1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE Complaints

ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS LIFTED UP AROUND THE VENT FOR THE HEATER/AIR/DEFROSTER WHICH RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE FRONT DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. PROBLEM IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. IT DOES CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME FOR TWO REASONS. IT BLOCKS PART OF MY FIELD OF VIEW OUT THE FRONT WINDOW. ALSO THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT VENT PROPERLY TO THE WINDOW MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDOW. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE AIRBAGS. THANKFULLY I HAVE NOT HAD TO USE THEM HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD HAS BECOME UNGLUED. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THE INSTABILITY OF THE DASH PANEL MAY MAKE THE AIRBAG REFUSE TO DEPLOY OR DEPLOY IMPROPERLY.

FIRST INCIDENTS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BETWEEN 9,000 AND 25,000 MILES WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED WHERE THERE CAN BE STANDING WATER WHEN IT RAINS. POWER STEERING FAILED FROM BELT SLIPPAGE. ON 7-3-2001 WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET THROUGH REASONABLE CURB-SIDE WATER ON A RAINY AFTERNOON THE POWER STEERING FAILED AT N INTERSECTION. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THE BELT PULLIES ARE LOCATED IN SUCH A PLACE THAT THE TIRES SPLASHING THROUGH SHALLOW STANDING WATER CAUSES THE BELTS TO SLIP AND STEERING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL (ALTERNATOR) *AK

WHEN PUTTING KEY INTO THE IGNITION IGNITION WILL SOMETIMES TURN, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

DASHBOARD INSIDE OF VEHICLE HAS LIFTED UP AND PULLED FROM PANEL. ALSO, VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

BRAKE HOSE WAS RUBBING AGAINST FRAME AND SUSPENSION. ALSO, FRONT BRAKE ROTOR KEPT WARPING, AND DEALERSHIP MECHANIC REPLACED BRAKES AT 4000 MILES . THIS WAS FOURTH PAIR OF BRAKES.*AK FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP AND NEED REPLACED EVERY 4000 MILES. *SLC

CAR WAS PARKED IN MOTEL PARKING LOT. I ENTERED CAR AT 6:55AM TO MOVE CAR BY OUR ROOM TO PICKUP BAGS. I HAD MY FOOT ON BRAKE, STARTED ENGINE AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CAR JUMPED REARWARD AT A HIGH SPEED. I HAD NOT PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR HIT A TELEPHONE POLE (ABOUT 8 FEET BEHIND WERE THE CAR WAS PARKED). MY BODY WENT REARWARD WHEN THE CAR HIT THE POLE. AT THIS TIME, I HAD MY HAND ON THE SHIFTER (FLOORMOUNT) AND IT PULLED THE CAR INTO FORWARD GEAR. THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AND SLAMMED INTO A BRICK COLUMN DIRECTLY INFRONT OF WERE I WAS PARKED. I TRIED TO TURN OFF IGNITION AND HIT THE BRAKE BUT I COULDN'T EFFECT THE FORWARD MOTION. I SAW THE CAR HIT THE POLE AND MY FOREHEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD AT THE HOSPITAL THAT YOU NEED TO BE GOING 35MPH OR FASTER FOR THEM TO DEPLOY. DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ACCIDENTS BEFORE. I KNOW THAT I DID NOT PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR WHEN I ENGAGED REVERSE. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR REVVING HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I WAS ACCELERATING WHEN THE CAR WAS GOING FORWARD.

ONLY ON WET / SNOWY ROADS VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN BRAKE ARE APPLIED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO LOOK OR INSPECT VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THERE IS A CONSTANT GAS SMELL DURING THE WINTER TIME. THE SMELL IS WORSE RIGHT AFTER FILLING THE CAR WITH GASOLINE AND ANYTIME THE CAR IS STARTED MORE THAN ONE TIME SUCH AS NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF ERRANDS. THE SMELL IS SO BAD AT TIMES I AM AFRAID TO LEAVE THE CAR CLOSE TO THE HOUSE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS MANY TIMES AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED AND THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED AT ONE POINT. GASOLINE HAS LEAKED AT TIMES FROM BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS FOR THE MOST PART. *AK

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK, AND WHEN SHE PLACED RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKES, AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND INCREASED THE RPMS, CAUSING AUTOMOBILE TO ADVANCE FORWARD. IT JUMPED THE CONCRETE. *AK THE BRAKE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE GAS PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. *YH

WHILE IN A PARKING SPOT CONSUMER PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AS IF IT WAS STICKING. IF TAPPED, IT WOULD RELEASE. CONSUMER'S CAR WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT, CONSUMER HIT A TREE, 20 FEET AFTER THE EMBANKMENT. THAT WAS HOW THE CAR WAS STOPPED, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *AK *SLC