Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Mercury Mystique submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 36 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 36, in the owner's own words
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE GARAGE. THEN, DRIVER CONTACTED DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK
6/15/03 I DO NOT HAVE THE EXACT DATES OF PROBLEMS, BUT I WILL RELATE MY EXPERIENCES. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE USED IN 1999, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, WHICH ALSO CONTROLS THE SHIFT INTER- LOCK, FAILED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND AN OPEN CONNECTION BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX THAT CONTROLS THE SWITCH OPERATION. THEY FIXED THAT OPEN CONNECTION AND THE SWITCH WORKED FINE. THEN THE SWITCH PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. TRIED A NEW SWITCH AND THAT FAILED AFTER A FEW MONTHS. HAVE GONE THROUGH SIX OR SEVEN SWITCHES AND HAVE ONE NOW THAT SEEMS TO WORK. I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED NEW SWITCHES MYSELF AFTER THE FIRST ONE BECAUSE FORD WAS CHARGING ME ABOUT $15 FOR THE PART AND AROUND $90 TO INSTALL. ASKED SERVICE PEOPLE AT FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SOME SWITCHES WORK AND SOME DON'T. ASKED ANOTHER SERVICEPERSON AT DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THESE STOP LIGHT SWITCHES RARELY FAIL? GOT A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD STATING THAT THE FRONT STRUT SPRINGS COULD FAIL BUT NOT TO BRING THE CAR IN UNTIL THEY DID FAIL. GOT ANOTHER BULLETIN STATING THAT THE MAIN ELECTRICAL CONNECTER FOR THE ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD COULD FAIL BUT AGAIN DON'T BRING THE CAR IN UNTIL THIS FAILURE HAPPENS. FORD DID REPAIR A FAILED HI-SPEED HEATER BLOWER CONNECTION AT THEIR COST. I ASKED THE TECH WHY HE HAD TO RAISE THE CAR AND HE SAID, POOR DESIGN. POOR DESIGN SEEMS TO BE A COMMON THEME WITH THE '95 MYSTIQUE. BY THE WAY MINE IS A FOUR BANGER. I GUESS THE MOST TROUBLING WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. NOT ONLY CAN THE CAR NOT BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WON'T WORK EVEN WHEN THE MANUAL OVER RIDE IS USED. NOTHING LIKE NOT HAVING BRAKE LIGHTS ON TODAY'S ROADS! THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 78,000 MILES. WHY SO FEW? DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I SEE THE '95 MYSTIQUE/CONTOUR WAS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I DON'T KNOW HOW SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING FRONT SPRING FAILURE OR MAIN ENGINE HARNESS FAILURE WHICH I DESCRIBED ABOVE CANNOT BE CLASSIFIED AS RECALLS. ROBERT SODERLUND
THE FRONT SPRINGS WERE CHANGED UNDER ONE OF THE RECALLS AFTER ONE BROKE.THE BACK SPRINGS WERE NOT UNDER RECALL BUT WERE BOTH BROKEN AND FORD REFUSED TO DO IT EVEN THOUGH THE SPRINGS WERE FROM THE SAME SUPPLIER AND FAILED PREMATURELY. I HAD TO CHANGE BOTH REAR SPRINGS DUE TO THEIR PARTIAL RECALL. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS BLINKING NOW WHICH I AM TOLD MEANS THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WILL HOLD FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES AS THEY WON'T FIX THIS FAULTY SYSTEM.
BOTH REAR SPRINGS ON THE 1995 MERCURY MYSTIQUE BROKE IN SEVERAL PLACES. FRONT SPRINGS ARE RECALLED AS DEFECTIVE. REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE THE SAME PART NUMBER AND MANUFACTURE AS THE FRONT. HOW CAN ONE BE RECALLED AND NOT THE OTHER WHEN THEY ARE THE SAME ITEM AND MANUFACTURE. THIS IS VERY IRRESPONSIBLE ON THE PART OF MERCURY. *LA
WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS, ALL AT OUR EXPENSES. OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON I-90/94 IN WISCONSIN, AT 70 MPH, WHEN HER CAR LOST POWER AND SHE HAD TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. FORD THINKS THEY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING SOME CIRCUIT BOARD COMPONENT. IN AUGUST, 2001 THE FRONT, RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. LATER WE FOUND THAT WE HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE RECALL ON IT. ONE YEAR LATER A REAR COIL SPRING ALSO BROKE RIGHT OFF AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BUT THE REAR COILS WERE NOT UNDER RECALL SO WE HAD TO PAY FOR THAT OURSELVES. WE BELIEVE IT WAS INFERIOR MATERIALS BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE BEFORE, OF ANY MAKE OR MODEL WHERE THE COILS SPRINGS RUSTED AND BROKE OFF. DT
MOTOR KEPT OVERHEATING AND WAS CAUSED BY COOLING SYSTEM NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, ALSO THE RIGHT PASSENGER SPRING WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE, ARE THESE SPRINGS FAULTY? I PAID $1100 FOR THE HGEADS AND MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AND I AM GETTING AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE SPRING.
IN FEB 1999 WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR FAILURE OF THE FRONT SPRINGS ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT ORIGINALLY HAD BEEN SOLD IN A SNOW/COLD STATE. THE FRONT SPRINGS HAVE NOT FAILED. HOWEVER THERE WAS NOISE AND POOR HANDLING IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. INVESTIGATION BY A FORD DEALER IN TUCSON DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY FAILURE OF SPRINGS. THE DEALER RECOMENDED REPLACEMENT OF REAR STRUTS. THIS WORK WAS AUTHORIZED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY (ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC) UPON DISSASSEMBLY OF THE STRUT UNIT BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERRE FOUND TO BE BROKEN NEAR THE TOP. THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO CORROSION. I REQUESTED A MEETING WITH A FORD MOTOR CO REPRESENTATIVE TO SHOW THE FAILED SPRINGS AND RQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PARTS. MET WITH PAUL BERRADI. HE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE WAS A PROBLEM ALTHOUGH HE DID WRITE DOWN AND DOCUMENT THE FAILURE. HE ADVISED ME TO KEEP RECEIPTS TO CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT IF FORD EVER DID RECALL THE REAR SPRINGS. I HAVE THESE PAPERS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING COIL SPRING HAD BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RATTLE.*AK
I HAVE HAD THREE DIFFERENT WHEEL FAIL AT DIFFERENT TIMES STARTING AT 110,000 MILES. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE ONE KNOWLEDGE OF IT. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BUSHINGS ON THE LOWER CONTROLER ARMS FAIL.*AK
REAR COIL SPRING IS CORRODED, AND THERE IS NOISE REAR END. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
AFTER HAVING MY FRONT COIL SPRINGS REPLACED LAST YEAR, I NOW FIND THAT BOTH REAR COILS HAVE ALSO BROKEN. THE MANUFACTURER TELLS ME IT CAN ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER EVEN THOUGH IT HAD RECALLED THE FRONT COILS FOR DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS. A YEAR LATER, WHEN DRIVING HE HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE 3 TIMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND FRONT/BACK COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND NOT REAR ONES. CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE WOULD STILL BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IF REAR WAS NOT CORRECTED. *AK
I CONSIDER IT VERY UNUSUAL FOR A VEHICLE TO BREAK BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER.I HAD BOTH REPLACED AT MEINEKE MUFFLER AND BRAKES AT A COST OF APPROX. $230.00.*AK
WHILE DRIVING WOULD HEAR A ROCKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. THEN, STOPPED, AND FOUND OUT THAT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON OTHER THAN DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. VEHICLE NEVER OVERLOADED. OTHER SIMILAR FAILURES NOTED IN NHTSA DATABASE. MANUFACTURER REFUSES ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECT.
CONSUMER HEARD LOUD CLUNK WHEN DRIVING WITH ANY WEIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT, DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT TWO REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS COMPLETELY BROKEN. FORD HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, BUT REFUSES TO FIX THE REAR SPRINGS. I HAVE CONDUCTED MUCH RESEARCH AND HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 1995 MYSTIQUE. FAILURE TO FIX THE SPRINGS MAY RESULT IN A PUNCTURED TIRE.
THIS MERCURY MYSTIQUE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT. ALL OF THE RECALLS WERE SERVICED BY THE DEALER BUT I ALSO EXPERIENCED BOTH FRONT STRUTS BREAKING, THE FRONT SPRING BREAKING, THE FRONT ROTORS CRACKING AND THE LIST GOES ON. THE LAST STRAW WAS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 74,000. THE COMPLETE UNIT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $2,000!! I'VE READ THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS ON THE 95' MYSTIQUE AND IT'S MAKES ME WANT TO CRY. I WILL NEVER BY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN.
POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT IF BROKEN SPRING TEARS TIRE. DEALER'S TECHNICIAN ESTIMATES THAT HE HAS SEEN FIVE SIMILAR FAILURES ON MYSTIQUES IN THE PAST YEAR. *AK
LOUD "CLUNK" IN THE RIGHT REAR SPING WHEN ANY WEIGHT IS IN THE BACK SEAT. CONTACTED FORD COMPANY, WHO HAS A EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FRONT SPRINGS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD NO SUCH COVERAGE FOR THE REAR SPRING, ALTHOUGH THE SPRING ARE THE SAME AND CAN EXPERIENCE THE SAME CORRESION.
I HAVE REPLACED: ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, BLOWER MOTOR, BRAKES, NOW THE STRUTS ARE GOING OUT. THE CAR IS A LEMON!! *AK
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL.*AK
SUSPENSION BOLTS & COIL SPRINGS HAD RUSTED THROUGH & BROKE. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. HAD NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEMS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC REPAIRS CAN BE DONE. *AK
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN. NLM
BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. THE HEAVIEST ITEMS EVER CARRIED WERE 3 BAGS OF GROCERIES. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN 1999 REGARDING THE POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. I REQUESTED THEY BE REPLACED AT THE TIME BEFORE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT BUT FORD WOULDNT DO IT. THESE SPRINGS MUST BE MADE OF BAD STEEL. MY HUSBAND IS A MACHINIST/TOOL AND DIEMAKER AND LOOKED AT THE BROKEN SPRINGS AND CAN TELL THEY ARE CHEAP STEEL. IT COST US OVER $400.00 TO GET THE CAR FIXED. I WANT TO WRITE TO FORD MOTORS REGARDING THIS MATTER, WHO DO I WRITE TO,AT WHAT ADDRESS
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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