1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 225 complaints · 11 recalls
Most-reported system: SUSPENSION (44 complaints · 19.6%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 9
  • Fires 7
  • Injuries 7
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1997 →
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 SUSPENSION appears in 44 of 225 owner complaints (19.6%) in this vehicle snapshot. SUSPENSION: 44 complaints, 19.6% of reports SUSPENSION 44 · 19.6% POWER TRAIN: 31 complaints, 13.8% of reports POWER TRAIN 31 · 13.8% · 2 crash reports ENGINE: 24 complaints, 10.7% of reports ENGINE 24 · 10.7% · 2 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 22 complaints, 9.8% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22 · 9.8% · 5 fire reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 17 complaints, 7.6% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 17 · 7.6% SERVICE BRAKES: 16 complaints, 7.1% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 16 · 7.1% AIR BAGS: 15 complaints, 6.7% of reports AIR BAGS 15 · 6.7% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports VISIBILITY: 12 complaints, 5.3% of reports VISIBILITY 12 · 5.3% VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 11 complaints, 4.9% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11 · 4.9% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 177 complaints, 78.7% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 177 · 78.7% · 9 crash reports 4 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)
SUSPENSION 44 19.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 31 13.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 24 10.7% 2 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22 9.8% 0 crashes · 5 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 17 7.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 16 7.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 15 6.7% 1 crashes · 1 fires
VISIBILITY 12 5.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11 4.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 177 78.7% 9 crashes · 4 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 Oct 1997; the first recall shown was reported in Feb 1998. 1997-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 1999-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 1999-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1999-Q3: 18 owner reports 18 1999-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2000-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2000-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2000-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2000-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2001-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2001-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2001-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2001-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2002-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2002-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2002-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2002-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2003-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2004-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2004-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 1997 Jan 2016 Recall campaign 98V028000 ◆ Recall campaign 98V028000 Recall campaign 98V233000 ◆ Recall campaign 98V233000 Recall campaign 99V103000 ◆ Recall campaign 99V103000 Recall campaign 99V194000 ◆ Recall campaign 99V194000 Recall campaign 99V243000 ◆ Recall campaign 99V243000 Recall campaign 00V075000 ◆ Recall campaign 00V075000 Recall campaign 01V230000 ◆ Recall campaign 01V230000 Recall campaign 01I013000 ◆ Recall campaign 01I013000 Recall campaign 01V255000 ◆ Recall campaign 01V255000 Recall campaign 06E022000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E022000 Recall campaign 08E033000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E033000 Investigation SQ98002 ● Investigation SQ98002 Investigation RQ99019 ● Investigation RQ99019 Investigation PE00023 ● Investigation PE00023 Investigation PE00027 ● Investigation PE00027 Investigation EA00025 ● Investigation EA00025 Investigation EA01001 ● Investigation EA01001 Investigation RQ02006 ● Investigation RQ02006
  • Campaign 99V243000 was reported 335 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 00V075000 was reported 499 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 01I013000 was reported 922 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 01V255000 was reported 922 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1997-Q4 Owner reports 1
1998-Q3 Owner reports 1
1998-Q4 Owner reports 8
1999-Q1 Owner reports 11
1999-Q2 Owner reports 4
1999-Q3 Owner reports 18
1999-Q4 Owner reports 11
2000-Q1 Owner reports 7
2000-Q2 Owner reports 12
2000-Q3 Owner reports 7
2000-Q4 Owner reports 7
2001-Q1 Owner reports 14
2001-Q2 Owner reports 7
2001-Q3 Owner reports 8
2001-Q4 Owner reports 11
2002-Q1 Owner reports 6
2002-Q2 Owner reports 11
2002-Q3 Owner reports 7
2002-Q4 Owner reports 5
2003-Q1 Owner reports 5
2003-Q2 Owner reports 2
2003-Q3 Owner reports 8
2003-Q4 Owner reports 2
2004-Q1 Owner reports 10
2004-Q3 Owner reports 8
2004-Q4 Owner reports 4
2005-Q1 Owner reports 1
2005-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q3 Owner reports 3
2005-Q4 Owner reports 4
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q2 Owner reports 2
2006-Q4 Owner reports 2
2007-Q1 Owner reports 1
2007-Q2 Owner reports 3
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2008-Q2 Owner reports 2
2009-Q1 Owner reports 2
2010-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2015-Q4 Owner reports 1
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 98V028000
Recall campaign 1 98V233000
Recall campaign 1 99V103000
Recall campaign 1 99V194000
Recall campaign 1 99V243000
Recall campaign 1 00V075000
Recall campaign 1 01V230000
Recall campaign 1 01I013000
Recall campaign 1 01V255000
Recall campaign 1 06E022000
Recall campaign 1 08E033000
Defect investigation 1 SQ98002
Defect investigation 1 RQ99019
Defect investigation 1 PE00023
Defect investigation 1 PE00027
Defect investigation 1 EA00025
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 (11)

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 01I013000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
    Remedy:
    FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR FRONT COIL SPRING REPLACEMENT FOR THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FOR 10 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF SALE OF A VEHICLE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.
    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 01V255000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CATCHER BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 23, 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 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. 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 →

  6. 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 →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 98V028000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.
    Remedy:
    OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. 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 →

  9. 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 →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 99V194000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE STICKING, BINDING, OR CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPM.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED ACCELERATOR CABLE THAT HAS A FLARED CONDUIT SLEEVE END AND MOLDED ON END FITTING.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 99V243000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    IN SOME CASES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISABLED.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL AIR BAG SENSORS WITH REVISED WIRING INSULATION. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WILL HAVE A NEW AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR INSTALLED.
    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 225 complaints · page 1 of 9

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