AI Damage1998 Mercury Mystique: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Mercury Mystique filed 231 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 231
- involving a crash
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 21% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 16% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 15% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 12% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 8% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 7% of all complaints
- Suspension: 49 complaints (21% of all).
- Powertrain: 38 complaints (16% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 34 complaints (15% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 28 complaints (12% of all).
- Service brakes: 28 complaints (12% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 231 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 49 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 38 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 34 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Dt: contact' sson seat belt broke during an accident and he was ejected from the car. This happened on 7-7-05. There were no problems with the seat belt prior to the accident. She took pictures of the accident. She took pictures of the seat belt itself.
My problem is that my car stalls when driven at any speed, whether I am stopped, turning or just driving. I have brought this car to the dealership to get fixed and they don't know what this is.
Consumer was stopped ready to make a left turn and was rearended. Passenger's lap belt was fine, but shoulder belt didn't lock, causing passenger to move forward. Driver's seatbelt acted properly. Dealer didn't have much information to give.
Upon impact with other vehicle, air bags failed to deploy. 1 injury & emergency room treatment.
While in frontal impact the driver's air bag did deploy, but the passenger's airbag did not deploy, which did not protect the occupant in this accident. Also, the passenger's seatbelt did hold the occupant, causing the passenger to sustain head injuries. Please provide further information.
Vehicle was hit on front passenger's side, and front seatbelts did not lock up, causing injuries to driver and front seat passenger. Dealer has not seen vehicle.
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.
When you have traveled 30mins/15 to 18 miles the car began to slow down/the speedometer began to drop even though you are pushing the gas peddle and the rpm gauge is waving back and fourth. It happened on 09/25/15, 10/08,13,14/2015. I was traveling 60mph and 45mph.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,751 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 5% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mystique has 102 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 231, above average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Mercury Mystique?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, powertrain, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 231. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (7%), warning lights, check engine (7%), smoke, burning smell, fire (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Mercury Mystique?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Mercury Mystique from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.