1996 Mercury Mystique from North America - Comments

I have a 200O Mercury Mystique (97,000) This car is my only source of transportation. So I try to keep up on things because I don't want a car note. I think it was 2004 I needed a fuel pump. February of 2006 my personal mechanic suggested I do a full tune up, change battery, timing belt and front brakes. I did all those things. Next thing I knew by spring it was on the back of the tow truck. The check engine light would come on and go off. The car started stalling. Came to find out I needed a Fuel rail sensor. Once the check engine light started I fixed around the problem like oxygen sensors, fuel filters. After the fuel sensor was in place 3 days later the check engine light would come on and go off for weeks. Until one day I guess it got tired; I sure was. I continued to drive it because I was still getting the same reading. So eventually the light stopped.

Next the headlights they were foggy so I had to replace them both. I now have 2 beautiful clear headlights. The cream in the auto parts store didn't work for them. The next problem was this winter (2007) no heat temperature gage wasn't moving. Had the thermostat changed, gage moving heat working. Oh and the a/c works (knock on wood).

The current problem now is the car is bucking or surging. Thought it might be water in the gas so I put the treatment in the gas tank. The surging stopped for 2 days and its back. Along with the bucking the o/d light sometimes flickers. This bucking only happens when the car is moving and has warmed up a bit. Plus its not with every ride. This mornings ride was pleasant. So its back to the dealer.

I have a 1998 Mystique that has only 48,000 miles on it. It has not had any problems until now. Yesterday while on the interstate the speedometer/odometer suddenly went out. Then the car began bucking lightly when changing gears. I didn't think much of it and planned on taking it to the mechanic when I got back in town. A few hours later while in downtown Baltimore, the bucking got much much worse and I wound up taking it to the only mechanic I could find open on a Sunday evening. Has anyone else had similar problems? I'm worried I'll have to replace the transmission which makes me angry given that the car is worth nothing now AND has such low mileage.

Hi everyone... well first off I own a Mercury Mystake 1996... I bought this car about 6 years ago, from the very moment I took possession of this piece of junk I have been having problems with it.. let me enumerate all of them:

1: Problems with the two front windows, not going down or up.

2: Friggin trunk leaking all the time when I try to open it.

3: Water inside the back lights.

4: The door lock system on the drivers side not functioning properly, which caused the entire locking system to be replaced.

5: The damn fan blower needed to be changed twice.

6: The heating switches needed to be changed twice also.

7: Cup holders broken.

8: When I open the doors, the inside lights are working when THEY feel like it.

9: The now infamous engine overheating.

10: Water pump had to be changed 4 times in only 2 months!!... no joke.

11: The transmission shifter had to be replaced once because it just popped out by itself.

12: Wheel bearings had to be changed twice on both of the front wheels.

13: Catalyser and flexible had to be changed twice.

14: Doors making squeaky sounds when I open them.

15: The trunk lock system had to be changed once because of water going INSIDE the trunk.

16: The light bulb flasher is dead, causing it to click continuously, like if my flashers were constantly on.

17: Power steering hose needed to be changed, because of massive oil leaks, which by the way almost killed me, because the steering wheel would not turn at all.

18: Car stalling when slowing down and trying to turn at an intersection.

19: Changed all the electrical wires that connects to the spark plugs twice.

20: Squeaky sound coming from the back wheels... had it fixed, the actual problem was because of the calipers that were too small for the actual car... I have been told by my mechanic that this was a known fact from Ford, but they refused to tell the car dealers.

21: The door/window sealers from the outside coming of all the time, causing water to infiltrate itself between the doors.

22: The air flow system just on top/behind the engine needed to be replaced.

23: Solenoid switch replaced.

24: Numerous electrical problems.. too long to enumerate.

Trust me, I'm sure there are more, I just can't remember all of them. Now I'm sure you think I am JOKING... well I am not...unfortunately.

Don't believe me??... LOLOL...go buy yourself a Mercury Mystake and I'll see you on this forum very soon.

I bought my "mistake" last March and it's been such a problem we nicknamed her "Christine" like the Stephen King novel... LOL..

Anyway, the battery light came on and I replaced the battery and had the alternator checked... The mechanic said the alternator was OK... giving out 12 volts steady... had the car back about a week and the light is on again but blinking... Anyone have any ideas as to why this is going on??

BTW a day after I got the car back, the timing belt assembly went and that had to be replaced... added that to the new engine (was done the day I bought the car) the new tranny... then rebuilt the back end... the trunk leaks (the floor and when you open it) and the driver's side door has been fixed 5 times...

I would love to get rid of it, but I don't know who would buy it... LOL.

I bought my 1996 Mystique in 1998 with about 50,000 miles on it. I currently have almost 300,000 miles, and it has performed amazingly. I feel bad posting here with so many others having had such a difficult time with the car, but I cannot even begin to say how much I love my car.

Some of the problems described here I have had. My alternator has gone twice, and was rather pricey to replace, but I cannot hold that against the car. My water pump impeller did implode as some of you have experienced. My trunk leaks, but I believe I'll be able to fix that. I have replaced brakes, but found I could do the work myself very inexpensively and it was extremely easy. The dealership wanted to charge me $800, and I was able to do it for about $130 with no trouble.

My car is a V6 5 speed standard, and I believe the standard is much more reliable than the automatic. I've had a lot of work done, but with almost 300,000 miles it's not unreasonable for things like struts, plugs, O2 sensor, and fuel filters to be changed. She needs bodywork badly, but Maine winters have a way of making rust. All in all, I'd buy the car again in a heartbeat.

May 3, 2009.

I have a 1999 Mercury Mystique and am having the bucking surging problem. It seems to occur earlier in the morning. Sometimes the car runs real smooth and then other times I feel like a bull rider in the rodeo. I have replaced the timing belt, brakes, spark plugs and wiring. Yes my trunk leaks also. I thought it was just my trunk. My Mystique has about 97,000 miles on it. When purchased it only had 45,000 miles. Once I get the bull riding effect fixed I'm hoping it will be o.k.

MZ RITA.

I purchased a 1996 Mercury Mistake last year. It was donated to the cancer society. I paid $950.00. It was in incredible shape for 88,000, miles nothing was wrong except mild shaking at idle. The next day, I did extensive research on the car and it scared the hell out of me. Told 2 really good mechanics, know them both well, and they told me to sell it. One laughed at me.

I did smell anti freeze, but never looked for the problem. Guessing head gasket/shaking at idle didn't want to know. I sold the car a few months and 2000 miles later. I will say it was the best handling car I ever owned. Thanks to all your comments, you may have saved me lots of $$$$ and aggravation.

The leaking of water into the trunk is really easy to fix: Open the trunk and look at the plastic cover above the tail lights. The rainwater will run under this cover and enter the trunk. Put a piece of duct tape or something similar over that gap and the leak is fixed.

Now, if all the problems were that easy to fix...

"Told 2 really good mechanics, know them both well, and they told me to sell it. One laughed at me."

I'm not sure how "really good" your mechanic friends are. I'm a mechanic and the Contour/Mystique cars are NOT ones I'd laugh at or urge anyone to sell. Many of these cars make 200,000 miles without a problem.

A friend in Atlanta bought one a year old in 1997 with 22,000 miles on it. It is still in his family and now has 231,000 miles on it. It has had a starter and the required maintenance, and that's it. Many of these cars are still on the road in my area with well over 200,000 miles and they look and run like new. My neighbor two houses down has one that he has owned since it was new. His wife drives it and loves it. In 14 years it has never had a problem.

Myths about cars tend to take on a life of their own. Even many mechanics are taken in by these. Ask some mechanics about the Chevy Corvair of the early 60's, and they'll say "It's a death trap" because of Ralph Nader's book "Unsafe at any speed", claiming it was unstable. Several studies, including one by the National Safety Commission, found the cars to be perfectly safe, but the myth STILL persists. The same is true of the Pinto. People say "Oh, they EXPLODE" because of publicity from high-profile lawsuits. The truth of the matter is, their fuel tank design was typical of MANY small cars of that era.

Before accepting the word of so-called "good mechanics", who most likely are themselves victims of automotive myths, you should talk to a few owners of the vehicle in question. I regret that you sold what was probably an excellent car that might well have given you another 212,000 trouble-free miles, just as commenter 21:00's has done.

I bought a 1995 mercury mystique 2 1/2 years ago. from a friend. other than your every day wear and tear and preventive maintenance. I see no problem. The problem as I see it, are the greedy, so called mechanic's who try to turn minor problems into major problems. and then laugh all the way to the bank.