Body complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
At 17,000 glue failed too hold padded covering in place,at this time fixed by dealership described as design flaw. At 32,000 dash fell apart again. This time was told we fixed it once do not have too again,but would repair for approximately $1000.00. I am a widow on a fixed income and can not do it.I have contacted the dealer ship and Ford motor and was told they would not do any thing else unless I paid for it. The car is basically a good carbut this lets moisture get in between dash and padding from defroster.
Consumer's vehicle was involved in a collision travelling approximately 20-25mph and was hit on the passenger's side door. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Both front and rear bumpers were off track. The front right & rear doors were pushed 2 feet into the drivers side, with the front & rear seats. The consumer suffered a broken nose , broken clavical in 2 places, 4 broken ribs, facial impairment and cracked the front bridge in mouth. (vehicle was totalled)
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.
Transmission failure 2 years after car was purchased, engine replaced 2 years after purchase. Hub bearing assembly broke 1 year after purchase of car. Car drives extremely hot - to near over heating point. Trunk leaks when it rains. Driver side window malfunctioning. Instrument panel malfunctioned (was fixed before recall). Check engine light stays on constantly even after tune up/ major work done.
The other problems, the trunk having water damage due to a severe leak, my electrical system is no good. I have a loose rod underneath car apart of the steering/ I drove around without the car being properly inspected and registered/ no admission sticker/engine makes this weird sound a rattling noise/ driving on the highway between 45-50 sometimes at no given moment the car will take off up the highway/ when you put car in gear it jerks so hard you think the car has broken down. The fuel tank does not pass inspection. The speakers and radio has also never played properly. I tryed and have been trying for the last 2 years and 3 months plus. When I found out all the things were going on I was very furious because these people knew that I was disabled, with a terrible injury, this was why I was trading in my car because it had over 100,000 miles and I needed something extra dependable. …
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. …
Heater blower switch overheated and melted the harness. Also, rear door latch and acutator broke, causing door to be inoperative, and the rear coil springs corroded and broke. Please provide further information.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercury Mystique years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (28), 2000 (18), 1995 (14) and 1996 (8) model years. Body complaints make up 22% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Mercury Mystique body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for any Mercury Mystique model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Mercury Mystique body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles; 50% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body › trunk lid (13 mentions), followed by the body (7).
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.