1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE Complaints

I PURCHASED MY MERCURY MYSTIQUE NEW IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN THE CAR VERY EASY, I DON'T EVEN GET ON THE EXPRESSWAY VERY OFTEN. AT AROUND 45,000 MILES, I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, WHICH THE OWNERS MANUAL DOESN'T EVEN MENTION. NOW, WITH ONLY 55K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND NEEDS A TOTAL REBUILD! ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS NEARLY 9 YEARS OLD, AT 55,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF FLAW IN THE DESIGN FOR IT TO DO THIS. *B

DT: THE DOOR LATCH ON DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD NOT SHUT, HAD TO GO TO JUNK YARD TO GET A PART AND PUT IT IN. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 20, 2005. CONSUMER BRUISED HAND TRYING TO GET THE DOWN SHUT. THERE WAS CLICKING NOISE IN THE PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT CONTROLS THE POWER WINDOWS. ALSO, THE KEY GOT HOT IN THE IGNITION.*AK

1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE(68,000). FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD WHAT THEY REFERRED TO AS A "PROGRAM", EVIDENTLY FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SPRINGS.THE PROGRAM WAS BASICALLY A FREE INSPECTION. MY CAR WAS INSPECTED IN 2002 WHILE IT WAS IN FOR ANOTHER RECALL, AT WHICH TIME IT WAS GIVEN A PASSING GRADE.THE PROGRAM EXPIRED @ 150,000 OR DEC. OF 2004 WHICHEVER CAME FIRST.IN FEBRUARY 2005 A 6" CHUNCK OF THE PASS. SIDE SPRING SNAPPED OFF, LUCKILY ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. I HEARD THE NOISE AND WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE PIECE FROM THE STREET.ON CLOSE INSPECTION THE PIECE DID NOT BREAK DUE TO CORROSION.I BELIEVE IT WAS DUE TO POOR MATERIAL QUALITY, MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD CAUSE TIRE FAILURE AT HIGHER RATES OF SPEED RESULTING IN POSSIBLE FATALIIES. FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE THE SPRING.*AK

THE VEHICLE RAN ROUGH WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THIS CONDITION CAUSED A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING DURING NIGHT HOURS REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR THEM BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

HEADLIGHT LENSES DEVELOPED A CLOUDY WHITE DISCOLORATION THAT REDUCED THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATION. *AK THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE REPLACED AT 36,000. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE HAS 64000 MILES THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. *NM

CONSUMER STATES THAT HER VEHICLE DIES ON THE FREEWAY. SHE STATES THAT VEHICLE CONSTANTLY BLOWS FUSES. SHE SAID THAT SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT, HER ELECTRICAL WIRES ARE MELTING TOGETHER. ALSO WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THIS IS HAPPENING, WHEN IT TOUCHES IT BLOWS FUSES. SHE STATES THAT SOMETIMES HER VEHICLE WILL NOT START. SHE ALSO STATES THAT THE MECHANIC STATES THEY WILL NOT TOUCH THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE IF HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS, AND IS OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT TO BE COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. SHE SAID SHE WAS ALSO TOLD, THAT THIS VEHICLE COULD CAUGHT FIRE AT ANY TIME, AND THAT SHE SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS. PLEASE HELP. *NM

FILLER HOSE LEAKS BADLY WHEN TANK IS FILLED. CAR DIAGONOSED BY MEL CLAYTON FORD OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA WITH FILLER HOSE AND VENT VALVE NEED TO BE REPLACED, POSSIBLY NEEDING A NEW FUEL TANK AS WELL. CAR ALSO RUNS HOT ALL THE TIME (FORD UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM)

I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR LAST SUMMER AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN THIS SUMMER. I HAD TO REPLACE MY TAIL LIGHTS TWICE THE BRAKES IS ALWAYS GIVING ME PROBLEMS. THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOESNT ROLL DOWN. WHEN IT RAIN THE FLOORS GET WET. I HAVE A HARD TIME PUTTING IT INTO GEAR AND TAKING IT OUT OF GEAR. IT STALLS TO CUT ON AND DRIVES REALLY ROUGH.I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES NUMEROUS TIMES.THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT AND THE TEMPERTURE GAUGE AS WELL.THE AC DOSENT WORK AND IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE HEAT TO WARM UP CAR.SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING, FLASHED AND CONSTANT. I GUESS WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT FORD IS RIGHT FOUND ON ROAD DEAD FIX OR REPAIR DAILY OUCH