Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 409 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Mercury Mystique, and it carries 12 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 79 | 19% |
| Electrical system | 60 | 15% |
| Power train | 38 | 9% |
| Fuel system | 33 | 8% |
| Suspension | 27 | 7% |
| Steering | 25 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 4% |
| Visibility | 13 | 3% |
| Air bags | 11 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 10 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON JUNE 22,2011. ON THAT DAY I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ACTING ERRATIC,JUMPING UP AND DOWN. AT THE TIME, IT WASN'T AFFECTING THE SPEED. THEY SAID THEY KNOW AND JUST WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAP
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR MY VEHICLE RUNNING ON THE VERY WARM SIDE AND NOT COOLING ITSELF DOWN. MANY THINGS REPAIRED AND NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN AND IT IS NOT EVEN THE DEAD OF SUMMER YET! *TR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
FLUID ON THE GROUND APPARENTLY COMING FRO THE POWER STEERING LINE UNDER THE PUMP. ALSO THE VEHICLES AT IDLING 1000 RPM WILL STALL OUT. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. WHILE ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS NOTICED THERE WAS A GAS LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER MADE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST HER. THE DEALER IS A
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
ON YOUR WEB SITE I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL RECALLS ON 95 MERCURY MYSTIQUE'S ONE IS REGARDING THE AC UNIT AND THE WIRES BURNING UP AS WELL AS A FLOOR SHIFTER PROBLEM CAUSING THE SHIFTER NOT TO INDICATE THE CORRECT GEAR. I WENT
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS BELOW LEVEL AND HE ADDED ANTIFREEZE. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, HE NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE ANTIFREEZE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY MYSTIQUE WITH A CURRENT ODOMETER READING OF 149,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING INSULATION CRACKED AND LEFT THE WIRES EXPOSES, WHICH COULD CAUSE SHORT CIRCUITS. THE C
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A GAS SMELL WAS NOTICED DUE TO A GAS LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED A GAS LEAK IN THE FILLER HOSE WAS PRESENT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL,
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 1995 Mercury Mystique. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS
Risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY
Fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE
Risk: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-32
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1995 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L AND 2.5L ENGINES, AND 1996 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. TIGHTENING OF THE ENGINE COOLING FAN MOTOR BEARINGS, UP TO AND INCLUDING MOTOR STALL, CAN RESULT IN INCREASED MOTOR TORQUE AND HIGHER THAN NORMAL MOTOR CURRENT AND AC
Risk: OVERHEATING OF THE COOLING FAN MOTOR DUE TO EXCESSIVE CURRENT CAN RESULT IN SMOKE AND ODORS FROM BEARING GREASE, INSULATION AND OTHER INTERNAL MOTOR COMPONENTS. IF ELECTRICAL CURRENT CONTINUES TO BE
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A POSITIVE TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT DEVICE IN-LINE WITH EACH FAN MOTOR. FORD WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY TO A TOTAL OF 8 YEARS OF SERVICE OR 1
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1995-1997 FORD CONTOUR AND MERCURY MYSTIQUE VEHICLES. THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR COULD OVERHEAT CAUSING THE ATTACHED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO ME
Risk: THIS COULD CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
Fix: FORD WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH FOR 10 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF SALE OF THE VEHICLE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 409 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 79 of them (19%). There are 12 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.