RoadVitals

1996 Mercury Mystique Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest May 7, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 185 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 15 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.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed May 7, 2007

FOR ALONG TIME THERE HAS BEEN BEARING CHANGES. I GAVE MY CAR TO A TENANT AND SHE WANTED IT TO GET INSPECTED, BUT SHE NEEDED BOTH FRONT SPRING COILS TO BE REPLACED. AND FOR A LONG TIME THE AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) BEARINGS HAVE BEEN BAD. IT IS GOING TO COST HER MUCH MONEY. CAN A CLAIM BE MADE BECAUSE OF A RECALL?*AK

NHTSA ID
10189960
Incident
May 7, 2007
Mileage
185,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 23, 2005

1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE(68,000). FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD WHAT THEY REFERRED TO AS A "PROGRAM", EVIDENTLY FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SPRINGS.THE PROGRAM WAS BASICALLY A FREE INSPECTION. MY CAR WAS INSPECTED IN 2002 WHILE IT WAS IN FOR ANOTHER RECALL, AT WHICH TIME IT WAS GIVEN A PASSING GRADE.THE PROGRAM EXPIRED @ 150,000 OR DEC. OF 2004 WHICHEVER CAME FIRST.IN FEBRUARY 2005 A 6" CHUNCK OF THE PASS. SIDE SPRING SNAPPED OFF, LUCKILY ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. I HEARD THE NOISE AND WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE PIECE FROM THE STREET.ON CLOSE INSPECTION THE PIECE DID NOT BREAK DUE TO CORROSION.I BELIEVE IT WAS DUE TO POOR MATERIAL QUALITY, MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD CAUSE TIRE FAILURE AT HIGHER RATES OF SPEED RESULTING IN POSSIBLE FATALIIES. FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE THE SPRING.*AK

NHTSA ID
10114555
Incident
Feb 26, 2005
Mileage
67,975 mi
SuspensionVisibility
Filed Mar 23, 2001

CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THAT FOR NO APPARENT REASON WINDSHIELD HAS DEVELOPED A STRESS FRACTUR. ALSO , WHEN DRIVING THERE IS VIBRATION COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE, AND HEATER BLOWER SWTICH WAS INOPERABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
883912
Suspension
Filed Jan 4, 2001

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98M04, NHTSA RECALL NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO RECALL JOB BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE SPRING COIL MUST HAVE BEEN EITHER RUSTED OR BROKEN TO QUALITY FOR RECALL FIXING. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS CONDERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY. *YH

NHTSA ID
877375
Suspension
Filed Dec 30, 2000

NEED TOO RECALL THE STABILIZER BAR FRONT /AND LINKS FRONT AND BACK.

NHTSA ID
738518
Suspension
Filed Dec 30, 2000

WHEM BAR BREAKS IT BREAKS THE LINK, AND WEARS THE TIRES DOWN FAST. *AK

NHTSA ID
738517
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 14, 2000

THE CAR HAS HAD A HISTORY OF SUSPENSION, LINKAGE AND BEARING FAILURES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. MERCURY DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS HAVE NOT BEEN HELPFUL. THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALER EXPLAINED TO ME OFF THE RECORD THAT THESE CARS HAVE A HISTORY OF FRONT END FAILURES HOWEVER, THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. YOU ARE INVITED TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR AND EXPERIENCE THE VIBRATION AND POOR HANDLING TO ASSIT YOU IN YOUR INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ID
731487
Incident
Jan 12, 2000
Suspension
Filed Sep 10, 2000

I WHOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT MY CAR I HAVE TALKED TO TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO I DONT EVEN KNOW THAT DRIVE THE SAME CAR I HAVE. FRIST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY MY WHOLE FRONT END VIBRATES WHEN WE SIT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SING IN PARK OR REVERSE. ALSO EVERYTIME IT RAINS OR WE WASH OUR CAR AND THEN OPEN THE TRUNK WATER POURS OUT OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. AND MY WIRE HARNESS IS MELTED AND THE WIRES ARE BURNED UP, WE HAVE NO POWER MIRRORS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO. WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER IN SHARON PA AND GOT IT LOOKED AT $840.00 TO REPAIR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. I HAVE 3 MORE YEARS TO PAY ON THIS CAR. WE WERE TOLD TO DRIVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, DUE TO A POSSIBLE FIRE. THAT IS VERY HARD TO DO WHEN IT IS YOUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I WOULD REALLY LIKE IF YOU COULD HELP US OUT. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE YEAR 1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE IS A BIG DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID
730963
Incident
Aug 8, 2000
Suspension
Filed Sep 5, 2000

WHEN CONSUMER HAS AIR CONDITIONER ON AND IF HE PULLS UP TO A STOP SIGN VEHICLE SHAKE AND VIBRATES REAL BADLY. HE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ID
869598
Incident
Jul 1, 2000
Body & structureSuspensionVisibility
Filed Jan 13, 2000

RAIN WATER CONTINUALLY SEEPS INTO THE TRUNK AREA CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SHORT. YH

NHTSA ID
550409
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
BrakesSuspension
Filed Oct 5, 1999

WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH OR ABOVE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOW., DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
849909
Suspension
Filed Sep 17, 1999

BROKEN STOP CAUSES SWAY BAR TO MOVE AND RUB ON FRONT CONTOL ARM CAUSING VIBRATION AND POSSIBLE STEERING DIFFICULTY!

NHTSA ID
711510
Incident
Jan 15, 1999
SuspensionVisibility
Filed Feb 9, 1999

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN IN DRIVE AND STOPS AT RED LIGHT. ALSO WHEN HEATER FAN IS ON WE GET A BAD OIL FUMES/SMELLS . WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERS 7OR 8 TIMES . THEY STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE SMELL SOMETIMES GETS VERY BAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
703113
SuspensionTransmission
Filed Sep 17, 1998

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED. DEALER CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND IS NOT AWARE OF ANY REMEDIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
827977
Incident
Apr 30, 1998
Suspension
Filed Oct 31, 1997

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP THE CAR MAKES A LOUD POPPING NOISE. DEALER HAS CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
818083

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .