Headlights are malfunctioning. My 17yo daughter got pulled over because only her high beams were working. The regular headlights are dim. Very dangerous. This happens at all times and unexpectedly.
The worst 1998 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.
- Suspension49
- Transmission38
- Engine34
- Electrical29
- Brakes28
- Lights19
- Airbags18
- Visibility16
- Acceleration14
- Steering11
- Fuel system9
- Seat belts7
- Seats4
- Body3
- Tires3
- Locks1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Mercury Mystique
Coil spring 29Headlights 11Check engine light 10Stalling 10Airbag light 8Fire or smoke 8ABS 7Transmission failure 6
Recalls 8
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles built at the kansas city assembly plant and originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin, and the district of columbia. The front coil springs may fracture as a result of corrosion in high corrosion environments. Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire.
- Risk
- Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install spring catcher brackets. Owner notification began october 23, 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 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 01V255000 · Recall details
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
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag sensor wiring pigtail insulation can become brittle and crack over time due to accumulation of water in the pigtail protective convolute in combination with high underhood temperatures related to the routing of the wiring pigtail near the radiator. This can result in environmental stress cracking of the insulation.
- Risk
- In some cases, the air bag warning light can illuminate and the air bag supplemental restraint system disabled.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install air bag sensors with revised wiring insulation. In addition, vehicles which have the air bag warning light illuminated will have a new air bag diagnostic monitor installed.
Recall number 99V243000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The accelerator cable may have been manufactured with a burr on or near the end of the cable sleeve interior. This burr could fray the core wire resulting in the accelerator not returning to idle when the accelerator is released.
- Risk
- This condition can result in the throttle sticking, binding, or causing high engine RPM.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a revised accelerator cable that has a flared conduit sleeve end and molded on end fitting.
Recall number 99V194000 · 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
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The text and/or graphics for the vehicle headlamp aiming instructions provided in the owner guides are not sufficiently clear. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- Risk
- If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may be confused by the aiming instructions provided in the owner guides causing the headlamps to be improperly aimed.
- Remedy
- Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.
Recall number 98V028000 · Recall details
See all 8 recalls for the 1998 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
Fuel expulsion during refueling
There is no summary currently available
EA00025
Fuel expulsion during refueling
There is no summary currently available
PE00027
Blower switch/resistor or wiring harness
There is no summary currently available
PE00023
Various intermittent electrical issues
There is no summary currently available
RQ99019
Fuel gauge does not read below 1/4
Ford's service bulletin dated december 8, 1997, points out that the fuel gauge will not read above 3/4 tank or below 1/4 tank of fuel.the erroneous fuel gauge reading will indicate significantly more fuel reserve than actually present in the fuel tank.odi has one complaint where the driver alleged that his vehicle ran out of gas due to a false fuel gauge reading.this investigation wasto ascertain facts concerning the problem experience, scope, and rational for electing not to conduct a safety compaign.
SQ98002
Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Mercury Mystique 242
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
- Steering column shipped without crush pad - reuse original crush pad if not damaged
- Malfunction indicator lamp illuminated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCS) P0442, P0455, P0456, P0457 or...
- Remote keyless entry (RKE) - service tips
- The malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) may be illuminated and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCS) P1380, P1381,...
- 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,...
1998 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 | 21 | 30-32 | 24-25 |
| 2.5L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17-18 | 26-28 | 20-22 |
What 1998 Mercury Mystique owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
When you have traveled 30mins/15 to 18 miles the car began to slow down/the speedometer began to drop even though you are pushing the gas peddle and the RPM gauge is waving back and fourth. It happened on 09/25/15, 10/08,13,14/2015. I was traveling 60mph and 45mph.
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.
Recall on a fuel filler neck valve for a 98 mercury mystique, gas being unable to flow freely into gas tank,spits gas back out on you. August is the first time I knew there was a recall. Ford says my VIN # wasn't on recall , but the part is defective anyway.( dangerous ) occurs everytime you try and put gas into car. They put a canister vent valve on which was not the problem. They kept the old part that was good. Problem is fuel filler neck valve.
Faulty catalytic converters.
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.
Lost 4 tires with less than 35k miles due to sidewall failures. Tires installed on march 2006, lost all four between april 2008 and june 2008. First one had a bulge on the outside sidewall, other 3 were sidewall blowouts. Tires installed on a 1998 mercury mystique. Tires were fulda carat assuro, p205/60-15.
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 the federal safety agency 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.
Tried to brake for a family of geese crossing the road. Following the braking, I noticed a problem with the brakes and the car pulling to the left. The car was also making an unusual noise. After slowly driving the car to the repair shop, it was determined that the right front brake rotor was broken.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 mercury mystique. While pulling away from a curb at 5 MPH, the front passenger side coil spring failed and punctured the tire, causing a blow out. The VIN is not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 01v255000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs). The current and failure mileages were 87,000.
Compare the 1998 Mercury Mystique
Other model years
Questions about the 1998 Mercury Mystique
Is the 1998 Mercury Mystique reliable?
Owners have filed 231 complaints about the 1998 Mercury Mystique, 115.5 times a typical Mystique model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Mercury Mystique?
Suspension, with 49 complaints, typically around 87,000 miles. Next is transmission (38).
How many recalls does the 1998 Mercury Mystique have?
8 recalls, covering suspension, electrical system and service brakes, hydraulic.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Mercury Mystique suspension?
Yes, 1 recall: 01V255000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mercury Mystique have bad suspension?
The Mercury Mystique model years with the most suspension complaints are 1998 (49 complaints), 1995 (36 complaints) and 1996 (15 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1998 Mercury Mystique get?
Official estimates for the 1998 Mercury Mystique range from 20 to 25 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 21 city and 30-32 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1998 Mercury Mystique?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history