Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercury Mystique, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension49
- Power train38
- Engine and engine cooling34
- Electrical system28
- Service brakes, hydraulic27
- Exterior lighting18
- Air bags18
- Visibility16
- Vehicle speed control14
- Steering11
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 7 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1998 Mystique vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 5 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Mercury Mystique failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 72,306 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 9.5–11.6 L/100 km (about 20–25 mpg US), CO₂ 219–267 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mystique · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.1 | 7.5 | 9.5 |
| Mystique · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 8.1 | 10.0 |
| Mystique · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 8.6 | 10.9 |
| Mystique · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.7 | 9.0 | 11.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
9 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Mercury Mystique.
| 2001205 7 Aug 2001 | Other Certain passenger vehicles sold in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec . The front coil springs may fracture as a… |
| 2001195 16 Jul 2001 | Powertrain Certain passenger vehicles. The rough surface of the heater blower resistor's stainless steel blades can damage the copper surface of the wiring harness connect… |
| 2000077 21 Mar 2000 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the pressure conscious reducing valve (PCRV) in each of the rear brakes may be subject to malfunction due to corrosion when operated in are… |
| 1999164 16 Sept 1999 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the air bag sensor wiring pigtail insulation may become brittle and crack over time due to water accumulation in the protective convolute c… |
| 1999139 27 Jul 1999 | Engine On certain vehicles, the accelerator cable may have been manufactured with a burr on or near the end of the cable sleeve interior. This burr could fray the cor… |
| 1999094 19 May 1999 | Lights And Instruments On certain vehicles, the terminals at the headlight switch and wiring harness connector may experience heat damage as a result of overheating. This can cause d… |
| 1998243 21 Dec 1998 | Visual System Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 205 - glazing materials. The windshields on were produced without the "AS1" mark as required by American National Sta… |
| 1998208 21 Oct 1998 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the floor shift automatic transmission control may be damaged if subjected to certain vehicle interior cleaning products. If exposed to the… |
| 1998050 26 Mar 1998 | Lights And Instruments THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING SYSTEM AND RETROREFLECTIVE DEVICES. THE HEADLIGHT AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES A… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY FRACTURE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION IN HIGH CORROSION ENVIRONMENTS. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.
ON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLANTS, 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WIRING PIGTAIL INSULATION CAN BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACK OVER TIME DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF WATER IN THE PIGTAIL PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES RELATED TO THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING PIGTAIL NEAR THE RADIATOR. THIS CAN RESULT IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACKING OF THE INSULATION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A BURR ON OR NEAR THE END OF THE CABLE SLEEVE INTERIOR. THIS BURR COULD FRAY THE CORE WIRE RESULTING IN THE ACCELERATOR NOT RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FLOOR SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL CAN BE DAMAGED IF SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN INTERIOR CLEANING PRODUCTS. THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR CAN DETERIORATE AND NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercury told its dealers about the 1998 Mercury Mystique: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637775 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC SHIFTER ASSEMBLY OR THE INDICATOR HOUSING REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 637571 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B1213, B1342, B1601, B2431. *TT |
| 636165 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN AIR BAG WARNING LAMP FLASHING OUT A 2 DIGIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE AND NO COMMUNICATION WITH AIR BAG MODULE USING SCAN TOOLS. *TT |
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 630685 | CONCERN WITH HEADLAMPS AND/OR INSTRUMENT PANEL LAMPS DIMMING SLIGHTLY AT IDLE. *TT |
| 630631 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE CD4E TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT HARSH AND DELAYED 1-2/2-3 UPSHIFTS AFTER TRANSAXLE OR TURBINE SHAFT SPEED SENSOR REPLACEMENT, POSSIBLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 628, 642, 645, 646, 647, 648, P0731, P0732, P0734, P0741 AND P01744. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630408 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND/OR EGR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 332, P0401, P1407 (LACKOF EGR FLOW). *TT |
| 630024 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 627927 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT |
| 625783 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622686 | IN THE VEHICLES COVERED BY THE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE PROGRAM, THE FUEL PIPE FLAPPER VALVE MAY STICK WHICH COULD RESULT IN SLOW FILL AND FREQUENT FUEL FILLER NOZZLE SHUT-OFF. *TT |
| 621067 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A/C DISCHARGE AIR TEMPERATURES DIFFERENCES OF GREATER THAN 10 DEGREES F FROM REGISTERS ON LEFT SIDE OF DASH THAN ON RIGHT. *TT |
| 620202 | SOME VEHICLES MAY ILLUMINATE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP OR RUN ROUGH AFTER THE CATALYST IS REMOVED AND / OR REPLACED. THIS MAY BE DUE TO VACUUM LEAKS AS A RESULT OF TOLERANCE STACKUP WITHIN THE EXHAUST / EGR / INTAKE SYSTEM. *TT |
| 619489 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL) MAY EXHIBIT THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLASHING WHEN THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS ARE ON. *TT |
| 619424 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN 2001 VEHICLES - SAE 5W-20 MOTOR OIL. *TT |
| 619322 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CD4E TRANSAXLE, (DOES NOT APPLY TO MTX) MAY EXHIBIT A POWER STEERING GRUNT / MOAN TYPE NOISE WHEN RETURNING FROM A RIGHT TURN. *TT |
| 619266 | VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM (PATS) MAY NOT START OR CRANK. *TT |
| 618630 | INFORMATION PERTAINING TO DURATEC OIL PAN INVESTIGATION. *JB |
| 618595 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE NO START CONDITION WHEN THE WIPER SWITCH IS IN THE INTERMITTENT OR LOW-SPEED SETTING DURING VEHICLE START-UP. *JB |
| 618586 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT NO FORWARD GEAR RANGES DUE TO THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE FORWARD / COAST CLUTCH CYLINDER SNAP RING WITH RESPECT TO THE LEGS OF THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON. *JB |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
INCORRECT GEAR INDICATION
BLOWER SWITCH/RESISTOR OR WIRING HARNESS
FUEL EXPULSION DURING REFUELING
FUEL EXPULSION DURING REFUELING
BLOWER SWITCH/RESISTOR OR WIRING HARNESS
VARIOUS INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES
FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ BELOW 1/4
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation