1995 Mercury Mystique Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engine cooling and electrical problems, and the two are frequently linked: a fan or wiring fault leads to overheating, and aging wire insulation in the engine bay cracks or melts. Complaints also cover transmission shifting problems, broken suspension springs, and fuel leaks or fuel smells near the tank and filler hose. Many reports come from vehicles well past 70,000 miles, and a number of owners note their car was not included in a related recall because of its VIN.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Cracked or melted wiring insulation, electrical shorts

   • 57 complaints (17%)
   • median 98,450 mi at 10.9 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2008

   Owners describe wire insulation under the hood cracking, separating, or melting, leaving bare wires that short out. Complaints say the result can be a sudden loss of electrical power, a no-start or stall while driving, and failure of accessories such as ABS, traction control, or interior lighting. Several owners report being told the engine wiring harness needed to be replaced, and some say a dealer declined or could not cover the work. Often reported between roughly 70,000 and 150,000 miles, on cars many years old.

   Recall 00V3670001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the wiring under the hood and near the battery for cracked or exposed insulation, and ask whether the harness has ever been replaced. Also ask whether the extended wiring harness coverage described in the service bulletin was used.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was told the wiring harness on my 1995 Mercury Mystique has failed. The car only has 72,000 miles. It started with the traction control and ABS systems failing. It has now spread to the engine and transmission. The car is now undrivable. My ford dealer told me this failure is becoming a problem on the ford contour/Mercury Mystique models. Is there any recourse I can take?”

   NHTSA complaint #10134309, filed 2005-08, 72,494 miles

   “Ford has refused to replace the wiring harness in my 1995 Mercury Mystique because: the extended warranty for this vehicle expired in jun 2005 (10 years from 'in service' date. I have owned the vehicle since nov 2003 and never received a recall notice. Ford states a letter was sent to a previous owner. I cannot verify this and really view it as irrelevant since the harness was never accomplished on this vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10133981, filed 2005-08, 92,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Overheating and cooling fan failure

   • 53 complaints (16%)
   • median 123,000 mi at 11.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,100 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 1996–2010

   Owners report the temperature gauge climbing, coolant loss, and in some cases the engine shutting down. Complaints frequently mention the engine cooling fan, and several owners link the overheating to the fan motor recall, saying the repair was done and the car still ran hot, or that the dealer would not perform the recall work. Some describe a burning plastic smell along with the overheating. Reported from about 38,000 miles upward, often at highway speeds or in warm weather.

   Recall 00V367000

   What to check: Check that the cooling fan recall work was completed for this VIN, watch the temperature gauge on a test drive, and look for coolant residue or a low coolant level.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While traveling at 30mph temperature gauge went to hot, and vehicle completely died. Rep at dealership had vehicle towed to dealer, and they reported that wires had melted underhood which resulted in wiring harness needed to be replaced. Recall 00v367 dealing with overheating related to the problem consumer had with vehicle, however dealer will not do any recall repairs due to mileage of vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #888972, filed 2001-05

   “Consumer took vehicle to dealership to have recall 00v367000 repairs done for engine overheating. After recall work was performed, engine still was running hot. Dealership stated that any additional work was not covered under warranty. Please provide any additional information/attachments.”

   NHTSA complaint #886464, filed 2001-04
3. 3
   Suspension

   Broken coil springs

   • 23 complaints (7%)
   • median 135,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2004

   Owners describe hearing a clunking or rocking noise from the front or rear of the car and later finding a coil spring broken. Several complaints concern the rear springs specifically, with owners noting the front springs had been replaced under a campaign while the rears broke later. Some say a dealer could not identify the cause at first and recommended replacing struts instead. Mostly reported above 100,000 miles.

   What to check: Have the car inspected on a lift for cracked or broken coil springs at all four corners, and listen for clunking over bumps during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In feb 1999 we received a recall notice for failure of the front springs on this vehicle since it originally had been sold in a snow/cold state. The front springs have not failed. However there was noise and poor handling in the rear of the car. Investigation by a ford dealer in tucson did not disclose any failure of springs. The dealer recomended replacement of rear struts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #761116, filed 2002-04

   “While driving would hear a rocking noise coming from front of vehicle. Then, stopped, and found out that coil springs were broken without a prior warning of the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #886527, filed 2001-04
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission not downshifting

   • 54 complaints (16%)
   • median 92,557 mi at 10.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2008

   Owners describe the automatic transmission failing to downshift while driving, and in some cases the problem persisted after the transmission was replaced. Other complaints mention odd noises in reverse and a floor shifter whose gear indicator no longer matched the actual position. Owners report paying for repairs themselves without the cause being resolved. Sampled complaints range from about 40,000 to 114,000 miles.

   Recall 98V233000

   What to check: Drive at several speeds and check that downshifts and reverse engage smoothly, confirm the gear indicator matches the lever position, and ask about any transmission work history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission will not down shift had a new transmission put in the car and it still does the same thing. No one seems to know why? Could you please help me I have spent to much money now. 1995 Mercury Mystique.”

   NHTSA complaint #10039298, filed 2003-09, 114,000 miles

   “Consumer was able to remove key out of the ignition without gear fully engaged into park . About 2 hours later, 6 year old child went into vehicle to get a cd out of vehicle when he accidently hit the gear selecter into reverse, causing child to panic and jump out , vehicle rolled over child's leg . Gears can be moved without key in the ignition and without applying brakes.”

   NHTSA complaint #867111, filed 2000-08
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks at tank or filler hose

   • 15 complaints (4%)
   • median 77,201 mi at 11.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2008

   Owners report a gasoline smell inside or around the car, sometimes with visible fuel leaking from the tank area or filler hose. Complaints describe a hose at the top of the tank or the filler hose as the source, and some say a dealer could not pin down the leak the first time. Several owners note the car fell outside a related recall because of its VIN. Reported from roughly 66,000 to 88,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   Recall 95V232000Recall 94V203000Recall 94V184000

   What to check: Smell around the filler neck and under the rear of the car after fueling, look for stains or drips under the tank, and ask whether the filler pipe or hose has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel vapor smell. Diagnosed as a failed hose at the top of the fuel tank (between the tank and the vehicle body). Service writer indicated that the problem was caused by flexing between the body and the tank and that, in his opinion, the design did not take the flexing into account sufficiently. There was a fuel leak, and the vehicle would have leaked significant fuel in a roll over.”

   NHTSA complaint #10114198, filed 2005-03, 88,000 miles

   “Gas is leaking from the gas tank, and the smell is getting into the vehicle. When getting into vehicle and when driving, consumer can see where the gas is leaking from the tank. Consumer contacted dealer since gas tank was repaired before, and now the tank is leaking again. Dealer can't determine the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #835597, filed 1999-03

Buying note. These cars are old enough that condition matters more than reputation: check the wiring, cooling system, springs, and fuel lines closely, and confirm for the specific VIN which recall work was actually completed. Records of repairs are worth asking for, since several common complaints involve work that was partly or fully owner-funded.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.