Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 140 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Mercury Mystique, and it carries 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 23 | 16% |
| Unknown or other | 16 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 14 | 10% |
| Visibility | 12 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 8% |
| Air bags | 7 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 3% |
| Equipment | 3 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN I COULD SMELL MY CAR GETTING HOT, SO I PULLED OVER AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS OVERHEATING, BUT DID NOT SHOW INSIDE ON THE DASHBOARD, SO I HAD IT CHECKED AND THE PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND THE THERMOSTAT
NHTSA complaint: Structure
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REQUESTING THE RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF FACULTY FLOOR MATS DUE TO SAFETY REASONS ON HIS 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLIPS THAT HELD THE FL
NHTSA complaint: Equipment
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANELS SURFACE BEGAN DEVELOPED CRACKS AND WARPS. A PLASTIC PIECE FROM THE PANEL, THAT WAS 5 INCHES IN HEIGHT BLOCKS THE WINDSHI
NHTSA complaint: Structure
1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE, SECOND OWNER, PURCHASED IS 2005. THE GAS LINE FREEZES WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES BELOW 20 DEGREES. THE TANK IS HALF FULL, TREATED FOR WINTER WEATHER AND IT STILL FREEZES. THIS IS NOT NORMAL: I'VE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
MY HUSBAND AND I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC FROM AN APPOINTMENT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTS SMOKING WITHIN A QUICK SECOND THE FRONT LEFT SIDE BURST INTO FLAMES, ELECTRICAL WINDOWS WOULDN'T WORK AND THE BRAKES FAILED,
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE DRIVEWAY AT 2 MPH, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. SHE HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY AP
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE DASHBOARD IS CURLING UP. CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD'S RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HAS EXPIRED AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *NJ
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE CONTACT NOTICED MOISTURE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT DRIPPED WATER INTO THE TRUNK WHEN IT WAS OPENED. SHE NOTICED THAT THE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1999 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: 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 CONT
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.
Fix: 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WHICH UTILIZE A PARK/LOCK SOLENOID. IT IS POSSIBLE TO ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO THE LOCK POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT THE SHIFT LEVER AND TRANSMISSION BEING IN PARK. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREM
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT HAVE UNITS WITH IGNITION KEYS REMOVABLE IN GEAR POSITIONS OTHER THAN PARK, WILL HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED.
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 46 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 140 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 23 of them (16%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) 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 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 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 72/100. 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.