RoadVitals

1998 Mercury Mystique Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
18
Latest Jan 6, 2016
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 231 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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Mercury Mystique submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 exterior lighting

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

Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 6, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10818563
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
58,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 29, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FOR THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL #99V103000 REGARDING EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10174724
Incident
Nov 29, 2005
Mileage
145,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 12, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THIS COMPONENT HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND FAILED A SECOND TIME. THERE IS NHTSA RECALL, CAMPAIGN 99V103000, REGARDING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10147635
Incident
Jan 12, 2006
Mileage
112,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 23, 2004

WE PURCHASED A FORD MERCURY VEHICLE, USED, AND FOUND IT HAD NO TAIL LIGHTS. WE IDENTIFIED A RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY SAID THE RECALL WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND FOUND IT HAD ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, WITH THE DEFECT STILL PRESENT. FORD REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL, CITING THAT IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. THE BROKEN PART WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND HAD THE CITED PROBLEM IN THE RECALL NOTICE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10082545
Incident
May 20, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 20, 2004

CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THE PLASTIC LENS OVER THE HEADLIGHT ARE DISCOLORING AND CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *LA

NHTSA ID
10083271
Incident
Apr 15, 2004
Mileage
123,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 2, 2003

BOTH HEADLIGHT LENS ASSEMBLIES HAVE BECOME CLOUDY/HAZY, SO THE LIGHT EMITTED IS GREATLY REDUCED, CREATING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. REPLACEMENT COST IS $400 PLUS LABOR. I FEEL FORD SHOULD COVER THIS, AS THE ASSEMBLIES ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10037029
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
Mileage
42,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 8, 2002

WHEN EVER IT HAS BEEN RAINING OR THERE IS HEAVY DEW OUTSIDE, RAIN OR MOISTURE WOULD ENTER THE REAR LIGHTS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS INFORMED EACH TIME IT WAS THE FACTORY SEALANT THAT HAD FAILED. THE SEALANT CAN NOT BE RESEALED. WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM. TS

NHTSA ID
8022513
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 18, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF DASHBOARD. CONSUMER HAS RESEARCHED, THERE IS RECALL 99V103000 FOR HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS. HOWEVER, RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
8014202
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 16, 2002

AFTER RAIN TAIL LIGHT FILL ED UP WITH WATER AND CRACKED LENS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
8007682
BrakesInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Dec 18, 2001

HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN DRIVING, AND THERE ARE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBACK WILL NOT STAY UP. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8000887
Incident
Dec 17, 2001
Exterior lightingSuspension
Filed Oct 5, 2000

VEHICLE HAS A CONSTANT RATTLE UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555440
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 5, 2000

DIRECTIONAL LAMP SOCKET KEEPS BLOWING BULBS. WHEN USING T BLINKER SYSTEM, RIGHT SIDE LIGHT FLICKERS VERY FAST BEFORE THE BULB BLOWS. DEAELR HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
869535
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 27, 2000

INTERIOR LIGHT HARNESS JUST BROKE OFF AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THERE WAS NO APPLIED FORCE TO THE HARNESS, AND THE FORCE IT HIT ME WITH CAUSED ME TO MOMENTARILY LOOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. THE PART SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO CHEAPLY BUILT.

NHTSA ID
729263
Incident
Aug 7, 2000
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance+2 more
Filed Apr 27, 2000

CONSUMER IS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE NUMBER (6) OF RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ID
552002
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Apr 25, 2000

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA RECALLS 00V075000 AND 99V103000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALLS 99S14 AND 00203 CONCERNING ABS BRAKES AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE RECALL PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
860879
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 23, 2000

THERE IS WATER IN THE TAIL LIGHTS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
857391
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 2, 2000

RECALL COMPONENT (HEADLIGHT SWITCH)REPAIR CANNOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS (99S14). NLM

NHTSA ID
550852
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 30, 1999

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 399V103000. CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON DATE GIVEN. THE REMEDY FAILED. HAVE NO TAILLIGHTS. THE RIGHT TAILLIGHT WOULD FLASH ON/OFF ON ITS OWN. HAD NO PROBLEM UNTIL RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
849472
Incident
Sep 16, 1999

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 .