1997 Mercury Mystique: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 71 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (14% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2008
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“My 97 mercury mystique has a bad brake fluid leak from a part on the brake line (pressure conscious release valve) that was recalled #06e022000. Fluid must be added every few days when the brake light comes on. Ford tells me there is no recall info for my car and won't do anything. They could not say if any recall work had been done on my car. Bottom line, this is not preventative, my car is dangerously leaking brake fluid from a recalled part. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mercury mystique. The contact stated that he noticed a leak under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where he was informed that the pressure conscious regulating valve on the rear driver side would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 00v075000 (service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components) and contacted the manufacturer who stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure and current mileages were 93,000. Updated 8/23/12 *cn”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jan 2012
“The vehicle is not shifting into the proper gears. It just started happening one day. It has to be in drive 2 at the start of driving and when it gets to a certain point it must be shifted into drive. This occurs everytime I drive. Nothing has been done as of yet to repair the problem. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2008
Show 7 more owner reports
“Car had a recall associated with exterior lights when my parents owned it about five years ago. The parking lights stopped operating. Per suggestion of ford took car to dealership and paid $85 for an evaluation. They indicated I had two open wires and the estimated repair cost would exceed $2,000 to replace the wiring harness. *nm”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Feb 2007
“Recall on 1997 mercury mystique NHTSA campaign id# 48v233000. Power train. Automatic transmission lever and linkage floor shift. Dealer refusing to honor recall. *nm”Owner report · Power Train · May 2006
“NHTSA campaign id no. 98v233000. The same thing is happening to my 1997 mercury mystique, the gear position indicator is deteriorate and is not correctly indicating the actual gear position. I called ford motor co. And they are not going to do any thing about it! *nm”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2005
“Dt: the wiring harness and the blower resistor was fixed which were on recall. On 4-22-05 and on 5-06-05 while the car was being driven on the highway, the car gave a ticking noise. Then the car gave a puff of blue and black smoke and the car stopped. After the mechanic looked at the car, the mechanic said the engine was gone. The car underwent regular check ups and oil changes. There were no indications that the engine was having any problems or malfunctions. The engine has not been repaired. The cost for replacing was more than the consumer can afford. *tt”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2005
“I have replaced the drivers headrest once (about 4-years ago), and now find that the passenger headrest is broken. Dealer says replacement parts not available. Have not been able to locate used parts.”Owner report · Seats · Mar 2005
“Consumer stated the tail lights and interior lights did not work. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, and was told there was a recall # 99v103000 concerning headlight switch/wiring harness defect. But because of the mileage on the vehicle it could not be repaired under the recall. She wanted to know why, she did not think this was fair.*ak consumer spoke with three other mechanics whom stated the mileage shouldn't have anything to do with the recall. *ph *jb”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Aug 2003
“Apparently ford/merc in their ultimate wisdom placed the catalytiv converter in the exhaust manifold. The mechanic indicated that they all seem to plug up around 140,000 to 170,000 km. The labour alone is over $600.00 plus the parts are very expensive and both the front and rear need to be replaced or the car will start to lose power. So I have a vehicle that up until now ran well and had good gas milage. Now it is worth $2500.00 dollars on a trade in but the repairs are $ 2600.00 so the car is actually a total right off. Everything else works. Great ford you have definitely lost a customer for life!”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jul 2003
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FLOOR SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL CAN BE DAMAGED IF SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN INTERIOR CLEANING PRODUCTS. THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR CAN DETERIORATE AND NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLAMP SWITCH WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAINING BRONZE TERMINALS AND AN INSPECTION, AND REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY, OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
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.
ON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLANTS, THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR AND, DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1995-1997 FORD CONTOUR AND MERCURY MYSTIQUE VEHICLES. THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR COULD OVERHEAT CAUSING THE ATTACHED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO MELT.
Remedy: FORD WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH FOR 10 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF SALE OF THE VEHICLE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE.
FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
Remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
How other years compare
Check your exact Mystique by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Mercury Mystique reliable?
NHTSA has 71 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 1997 Mercury Mystique. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (14% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1997 Mercury Mystique problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 77,500 miles or less.
Does the 1997 Mercury Mystique have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.