Suspension. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports7 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

231 reports

102,281 miles · May 8, 2006

Seat Belts

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. IN ORDER TO FASTEN THE BELTS, THEY MUST BE UNTANGLED BEFORE BEING FASTED BECAUSE THE BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. THE MATERIAL HAS BECOME DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE TO RETRACT WHEN NOT IN USE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ODI #10157002

112,000 miles · Jan 12, 2006

Exterior Lighting

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 …

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NHTSA ODI #10147635

76,500 miles · Dec 27, 2005

Electrical System

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VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT HAY-WIRE, CAR STARTING HESITATING, AND SLAMMING FROM GEAR TO GEAR. TOOK TO A SERVICE CENTER THAT ADVISED ME THAT IT HAD A BAD SENSOR. PAID CLOSE TO $800.00 TO HAVE REPLACED. CAR STARTED WITH MORE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. (IE: LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO ON, ETC) TOOK BACK TO SERVICE CENTER THAT THEN ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE CAR WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSES THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO SHORT CIRCUIT. THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND WIRING ON CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE REDONE COSTING CLOSE TO $3000.00. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, THAT IT WOULD BE JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAR WOULD CATCH FIRE. DID NOT HAVE $$ TO MAKE REPAIR, CONTINUED TO DRIVE CAR HAVING NO OTHER OPTION WITH A BABY, AND YOUNG CHILD THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN TO SCHOOL, ETC. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DAYS LATER, THE CAR WENT FROM 75 MPH TO 10 MPH LIKE HITTING A WALL. ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED AND HAD TO EXIT, DRIVING HOME AT 10 MPH THE WHOLE WAY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146141

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2005

Electrical System

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN #01V230000 CONCERNING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE *AK

NHTSA ODI #10144130

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2005

EquipmentVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE VEHICLE RECENTLY BEGAN RUNNING ABNORMALLY. SO IN INSPECTION OF THIS, I DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLES ACCELERATION IS BEING RAISED WITHOUT ME EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS. I WAS ON THE ROAD AND MY VEHICLE WAS SPEEDING UP ON IT'S OWN AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY. IT SEEMS AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS CO…

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NHTSA ODI #10143439

30,000 miles · Oct 14, 2005

Electrical System

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DT: THE CONTACT WAS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. SHE SAID THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. SHE HAD IT LOOKED AT, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS IN THE WIRING. SHE SAID WHEN THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. A MECHANIC TOLD HER THE WIRES WERE BAD, AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE WAS TOLD THIS BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS. SHE FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL 01V230000 ON THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER TOLD HER THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. MANUFACTURER SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10139667

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2005

Electrical SystemPower TrainSuspension

THE TRANS IS OUT NOT WORKING. IT WORKED FINE,AND JUST STOP,MADE A FUNNY NOISE AND JUST STOPED. IPULLED IN MY YARD.KNOW IT WANT MOVE.FOR KNOW REASON.

NHTSA ODI #10133485

67,000 miles · Aug 10, 2005

Seat BeltsCrashInjury

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DT: CONTACT' SSON SEAT BELT BROKE DURING AN ACCIDENT AND HE WAS EJECTED FROM THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED ON 7-7-05. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. SHE TOOK PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT. SHE TOOK PICTURES OF THE SEAT BELT ITSELF. THE CLIP THAT WENT INTO THE BUCKLE WAS MISSING SOME OF ITS PARTS AND THE BUCKLE WAS BENT. HE WAS HIT ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE CAR AND TOTALED THE CAR. HE WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 30 MPH. HE BROKE HIS NECK, HAD SEVEN BROKEN RIBS AND PUNCTURED HIS LUNG AND HAS A BROKEN COLLAR BONE. THE VEHICLE WAS A 1998 AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND THE MOTHER STATES ALL OF THE RECALLS THAT WERE SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE CAR WERE DONE AND SHE HAS ALL OF THE RECORDS ON IT. SHE HAS NOT YET CONTACTED THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT AND SHE BELIEVES THAT THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT BROKE .*AK

NHTSA ODI #10132194

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2005

Fuel System, Gasoline

DT: WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE THE PUMP TO THE GASOLINE TANK KEPT CUTTING OFF. WHEN THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO PUMP THE GASOLINE IT LEAKED ONTO THE PAVEMENT AND CAME OUT OF THE OPENING OF THE FILLER TANK. IT TOOK ALMOST 30 MINUTES TO PUT HALF A TANK OF GASOLINE INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER YET. …

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NHTSA ODI #10127793

120,000 miles · Jun 20, 2005

Electrical SystemFire

DT: WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH. I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OPENED THE HOOD AND THE FIRST THING I SAW WAS FIRE COMING FROM BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED JUST FIVE AFTER I PULLED OVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS, LOOKED AT TEMP GAUGE AND EVERYTHING WAS FI…

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NHTSA ODI #10120758

Official recalls

01V255000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Aug 8, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY FRACTURE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION IN HIGH CORROSION ENVIRONMENTS. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CATCHER BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 23, 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 1-866-436-7332.

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.

99V243000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Sep 8, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WIRING PIGTAIL INSULATION CAN BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACK OVER TIME DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF WATER IN THE PIGTAIL PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES RELATED TO THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING PIGTAIL NEAR THE RADIATOR. THIS CAN RESULT IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACKING OF THE INSULATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISABLED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AIR BAG SENSORS WITH REVISED WIRING INSULATION. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WILL HAVE A NEW AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR INSTALLED.

99V194000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Jul 20, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A BURR ON OR NEAR THE END OF THE CABLE SLEEVE INTERIOR. THIS BURR COULD FRAY THE CORE WIRE RESULTING IN THE ACCELERATOR NOT RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE STICKING, BINDING, OR CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPM.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED ACCELERATOR CABLE THAT HAS A FLARED CONDUIT SLEEVE END AND MOLDED ON END FITTING.

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.

98V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

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