Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Mercury Mystique owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Ford has refused to replace the wiring harness in my 1995 Mercury Mystique because: the extended warranty for this vehicle expired in jun 2005 (10 years from 'in service' date. I have owned the vehicle since nov 2003 and never received a recall notice. Ford states a letter was sent to a previous owner. I cannot verify this and really view it as irrelevant since the harness was never accomplished on this vehicle. Is Ford not required to locate and notify subsequent owners of such a recall if the remedy has never been applied to the subject vehicle. Surely Ford would keep records of remedies applied or not applied? The defective harness has rendered this vehicle completely unuseable, it now sits in the front yard. I cannot afford the repairs on my own (I'm a single mother with a 3 year old). I cannot sell the vehicle in it's present inoperable state. …
While driving and without warning vehicle caught on fire under the hood. Dealership was notified, vehicle was serviced. However, vehicle was continued to be used, miles later vehicle became inoperable. The engine cooling fan motor and wire harness caught on fire, dealer replaced the engine cooling fan assembly and main fuse, dealer also repaired the burnt wiring, 2 years later, consumer received recalls 00V367, 99m03, 99m06, 00s44/00m13 and 00s44, consumer has not been reimbursed for any of the repairs. Dealer replaced right rear weather stripping and reinstalled mold around the handle due to the weather strip bowing. Tape player would not eject. Vehicle was hard to steer, especially when raining, dealer could not duplicate problem. Front brake pads were replaced and rotors were machined due to vibration when braking. …
Wiring harness in the vehicle failed and caused a fire that burned the car to the ground. I see that on the recall page that there is a recall that indicates that the vehicle could overheat and start a fire. This vehicle nearly burned down a house and another vehicle when the fire occurred. The fire marshall advised that there is a magnesium coupler in the steering column that once it ignites it is basically impossible to extinguish. Help.
Tl*- the contact owns a 1995 Mercury Mystique with a current odometer reading of 149,000 miles. The contact stated that the wiring insulation cracked and left the wires exposes, which could cause short circuits. The contact stated that there was an owner notification about this problem, but the manufacturer never fixed the vehicle, and the campaign expired. Several electrical items under this problem started to fail.
Vehicle stalled at 35 MPH and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealership. The mechanic determined insulation on the wiring harness had deteriorated and caused a short. Multiple shorts occurred as the insulation throughout the wiring harness had badly deteriorated. The engine stalled twice. It was determined that the entire wiring harness needed to be replaced.
I was told the wiring harness on my 1995 Mercury Mystique has failed. The car only has 72,000 miles. It started with the traction control and ABS systems failing. It has now spread to the engine and transmission. The car is now undrivable. My Ford dealer told me this failure is becoming a problem on the Ford contour/Mercury Mystique models. Is there any recourse I can take?
Coating on electrical wires failing. Most if not all wires exposed. Est. Of repair is $800.00. Similar cases are odi # 848119, 8017443, 780255 (no fire). The repair shop that I have received est. Stated this is the 2nd car in as many weeks with the same problem.
Electrical system suddenly failed while driving to work. Only the interior lights would operate and the emergency flashers would not come on for safety. When gearshift was put into "park" it would not come out because interlock is electrically activated (car could not be pushed to safe location out of traffic). Several heavy guage red wires that connect to battery positive terminal (and run underneath the battery) lost insulation and shorted out causing abrupt loss of electric power to all items except interior lights. Ford sent letter 10/1999 extending warranty for "certain" underhood wiring harnesses that could experience insulation cracking and failure, but will not accept warranty claim for my situation. I feel this is a very unsafe condition (the car stalled with absolutetly no warning) and May exist on other mystiques and contours. …
Vehicle was taken to the Mercury dealer at 45396 and 56249 miles due to frequently running at the farthest side of nornal on engine temperature gauge (almost in the red danger zone) especially when on hills or in the mountains. We were told "the car is meant to run hot." no remedy was suggested by the dealer either time. At 53486 miles, a technician at an independent smog station said he had never seen a car run so hot. He ran a fan on the engine during the smog test. This is why the car was taken back to the dealer for a check of the engine running hot at 56249 miles. On 10/17/99, the car lost power while on the freeway and came to a halt at the side of the road., steam was coming from under the hood. The car did not restrart. Diagnosis at a nearby independent station revealed: vehicle had been severely overheated. …
Problem with fan motor LED to our taking vehicle into dealer. Their inspection revealed severe deterioration to wiring harness insulation which service manager said might lead to a fire hazard. Ford area rep contacted and offered $1,500 payment toward $2,500 bill. This all took place yesterday, June 10, 1999. I did not authorize any replacement to be done pending further conversation with Ford and request that they replace defective wiring harness at no charge to me. Please also note that in June 1998, I completed and filed another vehicle owner's questionanaire, this time having to do with defective wiring relating to the ABS system. I received no response from that from dot or Ford. This problem, having to do with defective weatherproof covering on the 22 pin electrical connector that controls ABS and traction control circuits and causes inadvertent braking. …
NHTSA investigations
Blower switch/resistor or wiring harness
There is no summary currently available
Blower switch/resistor or wiring harness
There is no summary currently available
Electrical complaints in other Mystique years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1995 Mercury Mystique?
NHTSA has 73 complaints about the electrical system of the 1995 Mercury Mystique, 22% of the model year's 335 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › front underhood (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Mercury Mystique electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1995 Mercury Mystique, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1995 Mercury Mystique electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 92,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 6 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.