1997 MERCURY MYSTIQUE — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 70 complaints · 7 recalls
Most-reported system: SERVICE BRAKES (11 complaints · 15.7%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 4
  • Fires 3
  • Injuries 3
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1996 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution SERVICE BRAKES appears in 11 of 70 owner complaints (15.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. SERVICE BRAKES: 11 complaints, 15.7% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 11 · 15.7% · 1 crash reports ENGINE: 10 complaints, 14.3% of reports ENGINE 10 · 14.3% EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 8 complaints, 11.4% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8 · 11.4% POWER TRAIN: 7 complaints, 10.0% of reports POWER TRAIN 7 · 10.0% VISIBILITY: 7 complaints, 10.0% of reports VISIBILITY 7 · 10.0% · 1 fire reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 5 complaints, 7.1% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 · 7.1% · 2 fire reports STEERING: 4 complaints, 5.7% of reports STEERING 4 · 5.7% VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 4 complaints, 5.7% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 · 5.7% · 2 crash reports AIR BAGS: 2 complaints, 2.9% of reports AIR BAGS 2 · 2.9% · 1 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 54 complaints, 77.1% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 54 · 77.1% · 2 crash reports 3 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
SERVICE BRAKES 11 15.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 10 14.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8 11.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 7 10.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 7 10.0% 0 crashes · 1 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 7.1% 0 crashes · 2 fires
STEERING 4 5.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 5.7% 2 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 2 2.9% 1 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 54 77.1% 2 crashes · 3 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 1997; the first recall shown was reported in Sep 1998. 1997-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 1999-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 1999-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 1999-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2000-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2001-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2001-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2001-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2001-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 1997 Jul 2012 Recall campaign 98V233000 ◆ Recall campaign 98V233000 Recall campaign 99V103000 ◆ Recall campaign 99V103000 Recall campaign 00V075000 ◆ Recall campaign 00V075000 Recall campaign 01I009000 ◆ Recall campaign 01I009000 Recall campaign 01V230000 ◆ Recall campaign 01V230000 Recall campaign 06E022000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E022000 Recall campaign 08E033000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E033000 Investigation RQ99019 ● Investigation RQ99019 Investigation PE00023 ● Investigation PE00023 Investigation EA01001 ● Investigation EA01001 Investigation RQ02006 ● Investigation RQ02006
  • Campaign 00V075000 was reported 940 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 01I009000 was reported 1,262 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1997-Q3 Owner reports 1
1997-Q4 Owner reports 1
1998-Q1 Owner reports 2
1998-Q2 Owner reports 1
1998-Q3 Owner reports 3
1999-Q1 Owner reports 6
1999-Q3 Owner reports 5
1999-Q4 Owner reports 4
2000-Q1 Owner reports 2
2000-Q2 Owner reports 2
2000-Q3 Owner reports 1
2000-Q4 Owner reports 4
2001-Q1 Owner reports 3
2001-Q2 Owner reports 3
2001-Q3 Owner reports 5
2001-Q4 Owner reports 2
2002-Q1 Owner reports 2
2002-Q2 Owner reports 2
2002-Q3 Owner reports 1
2002-Q4 Owner reports 1
2003-Q1 Owner reports 2
2003-Q2 Owner reports 1
2003-Q3 Owner reports 2
2004-Q1 Owner reports 2
2004-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 1
2005-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q3 Owner reports 2
2006-Q4 Owner reports 2
2007-Q1 Owner reports 1
2008-Q4 Owner reports 1
2009-Q1 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2012-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 98V233000
Recall campaign 1 99V103000
Recall campaign 1 00V075000
Recall campaign 1 01I009000
Recall campaign 1 01V230000
Recall campaign 1 06E022000
Recall campaign 1 08E033000
Defect investigation 1 RQ99019
Defect investigation 1 PE00023
Defect investigation 1 EA01001
Defect investigation 1 RQ02006
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (7)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 00V075000

    Report date
    Component:
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    Consequence:
    IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 01I009000

    Report date
    Component:
    VISIBILITY
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    FORD WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH FOR 10 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF SALE OF THE VEHICLE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 01V230000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THE OPEN CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT COULD MELT THE CONNECTOR HOUSING MATERIAL CREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E022000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 08E033000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 98V233000

    Report date
    Component:
    POWER TRAIN
    Consequence:
    THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 99V103000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN DISTORTION OF THE TERMINAL CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, PARKING LAMP, AND TAIL LAMP CIRCUITS.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLAMP SWITCH WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAINING BRONZE TERMINALS AND AN INSPECTION, AND REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY, OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 70 complaints · page 1 of 3

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources