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 the federal safety agency 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
The worst 1997 Mercury Mystique problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
Recalls 4
Electrical system
- 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
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- If both pcrv's malfunction, vehicle handling could be adversely affected during braking as a result of the rear wheels locking, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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.
Recall number 00V075000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The terminals at the headlight switch and wiring harness connector can experience heat damage as a result of overheating.
- Risk
- The damage could result in distortion of the terminal causing an open circuit in the instrument panel illumination, parking lamp, and tail lamp circuits.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a headlamp switch wiring connector containing bronze terminals and an inspection, and replacement if necessary, of the headlamp switch.
Recall number 99V103000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- This condition can result in incorrect gear selection.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the automatic transmission floor shift control.
Recall number 98V233000 · Recall details
See all 4 recalls for the 1997 Mercury Mystique
Defect investigations
Incorrect gear indication
There is no summary currently available
RQ02006
Blower switch/resistor or wiring harness
There is no summary currently available
EA01001
Blower switch/resistor or wiring harness
There is no summary currently available
PE00023
Various intermittent electrical issues
There is no summary currently available
RQ99019
Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Mercury Mystique 188
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- General (PCM) power train control module programming procedures
- General power train control module (PCM) programming procedures
- Malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated with diagnostic trouble code(s) P0420 and/or P0430
- Malfunction indicator lamp illuminated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCS) P0442, P0455, P0456, P0457 or...
- Remote keyless entry (RKE) - service tips
- New transmission cooler flusher - service tips
- Inoperative shift interlock solenoid or repeat instrument interface module failure
- Malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illumination with diagnostic trouble codes P0442, P0455, P0456, P0457,...
- Climate control a/c service tech tips
- Replacement speaker installation tips
1997 Mercury Mystique fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 20-21 | 29-30 | 23-24 |
| 2.5L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 26-28 | 21-22 |
What 1997 Mercury Mystique owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
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.
The block of the engine was burned.
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.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling various speeds, the overdrive activated on and off. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop, where a certified mechanic determined that either the inside or outside sensor of the automatic transmission was faulty. There was a the federal safety agency recall #98v233000, regarding the powertrain: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift. The manufacturer was contacted and determined that the vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN. Also, the clock light on the insrument panel went permanently out. The rear brake light located on top of the rear window would illuminate in a distorted pattern. The rear brake lights was made up of 9 mini lights, and 3 lights would light up while braking. On other occasions, 4 or 5 lights would illuminate. There was a the federal safety agency recall #99v103000 regarding exterior lighting: headlights: switch. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN.
Recall on 1997 mercury mystique the federal safety agency campaign id# 48v233000. Power train. Automatic transmission lever and linkage floor shift. Dealer refusing to honor recall.
The federal safety agency 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!
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.
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.
Compare the 1997 Mercury Mystique
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Questions about the 1997 Mercury Mystique
Is the 1997 Mercury Mystique reliable?
Owners have filed 71 complaints about the 1997 Mercury Mystique, 35.5 times a typical Mystique model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Mercury Mystique?
Engine and cooling, with 13 complaints. Next is brakes (12).
How many recalls does the 1997 Mercury Mystique have?
4 recalls, covering electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic and exterior lighting.
What year does the Mercury Mystique have bad engine?
The Mercury Mystique model years with the most engine complaints are 1995 (93 complaints), 1996 (41 complaints) and 1998 (34 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1997 Mercury Mystique get?
Official estimates for the 1997 Mercury Mystique range from 21 to 24 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 20-21 city and 29-30 highway.
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