75 of the
1,510 complaints filed about the Mercury Mystique
are about the steering —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
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.
FLUID ON THE GROUND APPARENTLY COMING FRO THE POWER STEERING LINE UNDER THE PUMP. ALSO THE VEHICLES AT IDLING 1000 RPM WILL STALL OUT. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.
NHTSA complaint #10246743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR LAST SUMMER AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN THIS SUMMER. I HAD TO REPLACE MY TAIL LIGHTS TWICE THE BRAKES IS ALWAYS GIVING ME PROBLEMS. THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOESNT ROLL DOWN. WHEN IT RAIN THE FLOORS GET WET. I HAVE A HARD TIME PUTTING IT INTO GEAR AND TAKING IT OUT OF GEAR. IT STALLS TO CUT ON AND DRIVES REALLY ROUGH.I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES NUMEROUS TIMES.THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT AND THE TEMPERTURE GAUGE AS WELL.THE AC DOSENT WORK AND IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE HEAT TO WARM UP CAR.SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10070271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT RECALL# 99V060000 CONCERNING VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH UTILIZE A PARK/LOCK SOLENOID. IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO LOCK POSITION AND REMOVE KEY WITHOUT SHIFT LEVER BEING IN PARK, THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114 CONCERNING "THEFT PROTECTION." THEREFORE, VEHICLES THAT COME WITH IGNITION KEY REMOVABLE IN GEAR POSITION OTHER THAN PARK, WILL HAVE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT HAD TO MANY MILES TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10032157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL BOUNCE OFF HER KNEE AND LANDED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RESPONDING WELL TO STEERING. AS CONSUMER LET GO, THE WHEEL FELL OFF.
NHTSA complaint #8021918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST IN THE RAIN. THE CAR HAD THIS ISSUE WHEN IT WAS NEW. MOST OF THE TIME IT HAPPENED, THE CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT. NOW WHEN IT OCCURRED IN A TURN, THIS BECOMES MUCH MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE. WITHIN MINUTES, UPON REACHING HIGHWAY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHEN I WENT THROUGH A PUDDLE AS THE ROAD WAS IN A BEND. THIS KNOWN VEHICLE DEFECT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE DRIVER CAN NOT SAFELY CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX IT IMMEDIATELY.
NHTSA complaint #766537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WAS CONTINUED TO BE USED, MILES LATER VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE.*AK THE ENGINE COOLING FAN MOTOR AND WIRE HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE, DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY AND MAIN FUSE, DEALER ALSO REPAIRED THE BURNT WIRING, 2 YEARS LATER, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALLS 00V367, 99M03, 99M06, 00S44/00M13 AND 00S44, CONSUMER HAS NOT BEEN REIMBURSED FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. DEALER REPLACED RIGHT REAR WEATHER STRIPPING AND REINSTALLED MOLD AROUND THE HANDLE DUE TO THE WEATHER STRIP BOWING. TAPE PLAYER WOULD NOT EJECT. VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER, ESPECIALLY WHEN RAINING, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND ROTORS WERE MACHINED DUE TO VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND ACTING LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL, DEALER REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES, VEHICLE LATER STALLED. RIGHT BLINKER TOO FAST, DEALER REPLACED RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL BULB. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #8013598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN BOTH A 1998 AND 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE WITH THE 2.5L V6 ENGINE. WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH STANDING WATER OR EVEN IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL, THE GENERATOR FAILURE LIGHT WILL LIGHT, AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WILL WHINE. THIS CAN LAST FROM 30 SEC TO A FEW MINUTES, AND REQUIRES ONE TO STOP DRIVING AS THE CAR IS NO LONGER STEERABLE. I HAVE TAKEN MY 1998 TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BELT AND TENSIONER TWICE. THIS HAS NOT CHANGED THE PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER FOR HELP AND THEY HAD NO FURTHER INFORMATION OR SUGGESTIONS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW FOR THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF EVASIVE MANEUVERS WERE REQUIRED WHILE DRIVING THRU STANDING WATER. I NOTE TWO OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE. FORD SHOULD DESIGN A FIX FOR THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #762575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
FIRST INCIDENTS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BETWEEN 9,000 AND 25,000 MILES WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED WHERE THERE CAN BE STANDING WATER WHEN IT RAINS. POWER STEERING FAILED FROM BELT SLIPPAGE. ON 7-3-2001 WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET THROUGH REASONABLE CURB-SIDE WATER ON A RAINY AFTERNOON THE POWER STEERING FAILED AT N INTERSECTION. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THE BELT PULLIES ARE LOCATED IN SUCH A PLACE THAT THE TIRES SPLASHING THROUGH SHALLOW STANDING WATER CAUSES THE BELTS TO SLIP AND STEERING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL (ALTERNATOR)
NHTSA complaint #747806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 MPH, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FELL OUT INTO DRIVERS LAP. DEALERSHIP REQUESTED THAT CONSUMER REPLACE STEERING COLUMN AT HER EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #889178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO DEALER FOR REPAIR OF "SEVERE VIBRATION IN STEERING COLUMN WHEN CAR IS IDLING IN GEAR " COMPLAINT. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINED CAR'S ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE AIR BAG MUST BE REPLACED. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE AN AIR BAG TO COMPLETE THE SERVICE NEARLY 4 MONTHS AFTER THE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN FOR REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD WHO HAS VERIFIED THAT THE AIR BAG IS ON "NATIONAL BACK ORDER". FORD ALSO CLAIMS TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHEN THIS PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. HOW CAN AN IMPORTANT SAFETY PART BE UNAVAILABLE FOR SUCH AN EXCESSIVE PERIOD OF TIME? NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME. I'VE EVEN CALLED THE OFFICE OF FORD'S CEO, JACK NASSER, WITH NO SUCCESFUL RESULTS. IS THIS CAR SAFE TO DRIVE? DID YOU EVER HEAR OF SUCH A SITUATION? PLEASE HELP !!!
NHTSA complaint #737978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.