10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 33,072 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Wiring harness is cracked and shorting.
- Alexandria, VA, USA
- the contact owns a 1995 Mercury Mystique with a current odometer reading of 149,000 miles. The contact stated that the wiring insulation cracked and left the wires exposes, which could cause short circuits. The contact stated that there was an owner notification about this problem, but the manufacturer never fixed the vehicle, and the campaign expired. Several electrical items under this problem started to fail.
- Niceville, FL, USA
Defective wire harness in 1995 Mercury Mystique. Nar incoming document could not be located.
- Mobile, AL, USA
Wiring harness insulation is cracked. As a result, consumer was unable to start vehicle. When it did start after two minutes of driving vehicle smoked and shut off.
- Murfreesboro, TN, USA
Vehicle stalled at 35 mph and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealership. The mechanic determined insulation on the wiring harness had deteriorated and caused a short. Multiple shorts occurred as the insulation throughout the wiring harness had badly deteriorated. The engine stalled twice. It was determined that the entire wiring harness needed to be replaced.
- Cleveland, OH, USA
Coating on electrical wires failing. Most if not all wires exposed. Est. Of repair is $800. Similar cases are ODI # 848119, 8017443, 780255 (no fire). The repair shop that I have received est. Stated this is the 2nd car in as many weeks with the same problem.
- Citra, FL, USA
Caliviar Ford in chesapeake va. Refused to complete recall of engine cooling fan electronic fuse due to melted wiring harness. This fault was caused be a previous recal (campaine id number : 01I0090000) (visability: Defrogger system:windshield:controls:wiring) causing the attached electrical connectors to melt. I just spent $2000 and replacet car with new motor because the motor blowed up due to another factory recall id# 00V367000 engine and engine cooling. I purchased this car with over 100,000 miles and this work was never performed and I did not receive the recal until after 100,000 miles.
- Va. Beach, VA, USA
Insulation on electrical wiring is separating and coming off, this causes the wires to touch and melt. Dealer indicated insulation has to be replaced. Reported by john jenkins.
- Waxhaw, NC, USA
When the A/C was on the ABS and traction control lights to turn on and occasionally the brakes would grab. ABS grabs the entire time the A/C is on causing the car to be unsafe to drive. Possible due to recall #99M03 on the wire harness
- Round Rock, TX, USA
Wiring harness has cracked and vehicle stalled. Contacted dealer.
- Middle Island, NY, USA
Wiring harness in the vehicle failed and caused a fire that burned the car to the ground. I see that on the recall page that there is a recall that indicates that the vehicle could overheat and start a fire. This vehicle nearly burned down a house and another vehicle when the fire occurred. The fire marshall advised that there is a magnesium coupler in the steering column that once it ignites it is basically impossible to extinguish. Help.
- Granbury, TX, USA
Motor would stall and die, and turn signal quit working, took to mechanic, and they said wires were bad and shorted out.
- Texarkana, AR, USA
Electrical system suddenly failed while driving to work. Only the interior lights would operate and the emergency flashers would not come on for safety. When gearshift was put into "park" it would not come out because interlock is electrically activated (car could not be pushed to safe location out of traffic). Several heavy guage red wires that connect to battery positive terminal (and run underneath the battery) lost insulation and shorted out causing abrupt loss of electric power to all items except interior lights. Ford sent letter 10/1999 extending warranty for "certain" underhood wiring harnesses that could experience insulation cracking and failure, but will not accept warranty claim for my situation. I feel this is a very unsafe condition (the car stalled with absolutetly no warning) and may exist on other Mystique and Contour. I have electronic images of faulty wires and Ford's extended warranty letter for your inspection. Please contact me if you need this information. Thank you.
- Maple Heights, OH, USA
The insulation of the wiring has degraded, causing the vehicle to short out. Dealer has repaired the vehicle, and the problem still exists.
- Athens, GA, USA
Electrical system's wire insulation cracked/fell apart, causing shorts, resulting in fires.
- Washington, DC, USA
- Las Vegas , NV, USA