFROSTER IS ALSO INOPERABLE.

NHTSA complaint #8010203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indiana, PA Fire

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE DEFROSTER ON HIGH, THE HEATER UNIT CAUGHT FIRE, FLAMES CAME THROUGHT THE VENTS MELTING THE DASHBOARD AND VISIORS AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD, THE FIRE ALSO CAUSED THE DRIVERS AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kansas, IL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

CAR IS FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS CHILD-WELFARE AND SAFETY HAZARD AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO TALK WITH ME ABOUT THIS AUTO. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK (TIRESIZE: 205/60R15)

NHTSA complaint #754444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indiana, PA Fire

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE DEFROSTER ON HIGH, THE HEATER UNIT CAUGHT FIRE, FLAMES CAME THROUGHT THE VENTS MELTING THE DASHBOARD AND VISIORS AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD, THE FIRE ALSO CAUSED THE DRIVERS AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ottumwa, IA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

THERE IS A SHORT IN THE ABS CONTROLLER SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE FUSE FOR THE FAN BLOWER TO BLOW THEREFORE THERE IS NO HEAT AND NO ABS WHICH MAKES THE CAR INOPERABLE. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE FORD DEALER THERE WAS ANOTHER LADY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #738479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palmyra, NY

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #552003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saratoga, NY

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

DASHBOARD REFLECTS OFF THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #855624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Eugene, OR

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

WHEN DRIVING DASHBOARD REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE CLEARLY OUT OF THE WINDOW. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA complaint #853426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Potts Camp, MS

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

BLOWER RESISTOR AND MOTOR BURNED OUT DUE TO FAULTY PLUGS. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #848556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cape Charles, VA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

WHEN TURNING ON THE DEFROSTER IN RAINING CONDITION WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT WINDOW FOGGED UP REALLY BADLY IN ABOUT 3 SECONDS. CONSUMER HAD STOP VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SEE. TOOK TO FORD DEALER ,AND THEY SAID IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #852615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Mercury Mystique problems

← Full 1998 Mercury Mystique report