FaultScore

Mercury Mystique headlight problems

70 of the 1,510 complaints filed about the Mercury Mystique are about the lighting — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.

70

Complaints

5%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

2

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

1995 Mystique 8 11.4%
1996 Mystique 24 34.3%

Median failure at 107,520 miles

1997 Mystique 13 18.6%

Median failure at 94,000 miles

1998 Mystique 21 30.0%

Median failure at 112,000 miles

1999 Mystique 4 5.7%

Median failure at 40,623 miles

What owners said

1998 Mercury Mystique at 58,000 miles ST. Louis, MO

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.

1999 Mercury Mystique at 48,246 miles Manchester, NJ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE CONTACT NOTICED MOISTURE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT DRIPPED WATER INTO THE TRUNK WHEN IT WAS OPENED. SHE NOTICED THAT THE MOISTURE WAS ALWAYS PRESENT, ESPECIALLY AFTER IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 51,504 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,246. UPDATED 07/07/08. *LJ THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS INOPERABLE, THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED

NHTSA complaint #10230307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Mystique at 48,246 miles Manchester, NJ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE CONTACT NOTICED MOISTURE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT DRIPPED WATER INTO THE TRUNK WHEN IT WAS OPENED. SHE NOTICED THAT THE MOISTURE WAS ALWAYS PRESENT, ESPECIALLY AFTER IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 51,504 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,246. UPDATED 07/07/08. *LJ THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS INOPERABLE, THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED

NHTSA complaint #10230307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Mercury Mystique at 138,552 miles Tacoma, WA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE PARKING LIGHTS ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V103000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 138,552.

NHTSA complaint #10217287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mercury Mystique at 65,000 miles Gainesville, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

CAR HAD A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH EXTERIOR LIGHTS WHEN MY PARENTS OWNED IT ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO. THE PARKING LIGHTS STOPPED OPERATING. PER SUGGESTION OF FORD TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND PAID $85 FOR AN EVALUATION. THEY INDICATED I HAD TWO OPEN WIRES AND THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WOULD EXCEED $2,000 TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #10182996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mercury Mystique at 145,000 miles Bloomington, MN

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.

1997 Mercury Mystique at 94,000 miles Dothan, AL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE OVERDRIVE ACTIVATED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE A CERTIFIED MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE SENSOR OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #98V233000, REGARDING THE POWERTRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: FLOOR SHIFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. ALSO, THE CLOCK LIGHT ON THE INSRUMENT PANEL WENT PERMANENTLY OUT. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT LOCATED ON TOP OF THE REAR WINDOW WOULD ILLUMINATE IN A DISTORTED PATTERN. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WAS MADE UP OF 9 MINI LIGHTS, AND 3 LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP WHILE BRAKING. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, 4 OR 5 LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #99V103000 REGARDING EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS: SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10173033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mercury Mystique at 94,000 miles Dothan, AL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE OVERDRIVE ACTIVATED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE A CERTIFIED MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE SENSOR OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #98V233000, REGARDING THE POWERTRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: FLOOR SHIFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. ALSO, THE CLOCK LIGHT ON THE INSRUMENT PANEL WENT PERMANENTLY OUT. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT LOCATED ON TOP OF THE REAR WINDOW WOULD ILLUMINATE IN A DISTORTED PATTERN. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WAS MADE UP OF 9 MINI LIGHTS, AND 3 LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP WHILE BRAKING. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, 4 OR 5 LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #99V103000 REGARDING EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS: SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10173033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Mystique at 33,000 miles Vero Beach, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS COVERS CLOUDED UP ON THE INSIDE CAUSING LIMITED LIGHTING DISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND NO RECALLS WERE FOUND. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THE BUFFING WOULD IMPROVE THE PROBLEM NOT CORRECT IT. UPDATED 06/16/06.

NHTSA complaint #10158516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Mystique at 33,000 miles Vero Beach, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS COVERS CLOUDED UP ON THE INSIDE CAUSING LIMITED LIGHTING DISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND NO RECALLS WERE FOUND. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THE BUFFING WOULD IMPROVE THE PROBLEM NOT CORRECT IT. UPDATED 06/16/06.

NHTSA complaint #10158516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mercury Mystique at 112,000 miles Jacksonville, FL

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.

1996 Mercury Mystique at 53,000 miles Codorus, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V103000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING.: HEADLIGHTS. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO THE EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 01/19/06.

NHTSA complaint #10145966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mercury Mystique Springfield, MO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHICH CAUSED THE TAIL LIGHTS TO FAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10115499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mercury Mystique LAS Vegas, NV

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.

1998 Mercury Mystique at 123,000 miles Coxs Creek, KY

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.

1996 Mercury Mystique at 120,000 miles Huntington Beach, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING DURING NIGHT HOURS REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR THEM BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA complaint #10079416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Mercury Mystique at 30,000 miles Collinsville, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHT LENSES DEVELOPED A CLOUDY WHITE DISCOLORATION THAT REDUCED THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATION. *AK THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE REPLACED AT 36,000. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE HAS 64000 MILES THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10064978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mercury Mystique at 42,000 miles Mechanicsville, VA

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.

1997 Mercury Mystique Rich Square, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

CONSUMER STATED THE TAIL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL # 99V103000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH/WIRING HARNESS DEFECT. BUT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. SHE WANTED TO KNOW WHY, SHE DID NOT THINK THIS WAS FAIR.*AK CONSUMER SPOKE WITH THREE OTHER MECHANICS WHOM STATED THE MILEAGE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. *PH

NHTSA complaint #10034407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Mercury Mystique at 107,520 miles Trenton, NJ

INTERIOR LIGHTING

MY COMPLAINT INVOLVES A 1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE INVOLVING A FAILURE OF ALL INTERIOR LIGHTING, SIDE MIRROR ADJUSTMENT, RADIO AND CLOCK RELATED TO A BLOWN FUSE #34 IN THE AUXLILLARY FUSE BOX. THE CAUSE WAS THE OVERHEAD MAP LIGHT ASSEMBLY WHICH HAD OVERHEATED AND THE PLASTIC RETAINING THE 10W BULB HOLDER MELTED ALLOWING THE METAL BULB HOLDER TO SLIDE IN THE MOLTEN PLASTIC UNTIL IT JUST BARELY CONTACTED A NEGATIVE BUS IN THE ASSEMBLY AND BLOWING THE FUSE.IT WAS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO DIAGNOSE BEING A SHORT WAS NOT PRESENT UNTIL THE CIRCUIT WAS FUSED AND THEN HEAT FROM THE BULB WOULD CAUSE THE METAL HOLDER TO EXPAND AND SHORT OUT BLOWING THE FUSE.I FEEL IT APPROPRIATE TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM AS I FEEL IF THE CONTACTS HAD NOT SHORTED AND BLOWN THE FUSE AND CONSIDERING IT BECAME HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE PLASTIC IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND I DON'T FEEL THE ASSEMBLY WAS ENGINEERED PROPERLY TO SUPPORT A 10W BULB.THERE HAS BEEN, I BELIEVE, EIGHT RECALLS TO DATE ON THIS MODEL, SEVERAL OF THOSE INVOLVED ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS.

NHTSA complaint #10029124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mercury Mystique problems