Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Mercury Mystique owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
The dashboard next to the windshield is curled up so as to obstruct my vision and cause defroster vents to not work properly. The black plastic "vent" is laying there loose and rattling against the inside of my windshield. I am concerned as to whether this will effect my air bag function if I were in an accident. I was told by my dealer that there was a recall,but it had expired, and they couldn't help me unless I wanted to pay about 350-400 dollars for a "kit" to possibly remedy the situation. The problem did not manifest itself until after the recall was over. I feel that Ford is well aware of this problem and should take an active role in repairing this damage to my dashboard. The is a safety issue as well as an unsightly nuisance. I hope this helps someone get some relief from Ford concerning this issue.
I have a 1999 Mercury Mystique. I replaced my dashboard due to warpage under my one year warranty. I received a recall for the dashboard after the original had been replaced. This past summer my dashboard started to warp again. I contacted hunt Ford in la plata md, but was told that there was nothing they could do about it since the warranty had expired. I am currently experiencing an increase in the warping. The portion of the dash that holds the vent is curling outward, and the dash is rising up. I very concerned about how far up the windshield that the dash will rise. I do not feel that a company who issues a recall has the right to end that recall when the problem obviously does not end. Thank you for your time and assistance with this complaint.
I was driving along when I could smell my car getting hot, so I pulled over and sure enough it was overheating, but did not show inside on the dashboard, so I had it checked and the plastic housing around the thermostat was cracked in 3 places, so I say fix it ,they said it would be 450.00, OK no problem, then they called back and said that the housing was welded to the manifold and that I would have to replace all for 1200.00 and that the housing wasn't made of plastic anymore because of this problem. I think this should be a recall and fixed for free.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Mercury Mystique. The entire length of the instrument control panels surface began developed cracks and warps. A plastic piece from the panel, that was 5 inches in height blocks the windshield. The vehicle has not been repaired for the malfunction. The contact commented the failure was related to the Ford contour dashboard defect. The failure mileage was 80,000. The current mileage was 112,000.
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.
I believe it's a shame that manufacturers can sell cars with glued dashboards that require the removal of the windshield to repair the dashboard. This is a 1999 Mercury Mystique, the dashboard material came loose and squeezed the defrost diverter plastic up and off the dashboard, therefore making it difficult to use the defroster.
Dash board warp / curl / delamination causes obstructed visibility. 1999 model year contour omitted dash panel component for securing dash cover at windshield. Windshield fogs badly in rainy or humid conditions and warped dash cover dislodges vent preventing effective defrost / de-fogging efforts.
My 1999 Mercury mystiques dash board has completely warped. It has rendered the defroster useless. I was not informed of any recall for the defect. I now understand that the Lincoln/Mercury company did acknowledge a defect in the dashboards. What remedy can I expect ?
NHTSA investigations
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.
Body complaints in other Mystique years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1999 Mercury Mystique?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the body & structure of the 1999 Mercury Mystique, 22% of the model year's 128 complaints. The component named most often is body (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Mercury Mystique body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1999 Mercury Mystique, though it has 2 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 1999 Mercury Mystique body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to body & structure 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.