Most common 1999 Mercury Mystique problems
Share of the 128 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercury Mystique complaints by model year
Best Mystique years: 2000, 1997, 1999. Years to avoid: 1995, 1998, 1996. Compare all years →
1999 Mercury Mystique recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
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.
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.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles built with automatic transmissions which utilize a park/lock solenoid. It is possible to rotate the ignition key to the lock position and remove the key without the shift lever and transmission being in park. These vehicles do not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles. Vehicles that have units with ignition keys removable in gear positions other than park, will have the steering column replaced.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1999 Mercury Mystique:
Blower switch/resistor or wiring harness
There is no summary currently available
Instrument panel cover warpage
The agency has denied a petition requesting an investigation of instrument panel warpage for the subject vehicles. The notice of denial was published in the federal register, volume 72, number 67, on Monday, April 9, 2007, pages 17605 and 17606.see document search for details.
What 1999 Mercury Mystique owners say
Body & structure all 28 →
The vehicle was rear ended while at a stop light by an 18-wheeler truck. The most obvious problem is that the bumper is so rounded that the truck's fender rode up on the bumper and did most of the damage to the trunk/tail light area. I bring this to your attention because I do not believe anyone has looked into the problem of large rounded (plastic) bumpers and their ability to absorb impact. Unless hit exactly in the middle, the other bumper will either ride up or below the rounded bumper causing much more extensive damage. This is much more serious than testing previously done with bumpers hitting a flat wall or a post sticking out of the ground. I would like to see testing done showing the effects of a rounded bumper hitting a rounded bumper, just slightly high or low. I believe the results would be much more extensive, expensive and astounding. …
1. Dash warp causes visibility problems, defroster malfunction, loose trim. I drove over a seam in the roadway at an overpass (small bump) & the vent trim popped loose. This is simply an aging issue as there was no unusual event. My car is a 1999 Mercury Mystique, but this issue is also prevalent on the Ford 1999 & 2000 contour, and some 1998 models with the newer style dash. 2. The trim popped loose from the dash while commuting on I-95 to work. The vent trim came to rest in front of the air bag & on my arms as I drove, but fortunately did not cause an accident. 3. The vent trim was placed loosely onto the dash so the defroster would still be usable, but the warped dash prevents it from being properly secured. A new vent trim will not fix this problem. There was an old recall which included a 'repair kit', but it has expired. I would like to see the recall re-instated.
Brakes all 21 →
Tl contact owns a 1999 Mercury Mystique. The brake pedal extended to the floor when it was depressed. The contact attempted to exit the driveway at 2 MPH, but the vehicle failed to stop. She had to continuously apply pressure to the brake pedal in order for the vehicle to stop. She inspected the vehicle and noticed brake fluid leaking from underneath. She also noticed that the brake line and chassis were excessively rusted. The dealer stated that because there was no recall, they would not assume any financial responsibility for the repair. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 206,000. Updated 09/10/08. Updated 09/12/08.
Heater did not work properly. Vehicle was taken to dealer, and the blower switch was replaced. Also, consumer heard a loud squealing sound when depressing the brakes. Rotors were replaced on both sides of the vehicle. The dashboard began to rise up from the dashboard mount. Dealer had not yet resolved the dashboard problem. Manufacturer would be informed of the myriad of problems consumer was having.
Engine & cooling
My check engine light came on and the diagnostic code says that the catalytic converter was defective, even though it is supposed to be covered by an 8 year 80,000 mile warranty I have been stone walled by earnhardt Ford in arizona in getting it fixed. I have already had to replace 4 o2 sensors at my expense in the last 6 months. When my engine light came on the first time I took the car into my mechanic who said the code was for the catalytic converter and that it would be covered by my warranty so I should contact a Ford dealer. I called a Ford dealer and they said call a Mercury dealer, when I called the Mercury dealer they said the light had to be on or they wouldn't fix the problem. …
We purchased this vehicle in 2001. We were told that an elderly woman got the accelerator stuck and she ran into a tree. Thus, they put a brand new engine in the vehicle. So, we got this great new car with only 1,000 miles on the new engine. We have since replaced the idler pulley three times and the tension pulley once. Ford says that they knew that this is a continual problem with these cars once the head has been removed. I can't believe they would risk stranding people instead of taking responsibility for fixing their problem. For example: Ford had my car for 2 weeks while I was on vacation. They fixed the idler pulley, the serpentine belt and cover, and the oil pump. That same day I got my car back I was driving home and not even 12 miles from town the car broke down again and it was the exact same problem they had my car in the repair shop for 2 weeks. …
1999 Mercury Mystique engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 31 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Mercury Mystique a good car?
Based on 128 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Mystique rates average: 29% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Mystique at the same age. It is one of the best Mystique years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Mercury Mystique?
The body & structure — 28 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the brakes (21) and engine & cooling (16).
How many recalls does the 1999 Mercury Mystique have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1999 Mercury Mystique, the most recent from March 9, 2000 (foundation components). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercury Mystique?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000, 1997 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1998 and 1996. See the full Mercury Mystique years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Mercury Mystique problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.