Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Mercury Mystique, and it carries 5 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 | 13 | 20% |
| Visibility | 7 | 11% |
| Air bags | 5 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 5% |
| Suspension | 2 | 3% |
| Air bags | 2 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, AND SURGING IN HER VEHICLE. SHE WOULD LOSE ALL POWER AND HAVE TO WAIT A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
INSTRUMENT DASH PANEL COVER IS , AND HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL BACK AT THE DEFROST VENTS AT THE WINDSHIELD SINCE 2003. IT APPEARS THE GLUE HAD BEGUN TO FAIL. EACH TIME I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE MY CONCERNS AND COMPLAIN
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
DASH HAS PEELED BACK BY WINDSHIELD, DEFROSTER SECTION POPPED OUT, AS TIME PROGRESSES THE DASH KEEPS PEELING BACK/RAISING UP...EVENTUALLY, IT WILL BE TOO HIGH TO SEE OVER. (I AM SHORT STATURE). *TR
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
2000 MYSTIQUE LS, ENGINE STALL 7 TIMES OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS. AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS, THE MERCURY DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE WHILE BACKING FROM DRIVEWAY. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS REPLACED BY FORD DEALER AT A COST OF ABOUT $300. TIRE DEALER REPLACED TIRE UNDER ROAD
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
I HAVE THE SAME EXACT DEFECT AS - CAMPAIGN NUMBER: DP06004 STRUCTURE VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:BLOWER
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL, BUT IN ACTUALITY IT WAS A SAFETY BULLETIN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THER
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
PASSANGER SIDE FUEL TANK RETAINER STRAP CORRODED THROUGH AND YIELDED. DRIVER SIDE STRAP IS ALSO CORRODED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT DID NOT YIELD. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2000 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. AN INCORRECT LABEL WAS INSTALLED ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR. THIS LABEL CONTAINS INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ACTIVATION OF THE CHILDPROOF SAFETY LOCKS.
Risk: THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE MAY BELIEVE THE CHILDPROOF SAFETY LOCK WAS ACTIVATED WHEN IT WAS NOT, POTENTIALLY ALLOWING THE DOOR TO BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A REPLACEMENT LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHI
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES OF YOUR VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26, 20
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 13 of them (20%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 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.