1998 Mercury Mystique complaints

COMPLAINTS: 1.DIDN'T RECEIVE RECALL NOTICE (01S23) UNTIL 2 YRS AFTER IT WAS ISSUED. 2.NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF A "SERVICE CAMPAIGN" (01I013000) TO REPLACE SPRINGS IF FOUND TO BE CORRODED OR BREAK. 3.RECALL DID NOT ADDRESS ISSUE OF RECALL OR PROBLEM.(CORRISIVE,RUSTED SPRINGS).RECALL DID INSTRUCT DEALER/REPAIRER TO INSTALL SPRING BRACKETS (COMPLETED SATISFACTORLY). COMPARISON: BATTERIES DEAD IN FLASHLIGHT,OWNER REPLACES BULB. THE SPRINGS WERE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. 4.VEHICLE NOW HAS LOUD THUMPS THAT WEREN'T THERE BEFORE THE "SPRING BRACKETS" WERE INSTALLED. 5.REGIONAL RECALLS. NOTES: CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY A CERIFIED MECHANIC AND FOUND NOT TO HAVE DEFECTIVE CV JOINTS OR WHEEL BEARINGS, NO UNDER CARRIAGE PARTS LOOSE. CAR IS SCHEDULED FOR INSPECTION BY A FORD DEALERSHIP ON 11/07/03. CAR PREVIOUSLY OPERATED IN NEW ENGLAND STATE (3 YRS).

DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE RECALL. VEHICLE NEEDED NEW AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ACCOMMODATE CONSUMER. IF DEALERSHIP MADE THE ADJUSTMENT THEY WOULD CHARGE THE CONSUMER. *AK

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. UPON SLOWING DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE EGR VALVE AND SENSOR 3 TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT FAILED TO DO SO.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THIS OCCURRED STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK

WENT TO FORD DEALER REGARDING 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE- ABS LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. THEY TESTED IT AT $90.00 AND THEN SAID THAT THE WHOLE HCU WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $3,000. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS PART DOESN'T BRAKE DOWN OR NEED REPLACEMENT OFTER. NO RECALLS AVAILABLE I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS. THEY SAID THAT THE REGULAR BRAKES ARE FINE, HOWEVER, I NOTICE THAT I SOMTIMES DON'T STOP LIKE I SHOULD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE TIMING BELT COMING OFF THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BELT HAD BEEN REPLACED, BUT DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

BOTH HEADLIGHT LENS ASSEMBLIES HAVE BECOME CLOUDY/HAZY, SO THE LIGHT EMITTED IS GREATLY REDUCED, CREATING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. REPLACEMENT COST IS $400 PLUS LABOR. I FEEL FORD SHOULD COVER THIS, AS THE ASSEMBLIES ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

I CAME TO THIS SITE LOOKING FOR RECALL INFORMATION TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL RELATED TO MY PROBLEMS WITH THE 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. SO FAR NOTHING TOO DANGEROUS HAS HAPPENED, BUT I AM FEELING VERY UNSAFE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. ONE BY ONE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN MY CAR ARE SHORTING OUT. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO POWER DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THEN THE RADIO (ALWAYS FAULTY -- THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO FIX IT EVEN BY REPLACING IT) SHORTED OUT COMPLETELY ON THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW. THEN THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD AND FLOORBOARD LIGHTS SHORTED OUT A FEW DAYS LATER. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND POWER STEERING ARE NEXT. I CAN'T GET AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE ALL THIS LOOKED AT FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS. I WAS CHECKING THE SITE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RELATED RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS. THOUGHT I'D ADD A COMPLAINT BECAUSE MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.*AK

INFORMATION OF MY CAR: 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE V6 2.5L ENGINE ODOMETER: 141,120KM VIN: [XXX] THREE DAYS AGO, THE VEHICLE HAD SOME NOISE WHEN TURN LEFT. THE MECHANICS TOOK A LOOK AND FOUND ONE OF THE SUSPENSION BIG COIL SPRING BROKEN (THE ONE JUST OVER THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL). YESTERDAY, THE BROKEN SUSPENSION COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED. TO OUR SURPRISE, THE SPRING WAS BROKEN INTO 3 PIECES, AND THE BROKEN INTERFACE WAS COVERED BY A VERY HEAVY RUST. THE HEAVY RUST MEANS THE BIG COIL SPRING ACTUALLY WAS BROKEN LONG TIMES AGO. WE ARE LUCKY, BECAUSE THE SPRING WAS BROKEN AT THE TWO END, SO THE REMINDER OF THE SPRING CAN STILL WORK AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE MECHANICS TOLD US, THEY REPAIRED A FORD CONTOUR BEFORE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THAT GUY'S COIL SPRING BROKEN IN THE MIDDLE AND HIS VEHICLE WAS BAD DAMAGED. I STILL KEEP THE BROKEN COIL SPRING (ALL THE 3 PIECES), I CAN SEND YOU A PHOTO PICTURE OR SHIP THE SPRING ITSELF TO YOU IF YOU WANT. THIS IS MY CONTACT: [XXX]. TEL: [XXX] EMAIL: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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.*AK

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR, AND DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, AND HE COULD NOT DRIVE IT BUT ABOUT 5 MPH. HE HAD TO STOP AND PUT TRANSMISSION FLUID IN VEHICLE AND WAIT A WHILE. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT A LITTLE WHILE LONGER AT A HIGHER SPEED. THEN, IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING. THEY HAD THE AUTOMOBILE TOWED IN FOR SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES COIL SPRING FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. *NLM

BROKEN COIL SPRING ON DRIVER SIDE OF CAR, ALL OTHER SPRINGS ROTTING AWAY. ALSO CAR VIBRATES TREMENDOUSLY WHEN GOING 60 MPH. *JB

THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED. THE CONSUMER FELT VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *NLM

THE RIGHT FRONT SHOCK STRUT COIL POPPED OFF AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *JB

AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS PERFORMED, RECALL #01I013000, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT STOP THE SPRING FROM BREAKING, IT ONLY STOPPED IT FROM BLOWING THE TIRE.*JB

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE.*JB

PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK

WHEN EVER IT HAS BEEN RAINING OR THERE IS HEAVY DEW OUTSIDE, RAIN OR MOISTURE WOULD ENTER THE REAR LIGHTS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS INFORMED EACH TIME IT WAS THE FACTORY SEALANT THAT HAD FAILED. THE SEALANT CAN NOT BE RESEALED. WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM. TS

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION GEARS DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. MR *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENLY GAS LIGHT BECOME INOPERABLE AT THE SAME TIME THE SPEEDOMETER GOT CRAZY UP AND DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORAMTION. TS

CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AFTER RECALL HAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE RECALL#011013000 FRONT COIL SPRING. LINCOLN MERCURY MONROE, MI 732-241-2060 MR

PROBLEMS WITH HORN. *MR

FUSE RECEPTICLE IS MELTING UNDER DASH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS FRONT END SHAKES. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES STEERING WHEEL SHAKES EXCESSIVELY, MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL. DEALER SAYS IT IS BRAKE ROTORS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND CAN'T FIX IT. *AK

HORN DOES NOT WORK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. HORN WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, BUT CURRENTLY IT HAS FAILED COMPLETELY.*AK THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE. THE POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR, AND FRONT BRAKES FAILED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JG

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM SPARK PLUG WIRES INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF DASHBOARD. CONSUMER HAS RESEARCHED, THERE IS RECALL 99V103000 FOR HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS. HOWEVER, RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN.*AK

AT 15MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. OWNER NOTICED THAT HOT AIR WAS BLOWS OUT OF VENTILATION EVEN WITH AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.*AK

REMEDY THAT MANUFACTURER USED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH TIRE WHEN PUTTING PLATE AROUND COIL SPRINGS DID NOT WORK. TIRE DID NOT HAVE THAT MUCH SPACE WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN TIRE/ PLATE, AND NUTS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

VEHICLE SHAKES AT HIGH SPEEDS. WHEN PRESSING BRAKES BRAKES SHUTTER TO A STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEATER FAN MOTOR IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONUSMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99M07. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER. THE DEALER WOULDN'T AUTHORIZE THE WORK BECAUSE THE PROBLEM DEPICTED IN THE RECALL WAS STILL WORKING. NOW THAT IT IS INOPERATIVE THE DEALER WON'T FIX BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER MILEAGE. THE DEFROSTER IS ALSO INOPERABLE. *JG

CONSUMER STARTED UP THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE RACED UP AND DOWN THEN IT SLOWED DOWN, HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR THEN HE HEARD SOMETHING POPPED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED; CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RIGHT AXLE SHAFT WAS BROKEN. *YD

THE CLIP CONNECTING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE ENGINE HAS FALLEN OFF TWICE & BEEN REPAIRED. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING ONTO AN INTERSTATE & THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FATALITIES IF IT HAPPENED WHILE PASSING ON A 2 LANE ROAD. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY FORD JUST DIDN'T GLUE THE PART TOGETHER INSTEAD OF USING PRESSURE TO KEEP THE CLIP ON SINCE OBVIOUSLY THE CLIP FALLS OFF. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761509

WHILE SUDDENLY ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THEN TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIES. WHITE SMOKE ALSO COMES OUT OF TAIL PIPE. *AK VEHICLE KEEPS RUNNING HOT AND STOPS, THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE,ALL RECALL WORK WAS NOT PERFORMED. *JG

AFTER RAIN TAIL LIGHT FILL ED UP WITH WATER AND CRACKED LENS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIIIVING 55MPH FRONT AXLE BROKE, CAUSING FRONT RIGHT TIRE TO COME OFF. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER.*AK

THE CAR MAKES A FUNNY NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER EACH STARTUP. WAS TOLD THAT IT IS LIKELY THE ABS GOING THROUGH A TEST. THE NOISE IS ALSO HEARD WHEN MAKING AN AGRESSIVE TURN WHILE STOPPING, TYPICALLY WHEN THE ABS WOULD ENGAGE. THE NOISE COULD BE BEST DESCRIBED AS A LOUD, HIGH PITCH WINE THAT LAST ONLY A FEW SECONDS. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS COMMON AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

CUP/PLATE ADDED TO FRT COIL ASSEMBLY ADVERSELY IMPACTS VEHICLE HANDLING. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE LIGHTS SHORTED OUT AND MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT A MECHANIC TOLD HER FORD WERE KNOWN TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. PH 09-DEC-2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS PREMATURE WEAR OF THE FRONT HUB BEARINGS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *JG

CONSUMER STATES THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE COLLAPES WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. NLM *MR

AIR BAG LIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE FROM TIME TO TIME. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE IN 3 PIECES AND THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE IN 2 PIECES. *SLC

I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AFTER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED -- HE TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER INDICATED TORQUE CONTROL SLIPPAGE -- THEN TOOK THE CAR TO MOUNTAIN VIEW FORD WHERE THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT MY TRANSAXLE PUMP NEEDED REPLACING AND THAT IT WOULD COST JUST OVER $1000 -- THIS CAR ONLY HAS JUST OVER 32000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MY 100000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT -- THIS IS A DEFECT ON THE CAR AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING OUT OF TOWN ON CHRISTMAS DAY -- THE DRIVE HOME WAS UNSETTLING BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT JERKING IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC -- IT WAS HOOKED ON A COMPUTER WHICH INDICATED A CODE 1744 INDICATING EXCESSIVE SLIPPAGE ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE REPORTED BECAUSE THIS IS POTENTIALLY A RECALL ISSUE AND THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. MY CAR IS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS BELOW AVERAGE MILEAGE.

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT LOCKED INTO LOCKED POSITION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK