Total Complaints
4 filings
MERCURY MERCURY · model year
1997 MERCURY MERCURY
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997MERCURYMERCURY carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 MERCURY is visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system with 1 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock (1) and engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 11 investigation files overlapping the 1997 MERCURY. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030327SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. *JB
20020625ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AND THE RESPONSIBLE GARAGE (OSMAN) ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I MAY HAVE CHECKED THE WRONG BLOCK. I WAS TRAVELING TO TAMPA,FL. ON I-4 TO A WEDDING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A WHITE STEAM APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR, LUCKILY I HAD JUST COME UPON A REST AREA AND PULLED INTO THE AREA AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. CHECKED TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG AND I REALLY COULDN'T TELL FROM ALL OF THE STEAM AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS UP ALL THE WAY. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE CARRIER AND REQUESTED ROAD SIDE SERVICE WHICH THEY IMMEDIATELY PROVIDED FOR MY. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE IN KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA AND INSPECTED AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND IT WAS THE 6TH ONE HE HAD REPLACED IN THE LAST YEAR, HE CALLED THE MERCURY GARAGE AND TOLD ME THE PART WOULD BE $ 576.00 AND OTHER GASKETS NOT INCLUDED AND ANTI-FREEZE, AND TOWING AND WOULD BE AROUND $ 650.00. CAR IS STILL IN THE GARAGE, SO I AM NOT SURE WHETHER IT WAS L
20000307VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
NO WAY TO OPEN HATCH BACK, EXCEPT FROM OUTSIDE
20000307LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
NO WAY TO OPEN HATCH BACK, EXCEPT FROM OUTSIDE
Compare 1997MERCURYMERCURY to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 MERCURY MERCURY have?▼
The 1997 MERCURY MERCURY has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 MERCURY MERCURY?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 MERCURY MERCURY is VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE.
Is the 1997 MERCURY MERCURY safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.