1998 Mercury Mystique Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report front coil spring breakage, automatic transmission shifting and engagement trouble, and loss of heater blower function, with assorted electrical faults. Many of these reports are tied to recall campaigns that some owners say did not cover their vehicle, and the mileage on the sample is spread widely, from very low to well past 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front coil spring breaks and can puncture the tire

   • 34 complaints (15%)
   • median 83,393 mi at 6.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2000–2014

   Owners describe a front coil spring snapping, sometimes with a loud noise, sometimes while backing up or at low speed. In several reports the broken spring cut into or punctured the tire, and in others the front end collapsed or the strut was found heavily rusted at its base. Some had the recall bracket installed and later found the spring broken again, with dealers saying the remedy keeps the spring from hitting the tire rather than preventing the break. Reported from about 42,000 to over 140,000 miles, often in vehicles driven in road-salt states.

   Recall 01V255000

   What to check: Look for rust at the base of the front struts and ask whether the recall bracket or spring replacement was done on this VIN. Have a shop inspect the springs before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving, the consumer heard a noise, and proceeded to pull off the road to investigate the noise. Upon existing the vehicle, the consumer noticed that the driver's side front suspension collapsed. The vehicle was towed to a dealership, who indicated that driver's side coil spring broke. Recall# 01v255000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10083619, filed 2004-08, 59,600 miles

   “Mcpherson strut assembly rusted at the base of the assembly where it was attached to the lower control arm. While driving on a mountainous winding road weight of the vehicle swayed to the right, and the wheel disassembled. Vehicle swayed, and stopped in a grassy area while being driven at approximately 50 MPH.”

   NHTSA complaint #10099944, filed 2004-11, 116,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips, hesitates or fails to engage

   • 29 complaints (13%)
   • median 78,250 mi at 6.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2014

   Complaints describe the automatic transmission hesitating or slipping between gears, failing to go into drive or reverse, and occasionally dying or revving without the car moving. Owners report repeated dealer visits, electrical diagnosis that did not resolve it, and rebuilds or internal repairs; one report notes a missing overdrive servo seal replacement being redone. Mostly between about 60,000 and 160,000 miles, reported during normal driving at highway and city speeds.

   Recall 98V2330002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive from cold through all gears, check for delayed engagement and fluid leaks at the transmission joint, and ask for service records of any prior transmission work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had shifting problems with the automatic transmissions on a 1998 Mercury Mystique. From my research this transmission made by a joint venture between mazda and ford has had major problmes. I have had it to the local ford dealer seven times to get it fixed. They thought it was all electrical but now tell me they need to pull the transmission and check three things inside it. The car has been undriveable for three months through this process. I have already spent $650.00 and now the real expensed process starts.”

   NHTSA complaint #10033300, filed 2003-08, 60,000 miles

   “Took my car in october 15, 2003.jim dobson ford in winamac to check my car out and they told me it wasn't an electrical problem with my transmission it was hydrolic or the second speed gear went out. I told them to go ahead and rebuild the transmission. They pulled the transmission out on the 16th. Called them on the 17th. They told me that the mechanic called off sick and that they did not have a chance to open the transmission up to find out exactly what is wrong with it. Mechanic called of again on the 18th and the 20th. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10071076, filed 2004-01, 89,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Heater blower stops working or resistor connector burns

   • 19 complaints (8%)
   • median 79,425 mi at 7.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2014

   Owners describe the blower motor quitting so there is no heat or fan, and mechanics finding a melted fuse box or a damaged connector at the blower resistor. Several say the manufacturer told them their VIN was not included in the blower resistor recall even though the failure matched it, leaving them with the repair cost. Reported from around 40,000 miles up to about 115,000 miles, in all seasons.

   Recall 01V230000

   What to check: Run the blower on every speed setting and check the connector and fuse box for heat damage or melting; ask whether the blower resistor recall was completed for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fan stopped working on 1998 Mercury Mystique, no heat in car. Most likly cause is the resistor on the heater blower moter. This should be covered on ford recalls 01s22 or 01m07, but ford will not fix it. Ford did replace this part under recall 99m07 on 01/17/2001, this is an on going issue and all mystiques should be cover under 01m07.”

   NHTSA complaint #10102996, filed 2004-12, 82,350 miles

   “Dt: the contact was having electrical problems. She said the vehicle would not start. The vehicle would jump while she was driving. She was going about 40 MPH. She had it looked at, and was told it was in the wiring. She said when the mechanic looked at the vehicle the windshield wipers came on by themselves. A mechanic told her the wires were bad, and they needed to be replaced. She was told this by two different mechanics. She found out about a recall 01v230000 on the wiring harness. Dealer told her the recall has expired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10139667, filed 2005-10, 30,000 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights cloud, dim or switch fails

   • 11 complaints (5%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2016

   Complaints describe hazy, discolored headlight lenses that cut light output, and headlight or tail light circuits that quit working, sometimes with heat damage at the switch. Some owners report their vehicle was excluded from the headlight switch recall by VIN and that dealers would not cover the repair. Reported from about 42,000 to 145,000 miles, with several at high mileage.

   Recall 99V103000Recall 98V028000

   What to check: Check lens clarity and test low beams, high beams, tail lights and the switch at night; ask whether the headlight switch campaign was applied to this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Headlights are malfunctioning. My 17yo daughter got pulled over because only her high beams were working. The regular headlights are dim. Very dangerous. This happens at all times and unexpectedly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10818563, filed 2016-01, 58,000 miles

   “Consumer has a concern about the plastic lens over the headlight are discoloring and causes poor visibility when driving at night. Dealer was notified. Please provide any further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #10083271, filed 2004-07, 123,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light stays on

   • 15 complaints (6%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2004

   Owners report the air bag light coming on and staying on, in some cases only when it rains, and dealers unable to find the fault after repeated visits. Several say their vehicle was excluded from the air bag sensor wiring recall by VIN, and one report describes the light appearing only after recall work was performed. Reported from very low mileage (under 20,000) up to about 117,000 miles.

   Recall 99V243000

   What to check: Confirm the air bag light comes on at start and then goes out, and check whether the sensor wiring recall was completed for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer received manufacturer's recall 99s23 concerning air bag control module. Consumer had no problems until dealer performed recall repairs. Currently, when it rains air bag light comes on. The vehicle was returned tot he dealer three times to correct the problem but the dealer was unable to findthe problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10087354, filed 2004-09, 18,000 miles

   “Consumer received recall 99v243000 notice concerning frontal air bag sensor module. When vehicle is started air bag light comes on and stays on at all times. Dealer examined the vehicle, but could not find the problem. Consumer's vehicle not included in recall due to VIN.”

   NHTSA complaint #10058018, filed 2004-02, 73,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for the recall history by VIN before buying, since several common complaints here were addressed by campaigns that owners say did not always include their car. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the front springs, transmission behavior and heater blower is worth the cost on a car of this age.

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.