Mercury Mystique Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,017 owner complaints and 19 safety recalls on file for the Mercury Mystique, across 8 model years (1995–2002). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (335). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Mercury Mystique years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Mystique year: 1995, 1996, 1998. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 Mystique: 335 complaints, 8 recalls
- 1998 Mystique: 231 complaints, 8 recalls
- 1996 Mystique: 185 complaints, 7 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2001 Mystique: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2002 Mystique: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2000 Mystique: 63 complaints, 3 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mercury Mystique problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 204 | 6 | 3 |
| Electrical System problems | 176 | 6 | 1 |
| Power Train problems | 138 | 6 | 6 |
| Suspension problems | 113 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 95 | 6 | 11 |
| Visibility | 84 | 6 | 3 |
| Structure | 73 | 6 | 4 |
| Steering | 69 | 6 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 64 | 5 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 58 | 7 | 22 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 58 | 8 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 51 | 5 | 0 |
| Equipment | 28 | 6 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 6 | 5 |
| Seats | 17 | 5 | 0 |
| Tires | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mercury Mystique problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 1995: engine and engine cooling (93) · electrical system (73) · power train (53)
All Mercury Mystique model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Mystique | 2 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2001 Mystique | 2 | 0 | — | Tires | |
| 2000 Mystique | 63 | 3 | — | Structure | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1999 Mystique | 128 | 2 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 1998 Mystique | 231 | 8 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Mystique | 71 | 4 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1996 Mystique | 185 | 7 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1995 Mystique | 335 | 8 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Mercury: all Mercury models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercury Mystique years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (335), 1996 (185), 1998 (231) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Mystique year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mercury Mystique?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 204 complaints across 6 model years.
How many recalls does the Mercury Mystique have?
19 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.