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

1997 vs 1998 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 347 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 221.4% more reports in the equal exposure window

1997 70 complaints 1998 225 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 1997 share 1998 share Share change
SUSPENSION 2.9% 19.6% ▲ 16.7 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 15.7% 7.1% ▼ 8.6 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 10.0% 5.3% ▼ 4.7 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM not reported 4.0% ▲ 4.0 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11.4% 7.6% ▼ 3.9 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 2.9% 6.7% ▲ 3.8 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN 10.0% 13.8% ▲ 3.8 pts larger share
ENGINE 14.3% 10.7% ▼ 3.6 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7.1% 9.8% ▲ 2.6 pts larger share
STEERING 5.7% 3.6% ▼ 2.2 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 1.4% 2.7% ▲ 1.2 pts larger share
TIRES 1.4% 0.4% ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5.7% 4.9% ▼ 0.8 pts smaller share
WHEELS 1.4% 0.9% ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE not reported 0.4% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 77.1% 78.7% ▲ 1.5 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1997 7

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

1998 11

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, and SUSPENSION

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
3 → 7
◆ Injuries
3 → 7