Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

9 reports

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75,000 miles · Feb 2, 2009

Power Train

THE VEHICLE IS NOT SHIFTING INTO THE PROPER GEARS. IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING ONE DAY. IT HAS TO BE IN DRIVE 2 AT THE START OF DRIVING AND WHEN IT GETS TO A CERTAIN POINT IT MUST BE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THIS OCCURS EVERYTIME I DRIVE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AS OF YET TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257128

94,000 miles · Nov 9, 2006

Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

Read full complaint

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE OVERDRIVE ACTIVATED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE A CERTIFIED MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE SENSOR OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #98V233000, REGARDING THE POWERTRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: FLOOR SHIFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. ALSO, THE CLOCK LIGHT ON THE INSRUMENT PANEL WENT PERMANENTLY OUT. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT LOCATED ON TOP OF THE REAR WINDOW WOULD ILLUMINATE IN A DISTORTED PATTERN. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WAS MADE UP OF 9 MINI LIGHTS, AND 3 LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP WHILE BRAKING. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, 4 OR 5 LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #99V103000 REGARDING EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS: SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ODI #10173033

30,000 miles · Oct 8, 2006

Power Train

RECALL ON 1997 MERCURY MYSTIQUE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 48V233000. POWER TRAIN. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER AND LINKAGE FLOOR SHIFT. DEALER REFUSING TO HONOR RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170229

44,000 miles · Aug 16, 2005

Power Train

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 98V233000. THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO MY 1997 MERCURY MYSTIQUE, THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR IS DETERIORATE AND IS NOT CORRECTLY INDICATING THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANY THING ABOUT IT! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10132995

50,000 miles · Apr 28, 2004

Power Train

GEAR SHIFTER INDICATOR MALFUNCTIONS, AND DOESN'T INDICATE THE GEAR THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN. THERE IS A SHIFT LEVER DAMAGE RECALL 98V233000, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10071755

83,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004

Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE IN MOTION. T WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10069177

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2001

Power Train

GEAR SHIFT IS BEGINNING TO FALL APART, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IN WHICH GEAR VEHICLE IS IN. THERE IS RECALL LISTED 98V23300 FOR THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #888493

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001

Power Train

VEHICLE WILL JUMP OUT OF GEAR. ALSO, RECALL 98V233000 DEALS SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCULDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #885434

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

RADIO / CD DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607493

Official recalls

01V230000 · Electrical System

Jul 9, 2001

ON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLANTS, THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR AND, DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE OPEN CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT COULD MELT THE CONNECTOR HOUSING MATERIAL CREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

00V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Mar 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.

99V103000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

May 5, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN DISTORTION OF THE TERMINAL CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, PARKING LAMP, AND TAIL LAMP CIRCUITS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLAMP SWITCH WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAINING BRONZE TERMINALS AND AN INSPECTION, AND REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY, OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH.

98V233000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 18, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FLOOR SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL CAN BE DAMAGED IF SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN INTERIOR CLEANING PRODUCTS. THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR CAN DETERIORATE AND NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗