Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Mercury Mystique submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 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 41, in the owner's own words
THE VEHICLE RAN ROUGH WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THIS CONDITION CAUSED A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
HEAD GASKET FAILURE. COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING, FLASHED AND CONSTANT. I GUESS WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT FORD IS RIGHT FOUND ON ROAD DEAD FIX OR REPAIR DAILY OUCH
I REPLACED MY TIMING BELT LAST YEAR, AND AGAIN IT FAILED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I REALLY FEEL THAT TIMING BELTS DO NOT WEAR OUT THIS FAST, UNLESS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING. THIS TIME IT WAS STORMING, AND I LEFT THE FLASHERS ON, AND HAD TO WALK 2 MILES IN THE COUNTRY TO GET TO MY TRUCK TO TOW MY CAR HOME. IN THE MEAN TIME, THE CAR WAS TOWED. SO I GUESS THIS WAS A REPORT TO THE POLICE. *LA
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PERSISTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *DT * JB
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM WATER PUMP FAILURE CAUSING A VEHICLE FIRE. *AK
A MALFUNCTIONED WATER PUMP RESULTED IN A VEHICLE FIRE. *AK
I GOT IN MY CAR AFTER WORK NOTICE MY WINDOWS JUST FOG UP GOT HOM NEXT DAY BROUGHT THE CAR DOWN TO A GARAGE THEY SEEM NOT INTERSTED IN IT, BUT THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE WATER PUMP AND SAID IT WOULD COST OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS ALL MY WARRANYS ARE UP BUT ARE MAKING PAYMENTS ON A CAR I CAN,T DRIVE AND BELIVE IT IS A RECALL PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIX COULD PLEASE HELP ALSO THE POWER ARM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LET GO ALSO WHICH CAUSED MY DOOR WINDOW TO CARSH DOWN AND BREAK THAT I PAID ABOUT$385.00 TO BE FIX PLUS THE COST OF THE GLASS. *AK
SIDE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO THERMOSTAT SHORTED OUT. *AK
THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK. THERE IS RECALL 99V247000 CONCERNING FUEL FILLER PIPE VENT HOSE, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED. *AK
THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THE VEHICLE IS THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE AND I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ALONG WITH THE CAR. THE WARRANTY COMPANY, WYNN'S OIL COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I AM STILL QUALIFIED FOR THE WARRANTY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS, WITH EXEMPTIONS OF DEDUCTABLE. I REALLY NEED HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM WITHOUT THE USE OF A VEHICLE THAT I AM STILL LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR. PLEASE HELP!!*AK
TOOK VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR RECALL OF ENGINE COOLING FAN MOTOR. THEY CHECKED AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, HOWEVER A FUSE WAS BLOWN AND THEY DID REPLACE THE FUSE. THIS TELLS ME THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE FUSE TO NEED REPLACING. APPROX. 3 WEEKS LATER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNS, WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THE CAR STOPPED. THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND TOTALLY MELTED THE ENGINE COMPONENTS. THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED. I FEEL THAT THERE OBVIOUSLY WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING FAN AND THE RESULT WAS EXACTLY AS THE RECALL WARNED FOR THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. I HAVE CALLED FORD WITH NO RESULTS. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. PLEASE ADVISE. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE?*AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
AIR CONDITIONER INDICATOR IS NOT ILLUMINATING ON DASH WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. ALSO, DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF PURCHASE PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING . CONSUMER WAS AWARE THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THAT PROBLEM, BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO VIN. PROBLEMS WITH RADIATOR ALSO OCCURRED, AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THAT PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE VIN# DID NOT APPLY TO THAT RECALL EITHER. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT DEALER. DEALER WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE SEVERE ENGINE PROBLEMS THAT SHE EXPERIENCED WAS DUE TO THE CAUSE OF A FAULTY WATER PUMP, ALSO ENGINE RUNS ROUGH.*JB
VEHICLE STALLED, WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF HOOD, AND THERE WAS A COOLANT SMELL, DEALER REPLACED BATTERY, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT AND BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT REPLACED VEHICLE OVERHEATED CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW CAUSING COOLANT TO GO INTO THE CYLINDER. *SLC
00V 367 00/ENGINE COOLING FAN: ENGINE COOLING FAN WAS ON FIRE WHILE PULLING IN PARKING SPACE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK
FIRST ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY, DEALERSHIP FAILED TO ACKNOWLEGE ENGINE FAILURE AND INSISTED THE PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY. ENGINE FAILED AGAIN AFTER PICKING UP CAR FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER THEY HAD IT 3 DAYS. HEAD GASKET WAS REPAIRED AND ENGINED FAILED AGAIN. FORD REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE WAS THEN PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE CONSUMER THEN NOTICED SMOKE AND A HORRIBILE SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER WAS THEN ADVISED THAT ONLY A BATTERY WAS NEEDED AND SAID NOTHING ELSE WAS WRONG, AFTER THREE DAYS OF DEALERSHIP HAVING THE VEHICLE AND NOT TRYING TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE THE SMELL AND SMOKE CONSUMER PICKED VEHICLE UP, ON THE WAY HOME THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AFTER THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPAIRED, THE ENGINE STILL SOUNDED BAD, SO CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SHOP AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CYLINDER WAS BAD, CONSUMER THEN TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP THAT REPAIRED THE HEAD GASKET AND WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT CYLINDER WAS BAD, ON THE WAY HOME THE ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACED THE BATTERY,DEALERSHIP TOLD CUSTOMER THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAD REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG, DEALERSHIP STATES THEY ONLY DID WHAT THEY WERE TOLD TO DO AND THAT WAS TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. *JB
I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE STALLING WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPS EXCEEDS 85 DEGREES AND THE A/C IS ON. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER TAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE CLUCH IS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE IS ALLOWED TO IDLE. THE ENGINE INTERMITTENLY WILL IMMEDIATELY STALL. THIS CAUSES A PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AND POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A DAY WHEN TEMPS ARE OVER 85. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 1997. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR 4 TIMES AND HAS TRIED FIXING THE A/C TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THE I NEED TO BRING THE CAR IN WHILE IT IS STALLING?
VEHICLE HUMS AND CUTS OFF. PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE PURCHASE. ENGINE & FAN LIGHT CAME ON. EACH TIME VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER. DEALER CAN'T FIND A REMEDY.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE 2 YEARS AFTER CAR WAS PURCHASED, ENGINE REPLACED 2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY BROKE 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE OF CAR. CAR DRIVES EXTREMELY HOT - TO NEAR OVER HEATING POINT. TRUNK LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONING. INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED (WAS FIXED BEFORE RECALL). CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY EVEN AFTER TUNE UP/ MAJOR WORK DONE.
RECALL 99V247000/FUEL VENT HOSE: VEHICLE EXPERIECING FUEL/FUME LEAKAGES WHEN REFUELING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THATWAS NOT COVER UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT INDICATION. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON FOR DAYS. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE FIVE TIMES. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *YH
THE WATER PUMP IMPELLER WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND BROKE UP INTO PIECES CAUSING $2000 IN DAMAGE, BECAUSE THE RESULTING OVERHEATED ENGINE WARPED THE VALVE HEADS. THE CAR NEED TO HAVE THE HEAD REMILLED AND NEW MULTIPLE GASKETS. THE WATER PUMP IMPLELLER IN MY OPINION SHOULD NEVER HAD BEEN MADE OF PLASTIC AND WAS APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE.
WE TOOK THIS CAR TO THE DEALER IN MAY OF 1999 BECAUSE THE THROTTLE SEEMED TO STICK, THEN BREAK FREE, CAUSING TO CAR TO LURC FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. THEY KEPT THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM SO THEY ERTURNED IT TO US AND CHARGED US OVER $100. EVER SINCE THE THROTTLE WOULD SOMETIMES FEEL ROUGH IN ABOUT ONE HALF TO ONE INCH OF TRAVEL BUT THEN WOULD BE SMOOTH AS SILK. IN FEB WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE SMOG CHECK AND THE SERVICE PERSON FINISHED THE TEST AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT SAT STILL, THE ENGINE AT IDLE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. HE SHIFTED IT BACK AND FORTH THEN SUDDENLY IT SHOT OUT OF THE STALL WITHOUT WARNING. HE SAID HE HAD PUSHED ON THE FOOT PEDAL BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THEN ON MARCH 14, 2000, I WAS TRAVELING AT A STEADY SPEED OF 50 MILES PER HOUR FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES WHEN I DECIDED TO ACCELERATE TO 55, THE THROTTLE STUCK TIGHT. I PUSHED VERY HARD BUT NOTHING HAPPENED FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS, THEN SUDDENLY IT RELEASED AND MY SPEED INCREASED. AT THIS POINT WE CANNOPT AFFORD TO PAY FORD $100 EVERY TIME WE TAKE THIS IN AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. I'M SURE IT IS A THROTTLE PROBLEM. THE SMOG MECHANIC THINKS IT MAY ALSO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH A SWITCH ON THE TRANSMISSION, AS HE SAID WHEN IT DID IT TO HIM HE MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER BACK AND FOR AND PUSHED ON THE FOOT PEDAL AND IT DID NOT INCREASE IN SPEED NOR DID IT MOVE. IS THERE SOME KIND OF RECALL HAVING TO DO WITH EITHER OF THESE PROBLEMS? THE DEALER DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK SO. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. IT HAS BEEN AND ON GOING THING. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS IT IS WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF SCARY OCCURRENCES. ONCE AT A STOP SIGN I PULLED UP STOPPED SAW THAT IT WAS CLEAR, PRESS ON THE FOOT PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED, THE CAR SAT STILL AT IDLE, NO REVING JUST IDLE. I THOUGHT MY FOOT WAS CAUGHT ON THE CARPET SO I PUSHED AGAIN, STILL NOTHING SO I THOGHT MAYBE THE FLOOR MAT HAD GOTTEN CAUGHT UNDER THE PEDAL, JUST AS I WAS REACHING DOWN TO PULL ON FLOOR MAT CAR SHOT FORWARD. AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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