Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1996 vs 1997 MERCURY MYSTIQUE

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 359 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 62.0% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

1996 184 complaints 1997 70 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1996 share 1997 share Share change
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20.7% 7.1% ▼ 13.5 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 5.4% 15.7% ▲ 10.3 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 6.0% not reported ▼ 6.0 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6.5% 11.4% ▲ 4.9 pts larger share
VISIBILITY 6.0% 10.0% ▲ 4.0 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 3.3% not reported ▼ 3.3 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3.3% 5.7% ▲ 2.5 pts larger share
SUSPENSION 4.9% 2.9% ▼ 2.0 pts smaller share
STEERING 3.8% 5.7% ▲ 1.9 pts larger share
ENGINE 15.8% 14.3% ▼ 1.5 pts smaller share
WHEELS not reported 1.4% ▲ 1.4 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN 11.4% 10.0% ▼ 1.4 pts smaller share
TIRES 0.5% 1.4% ▲ 0.9 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 3.3% 2.9% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 1.1% 1.4% ▲ 0.3 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 82.6% 77.1% ▼ 5.5 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1996 10

Campaign components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, and VISIBILITY

1997 7

Campaign components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, and VISIBILITY

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
12 → 3
◆ Injuries
9 → 3