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1996 Mercury Mystique electrical problems

47 complaints (25% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 96,500. 1 crash reported.

owner complaints
47
of this car's complaints
25%
typical mileage
96,500
crashes
1
recalls
1

Which part fails

  • Wiring: front underhood
    10
  • 12v/24v/48v battery
    9
  • Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
    8
  • Wiring: interior/under dash
    5
  • Wiring
    5
  • Ignition
    5
  • Wiring: rear compartment/trunk
    2
  • Alternator/generator/regulator
    2

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Mercury Mystique electrical problems in other years

199519961997199819992000

Specific symptoms reported on the 1996 Mercury Mystique electrical

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Fire or smoke 5

Related recalls

Electrical systemReported July 9, 2001 · 342,962 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
The open circuit could lead to electrical arcing that could melt the connector housing material creasing the potential for a fire.
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.

Recall number 01V230000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Blower switch/resistor or wiring harnessOpened January 5, 2001, closed July 31, 2001

There is no summary currently available

EA01001

Blower switch/resistor or wiring harnessOpened June 14, 2000, closed January 5, 2001

There is no summary currently available

PE00023

What 1996 Mercury Mystique owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jan 11, 2009 · Electrical · 89,000 miles · NY · fire

The under hood wire harness burned up. This car has 89,000 miles and runs good. I heard there was a recall / tsb #( onp 99m03) on this car but ford will not honor it because the car is over 10 years old. I think ford should reimburse for repairs or buy back the car. This is a dangerous situation as the car will stall abruptly and lose power steering.

Filed Feb 6, 2008 · Electrical, Lights · 138,552 miles · WA

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 mercury mystique. The parking lights on the front and rear of the vehicle along with the instrument panel lights were inoperative. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 99v103000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch). The current and failure mileages were 138,552.

Filed Aug 21, 2007 · Electrical · 96,500 miles · FL

Faulty wiring insulation makes the car inoperable and dangerous to operate.

Filed Aug 3, 2007 · Electrical · 61,900 miles · TX

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford mercury mystique. While driving 60 MPH the speed odometer went from zero to 120, the rmp went up to 40,000, the over drive light illuminated and the vehicle shifted out of gear. The mechanic stated that the wiring harness was failed and the vehicle is no longer drivable. There is a recall for the electrical system (the federal safety agency campaign #01v230000) however; the manufacture stated that the VIN was not included. The current mileage was 63,500 and the failure mileage 61,900.

Filed Sep 7, 2006 · Electrical · 98,400 miles · FL · fire

Car has had increasing number of electrical problems...check engine light coming on. Mechanics couldn't find what was triggering it after replacing the oxygen sensors repeatedly. Other twitches (stalling, burned up turn signal module,) finally culminating in complete brake light and reverse light failure. Took the car back to my mechanics, who replaced the signal module, and showed me the burn marks on it. They stated that they tried to get the brake lights to work, and found that the primary wiring harness was just disintegrating (insulation failures all over.) they called ford/mercury before they told me of this problem, and were told that ford/merc would replace the harness as long as the car hadn't gone over 100k miles, and was not more than ten years old (it wasn't.) dropped the car at a local ford dealer, who called me back to say that they would have been glad to replace the harness, had I found the problem prior to jan 2006. They promptly informed that they would be more than happy to replace the harness for about $2,000.00 I informed them that I'd be more than happy to perform brain surgery on them with a weedeater at no charge. I'll never purchase another ford product in my life, and I unfortunately currently own five.

Filed Aug 23, 2005 · Electrical, Locks · WI · 1 injury

Dt: the door latch on driver's side would not shut, had to go to junk yard to get a part and put it in. This happened on august 20, 2005. Consumer bruised hand trying to get the down shut. There was clicking noise in the panel on the driver's side that controls the power windows. Also, the key got hot in the ignition.

Filed Apr 5, 2004 · Electrical · CA

Consumer states that her vehicle dies on the freeway. She states that vehicle constantly blows fuses. She said that she took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that, her electrical wires are melting together. Also was told that since this is happening, when it touches it blows fuses. She states that sometimes her vehicle will not start. She also states that the mechanic states they will not touch the vehicle, because if has major problems, and is over the mileage limit to be covered by any warranty. She said she was also told, that this vehicle could caught fire at any time, and that she should not drive it because it is dangerous. Please help.

Filed Dec 8, 2003 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · IL

While driving 30 MPH wire to the battery melted. As a result, the vehicle shut down in traffic.

Filed Jul 24, 2003 · Electrical, Lights · 107,520 miles · NJ

My complaint involves a 1996 mercury mystique involving a failure of all interior lighting, side mirror adjustment, radio and clock related to a blown fuse #34 in the auxlillary fuse box. The cause was the overhead map light assembly which had overheated and the plastic retaining the 10w bulb holder melted allowing the metal bulb holder to slide in the molten plastic until it just barely contacted a negative bus in the assembly and blowing the fuse.it was a difficult problem to diagnose being a short was not present until the circuit was fused and then heat from the bulb would cause the metal holder to expand and short out blowing the fuse.I feel it appropriate to report this problem as I feel if the contacts had not shorted and blown the fuse and considering it became hot enough to melt the plastic is a potential fire hazard and I don't feel the assembly was engineered properly to support a 10w bulb.there has been, I believe, eight recalls to date on this model, several of those involved electrical components.

Filed Feb 14, 2003 · Electrical · 165,000 miles · IN · fire

Ford contour 1995 engine fire that destroyed everything in the engine mecury 1996 mystic wireing shortage that could have started a fire in the engine compartment.

Questions about the 1996 Mercury Mystique electrical

Does the 1996 Mercury Mystique have electrical problems?

Owners have filed 47 complaints about the electrical of the 1996 Mercury Mystique, 25% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 1996 Mercury Mystique electrical problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 96,500 miles.

Was there a recall on the 1996 Mercury Mystique electrical?

Yes, 1 recall: 01V230000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Mercury Mystique have the most electrical problems?

The Mercury Mystique model years with the most electrical complaints are 1995 (73 complaints), 1996 (47 complaints) and 1998 (29 complaints).

Other 1996 Mercury Mystique problems

Engine 41Transmission 30Lights 20Visibility 19Brakes 15Suspension 15Fuel system 14Steering 13Acceleration 8Body 8Airbags 7Seat belts 2Seats 2Tires 2Locks 1

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