1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE Electrical System Problems

1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. ELECTRICAL SUB-HARNESS CONNECTOR PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC, BECAUSE THE AC WASN'T COOLING PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OVER HEAT, WHILE IT WAS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS TWO FANS IN THE FRONT AND THEY FOUND THE COOLING FAN MELTED AND THE SUB-HARNESS CONNECTOR BURNED UP. IN ADDITION, THEY SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE PART OF THE SUB-HARNESS WITH THE INSULATION JUST FALLING OFF THE WIRE. THEY HAD TO REPLACED THE FAN MOTOR UNIT AND HAD TO SPLICE IN A FAN CONNECTOR AND WIRE INTO THE REST OF THE SUB-HARNESS, BECAUSE FOR SAID THE SUB-HARNESS WAS OBSOLETE AND NOT AVAILABLE. WHILE IT FUNCTIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS SINCE ILLUMINATED FOR A CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS RELATED TO THE SUB-HARNESS. ALSO, THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, FRONT STRUTS, REAR STRUTS AND REAR MOUNTS, NUMEROUS O2 SENSORS, RADIO ANTENNA, RACK AND PINION, DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW AND SWITCH CONTROLLER WERE ALL REPLACED. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF MY 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2004. IT HAS A COMPUTER DEFECT THAT GIVES A FALSE READING FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS CAR QUALIFIED FOR THE NJ LEMON LAW BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH ITS 1ST OWNER. HOWEVER, THAT OWNER WAS TOO KIND TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER GAVE ME A FILE FILLED WITH SERVICE INFORMATION FROM THE DATE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BRAND NEW IN DECEMBER 1997. SHORTLY AFTER HIS PURCHASE HE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HE HAD IT BACK A COUPLE MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME THING AND THEY ALWAYS FIXED IT. OBVIOUSLY, THEY PUT A BAND-AID ON A MAJOR DEFECT. I NOTICED THE LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE FORMER OWNER SAID HE HAD IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD NOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT. WELL, SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN TOLD AT INSPECTION THAT IT HAS TO BE FIXED EVERY TIME. SO IT GOES TO MY MECHANIC WHO WILLS REPAIR/REPLACE THE NECESSARY PARTS PER THAT DAY'S COMPUTER READING. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS (OCCASIONALLY MONTHS) THE LIGHT GOES ON AGAIN. PREVIOUS TO THIS YEARS INSPECTION (DECEMBER 31ST) I HAD MY FRIEND LOOK IT OVER AND HE REPLACED THE VALVE/SENSOR THAT WAS DEFECTED (PER THAT DAYS COMPUTER READING). WELL, RIGHT BEFORE INSPECTION THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT BACK ON. AND OF COURSE, SINCE IT WAS ON, IT FAILED AGAIN. I MENTIONED TO THE INSPECTOR THAT IT HAD A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY RECOURSE AND HE TOLD ME TO LOOK INTO THE NJ WAIVER PROGRAM. I CALLED THE MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION TO LEARN ABOUT THE WAIVER PROGRAM. I UNDERSTAND TO BE CONSIDERED, THE REPAIR COST HAS TO BE ABOUT $400 OR MORE. SOME TIME AGO THE REPAIR COSTS LIMIT WAS ABOUT $250 OR MORE. WELL, FOR THE REPAIR I HAD DONE BEFORE THIS LAST INSPECTION, IT COST ME ABOUT $250 AGAIN. I BELIEVE THAT FOR THESE REASONS I SHOULD QUALIFY FOR A VEHICLE WAIVER FOR THE EMISSIONS INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HER FUSE BOX MELTED, WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 114,708.

Mileage: 114,708

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. IN ADDITION, THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL FLICKER ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE FELT EXCESSIVE HEAT UNDERNEATH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Mileage: 43,000

VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT HAY-WIRE, CAR STARTING HESITATING, AND SLAMMING FROM GEAR TO GEAR. TOOK TO A SERVICE CENTER THAT ADVISED ME THAT IT HAD A BAD SENSOR. PAID CLOSE TO $800.00 TO HAVE REPLACED. CAR STARTED WITH MORE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. (IE: LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO ON, ETC) TOOK BACK TO SERVICE CENTER THAT THEN ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE CAR WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSES THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO SHORT CIRCUIT. THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND WIRING ON CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE REDONE COSTING CLOSE TO $3000.00. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, THAT IT WOULD BE JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAR WOULD CATCH FIRE. DID NOT HAVE $$ TO MAKE REPAIR, CONTINUED TO DRIVE CAR HAVING NO OTHER OPTION WITH A BABY, AND YOUNG CHILD THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN TO SCHOOL, ETC. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DAYS LATER, THE CAR WENT FROM 75 MPH TO 10 MPH LIKE HITTING A WALL. ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED AND HAD TO EXIT, DRIVING HOME AT 10 MPH THE WHOLE WAY. *JB

Mileage: 76,500

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN #01V230000 CONCERNING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE *AK

DT: THE CONTACT WAS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. SHE SAID THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. SHE HAD IT LOOKED AT, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS IN THE WIRING. SHE SAID WHEN THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. A MECHANIC TOLD HER THE WIRES WERE BAD, AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE WAS TOLD THIS BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS. SHE FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL 01V230000 ON THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER TOLD HER THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. MANUFACTURER SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

Mileage: 30,000

THE TRANS IS OUT NOT WORKING. IT WORKED FINE,AND JUST STOP,MADE A FUNNY NOISE AND JUST STOPED. IPULLED IN MY YARD.KNOW IT WANT MOVE.FOR KNOW REASON.

DT: WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH. I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OPENED THE HOOD AND THE FIRST THING I SAW WAS FIRE COMING FROM BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED JUST FIVE AFTER I PULLED OVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS, LOOKED AT TEMP GAUGE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE BEFORE THE FIRE. CALLED 911 AT 5:44 PM, FIRE DEPT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THIS WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. *NM *SB

Mileage: 120,000

I CAME TO THIS SITE LOOKING FOR RECALL INFORMATION TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL RELATED TO MY PROBLEMS WITH THE 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. SO FAR NOTHING TOO DANGEROUS HAS HAPPENED, BUT I AM FEELING VERY UNSAFE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. ONE BY ONE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN MY CAR ARE SHORTING OUT. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO POWER DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THEN THE RADIO (ALWAYS FAULTY -- THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO FIX IT EVEN BY REPLACING IT) SHORTED OUT COMPLETELY ON THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW. THEN THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD AND FLOORBOARD LIGHTS SHORTED OUT A FEW DAYS LATER. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND POWER STEERING ARE NEXT. I CAN'T GET AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE ALL THIS LOOKED AT FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS. I WAS CHECKING THE SITE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RELATED RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS. THOUGHT I'D ADD A COMPLAINT BECAUSE MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH HORN. *MR

FUSE RECEPTICLE IS MELTING UNDER DASH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HORN DOES NOT WORK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. HORN WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, BUT CURRENTLY IT HAS FAILED COMPLETELY.*AK THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE. THE POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR, AND FRONT BRAKES FAILED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JG

HORN DOES NOT WORK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. HORN WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, BUT CURRENTLY IT HAS FAILED COMPLETELY.*AK THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE. THE POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR, AND FRONT BRAKES FAILED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JG

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM SPARK PLUG WIRES INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK

AT 15MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE LIGHTS SHORTED OUT AND MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT A MECHANIC TOLD HER FORD WERE KNOWN TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. PH 09-DEC-2002

CAR IS FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS CHILD-WELFARE AND SAFETY HAZARD AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO TALK WITH ME ABOUT THIS AUTO. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK (TIRESIZE: 205/60R15)

THE VEHICLE STALLED2 BLOCKS FROM HOME IN AM. IT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, BUT DIED WHEN PUT IN GEAR. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITION, BUT FOUND A TSB THAT STATED TO REPROGRAM THE PCM. THEY SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY. FORD ANNOUNCED THE OTHER DAY THAT REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS TO THEIR VEHICLES THAT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THAT CONDITION. I FEEL THIS CONDITION IS VERY DANGEROUS, SINCE THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, AND ALL POWER IS LOST.*AK

HORN FAILED TO SOUND, EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, FIXED HORN BY REPLACING SOME PARTS.

WIRING HARNESS BURNED, CAUSING A SMALL FIRE. DEALER HAS REPLACED WIRING HARNESS.*AK

APPROX. 3 WEEKS AGO, THE ORIGINAL BATTERY IN MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD . IT HAD SHOWED NO SIGNS OF LOSING POWER PRIOR TO THAT DAY. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND WHEN I HOOKED IT UP THE ENGINE STARTED TURNING OVER. THE KEYS WERE IN MY POCKET. AS A RESULT THE STARTER DIED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION. THEY REPLACED THE STARTER AND A CRACKED SERPANTINE BELT. A FEW DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING FROM NJ TO PA WHEN I HEARD A STRANGE BUZZING SOUND UNDER MY HOOD AND I SMELT THE FAINT SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEAR BYE SERVICE STATION. AGAIN THE STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH A BURNED RELAY WIRE AND A BATTERY. WHEN I WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP, THE NEW BATTERY HAD DIED AND WE NOTICED SOME MORE BURNT WIRES NEAR THE FUSE BOX. I THAN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HALDEMAN LINCOLN MERCURY IN ALLENTOWN, PA 610-797-5005. UNTIL THIS POINT I WAS RELUCTANT TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN EXTREMELY UNRESPONSIVE TO PAST ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING DELAYED AND HARD AND ALSO WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A ENGINE TIMING ISSUE. THESE ISSUES HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND DESPITE THREE SEPERATE LETTERS TO FORD, THE COMPANY DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS MY SITUATION. I CONVEYED THIS ENTIRE STORY TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR, MIKE SIEMONS, AT HALDEMAN LINCOLN MERCURY DEALERSHIP AND HE GAVE ME THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER FOR FORD. ON 2/10/01 I SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. WHO STATED THAT HE WOULD RELAY MY REPORT TO A AREA ACCOUNT REP. WHO WOULD HELP REMEDY MY PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THE REP. WOULD CALL ME BY THE END OF BUSINESS TODAY. SO FAR HE HAS NOT CALLED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME TODAY THAT I NEEDED TO PAY $2K+ FOR A NEW WIRE HARNESS AND A 3RD STARTER IN AS MANY WEEKS. THEY ATTRIBUTE THE PROBLEM TO A BATTERY THAT LEAKED ACID. THIS ISN'T THE PROBLE

APPROX. 3 WEEKS AGO, THE ORIGINAL BATTERY IN MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD . IT HAD SHOWED NO SIGNS OF LOSING POWER PRIOR TO THAT DAY. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND WHEN I HOOKED IT UP THE ENGINE STARTED TURNING OVER. THE KEYS WERE IN MY POCKET. AS A RESULT THE STARTER DIED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION. THEY REPLACED THE STARTER AND A CRACKED SERPANTINE BELT. A FEW DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING FROM NJ TO PA WHEN I HEARD A STRANGE BUZZING SOUND UNDER MY HOOD AND I SMELT THE FAINT SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEAR BYE SERVICE STATION. AGAIN THE STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH A BURNED RELAY WIRE AND A BATTERY. WHEN I WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP, THE NEW BATTERY HAD DIED AND WE NOTICED SOME MORE BURNT WIRES NEAR THE FUSE BOX. I THAN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HALDEMAN LINCOLN MERCURY IN ALLENTOWN, PA 610-797-5005. UNTIL THIS POINT I WAS RELUCTANT TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN EXTREMELY UNRESPONSIVE TO PAST ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING DELAYED AND HARD AND ALSO WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A ENGINE TIMING ISSUE. THESE ISSUES HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND DESPITE THREE SEPERATE LETTERS TO FORD, THE COMPANY DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS MY SITUATION. I CONVEYED THIS ENTIRE STORY TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR, MIKE SIEMONS, AT HALDEMAN LINCOLN MERCURY DEALERSHIP AND HE GAVE ME THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER FOR FORD. ON 2/10/01 I SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. WHO STATED THAT HE WOULD RELAY MY REPORT TO A AREA ACCOUNT REP. WHO WOULD HELP REMEDY MY PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THE REP. WOULD CALL ME BY THE END OF BUSINESS TODAY. SO FAR HE HAS NOT CALLED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME TODAY THAT I NEEDED TO PAY $2K+ FOR A NEW WIRE HARNESS AND A 3RD STARTER IN AS MANY WEEKS. THEY ATTRIBUTE THE PROBLEM TO A BATTERY THAT LEAKED ACID. THIS ISN'T THE PROBLE

HORN PAD IS HARD TO OPERATE WHEN NEEDED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION FOR THAT VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT BEING UNABLE TO USE THE HORN IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *YH

WHILE DRIVING A/C MOTOR STOPPED, CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE A/C SWITCH. THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER DASH, CONSUMER STOPPED, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. ENTIRE DASHBOARD FELL OUT ON CONSUMER .*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER'S SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. ALSO A FIRE ORIGNATED UNDER THE HOOD. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WIRING TO THE HEADLIGHTS HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE NON-FUNCTIONAL. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE WIRING UNDER A RECALL. *AK

THE ENGINE HAS GONE DEAD AND WILL NOT START DUE TO A SHORT IN THE BATTERY RELAY CABLE. THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN ELECTRONICALLY , ALSO. DLR HAS NOT SEEN.

SHORTING OUT OF WIRING CAUSED FUSE BLOWING, TWO TIMES BATTERY DIED AND ALTERNATOR FAILED. YH

VOLT REGULATER WAS DEFECTIVE. YH