Acceleration complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
When shifting gears lever jams. Also, can hear a grinding noise when shifting. Vehicle is hard to shift as though something is ready to snap. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated that cable connector to shift was tangled. Wire was exposed, and had something to do with linkage and transmission. Please add VIN.
Intermittently when speed control was activated it would accelerate beyond set speed, eventually causing vehicle to stall out and die. Also, intermittently vehicle would accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly when brakes were applied. Dealer and manufacturer has been notified.
Car was parked in motel parking lot. I entered car at 6:55 am to move car by our room to pickup bags. I had my foot on brake, started engine and shifted into reverse. The car jumped rearward at a high speed. I had not put my foot on the gas pedal. The car hit a telephone pole (about 8 feet behind were the car was parked). My body went rearward when the car hit the pole. At this time, I had my hand on the shifter (floormount) and it pulled the car into forward gear. The car shot forward and slammed into a brick column directly infront of were I was parked. I tried to turn off ignition and hit the brake but I couldn't effect the forward motion. I saw the car hit the pole and my forehead hit the steering wheel. The airbags did not deploy. I was told at the hospital that you need to be going 35mph or faster for them to deploy. Don't know about that. I have never had any accidents before. …
Consumer's wife was attempting to park, and when she placed right foot on the brakes, automobile accelerated on its own and increased the rpms, causing automobile to advance forward. It jumped the concrete. The brake could not stop the vehicle but when the vehicle stopped, the gas pedal went all the way down to the floor.
When you have traveled 30mins/15 to 18 miles the car began to slow down/the speedometer began to drop even though you are pushing the gas peddle and the RPM gauge is waving back and fourth. It happened on 09/25/15, 10/08,13,14/2015. I was traveling 60mph and 45mph.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 70 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the RPM's revved, but the vehicle did not respond. The vehicle was pulled over and towed to an independent repair shop where the overdrive servo piston seal and o ring was replaced. Five weeks later, while traveling 50 MPH, the same incident occurred. The vehicle was pushed to the contact's residence and it has not been seen by a mechanic.
While driving at 65 MPH with cruise control engaged consumer attempted to hit brakes to disengage cruise control and slow down, but vehicle speeded up, lost control, and hit a guardrail. Consumer has yet to contact dealer.
When driving and upon making a complete stop, master cylinder went out, resulting in loss of all fluid, and causing brake pedal to travel to the floorboard, resulting in unwanted and unexpected acceleration. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Please provide any further details.
Related recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised accelerator cable that has a flared conduit sleeve end and molded on end fitting.
Vehicle speed control › Cables
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the traction control option. The throttle cables were damaged during vehicle assembly leading to fraying or separation of the throttle cable.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the throttle cable with a revised design that is less susceptible to bending or kinking during installation.
NHTSA investigations
Fuel gauge does not read below 1/4
Ford's service bulletin dated December 8, 1997, points out that the fuel gauge will not read above 3/4 tank or below 1/4 tank of fuel.the erroneous fuel gauge reading will indicate significantly more fuel reserve than actually present in the fuel tank.odi has one complaint where the driver alleged that his vehicle ran out of gas due to a false fuel gauge reading.this investigation wasto ascertain facts concerning…
Fuel expulsion during refueling
There is no summary currently available
Fuel expulsion during refueling
There is no summary currently available
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercury Mystique years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (21), 1998 (14), 1996 (8) and 1999 (5) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Mercury Mystique acceleration problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 99V-194 (vehicle speed control, Jul 20, 1999); 97V-225 (cables, Dec 8, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mercury Mystique acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles; 60% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the linkages (9 mentions), followed by the cables (6).
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.