Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Mercury Mystique
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Mercury Mystique has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns and 229 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #08E033000 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E022000 BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01I013000 FORD/FRONT COIL SPRINGS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V255000 FORD/FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V230000 FORD/HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V075000 FORD/REAR BRAKE VALVE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V243000 FORD/AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V194000 FORD/THROTTLE CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V103000 FORD/HEADLIGHT SWITCH/WIRING HARNESS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V233000 FORD/SHIFT LEVER DAMAGE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V028000 FORD/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 47 complaints
- Power Train 38 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 31 complaints
- Electrical System 27 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 25 complaints
- Air Bags 18 complaints
Of the 229 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 229 complaints, owners report 7 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Mercury Mystique has a below-average reliability rating due to notable issues in suspension, power train, and electrical systems. The NHTSA data indicates 229 owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns, suggesting recurring problems. Limited evidence makes certain assessments less precise, but the existing data highlights a higher frequency of suspension and power train issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| Power train | 75,000–120,000 miles | $500–$2,000 | common |
| Electrical system | 80,000–110,000 miles | $250–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections and replacements
- Coolant flush every 30,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change
- Spark plug replacement
- Tire rotations and balancing
- Exhaust system check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Suspension noise or sagging
- Transmission slipping or hard shifts
- Electrical shorts or burned fuses
- Brake pedal soft or unresponsive
- Heater blower malfunction
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Mercury Mystique at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.