1996 Mercury Mystique Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 30about this part
- Share
- 16%of 185 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 102,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1996 Mercury Mystique, 16% of the 185 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 102,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The forward gears on my transmission have ceased to work. Now I'm being told that the transmission needs to be replaced. I find it kind of weird that a 96 needs a new transmission already.”
NHTSA complaint #10206597, filed 2007-10, 148,000 miles“I purchased my Mercury Mystique new in november of 1996. I have always driven the car very easy, I don't even get on the expressway very often. At around 45,000 miles, I had the transmission serviced, which the owners manual doesn't even mention. Now, with only 55k miles, the transmission has failed and needs a total rebuild! Although the car is nearly 9 years old, at 55,000 miles the transmission failing is not acceptable. There has to be some kind of flaw in the design for it to do this.”
NHTSA complaint #10136054, filed 2005-09, 56,000 miles“My heater control knob for high,med,low only work in the low position. My rear brake light had a leak,allowing water to fill up and blow my light bulbs.there is a ticking noise in my dash as if my turn signals is running, but no flash on the indicators. When I signal to take turns it works fine but when not turning still makes clicking noise. Transmission went out in october 2000, I heard this is a common problem in my vehical.. Thank you for your time.”
NHTSA complaint #740565, filed 2001-02“I don't have an estimate on transmission damage. Transmission was in good condition went it was brought to dealer, it is now inoperable. I am looking into possible tampering with the vehicle. I have no intention of paying for this damage.”
NHTSA complaint #745878, filed 2001-05“We took this car to the dealer in may of 1999 because the throttle seemed to stick, then break free, causing to car to lurc forward into traffic. They kept the car but it would not repeat the problem so they erturned it to us and charged us over $100. Ever since the throttle would sometimes feel rough in about one half to one inch of travel but then would be smooth as silk. In feb we took the car in for the smog check and the service person finished the test and put the car in reverse and it sat still, the engine at idle and it would not move. …”
NHTSA complaint #720107, filed 2000-03Related recalls
- 98V233000Sep 18, 1998Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The floor shift automatic transmission control can be damaged if subjected to certain interior cleaning products. The…Covers: Mercury Mystique 1995–1998, Ford Contour 1995–1998
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 1996 Mercury Mystique
47 complaintsEngine cooling
41 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
19 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsExterior lighting
15 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsSteering
13 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Mercury Mystique
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology