MERCURY MERCURY · model year

1998 MERCURY MERCURY

9 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998MERCURYMERCURY carries 9 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 1998 MERCURY is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (1) and seats (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 1998 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.

9
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

9 filings

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

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1
SEATS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1

Recent Complaints

20051110ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AFTER ONLY OWNING MY VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS, AND BEING TOLD IT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, IN A MATTER OF 3 DAYS, MANY PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY 4WD LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING, ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAISES TO HIGH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND THE CHECK GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON. THE CAR BEGAN DYING, THE IDLE DROPPING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN DIED IN MID DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LEAVING ME TO VEER TOWARDS THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HONOR MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, I PAID $1200 FOR. MY ESTIMATE CAME UP TO ALMOST $3000 WITH THE WARRANTY ONLY OPTING TO COVER $ 300. THE PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED BY THE MECHANIC WERE: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR: $680, SLACK IN BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS (NEED REPLACING): $625, ELECTRICAL AND RELATED REPAIRS: $ 215, SENSOR FOR FRONT AND REAR INTERNAL FAILURE $ 700, T/CASE MOTOR $725. I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE 4WD ON MY VEHICLE PURCHASED ONLY FOR THAT REA

Mileage: 122,000

20051110ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER ONLY OWNING MY VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS, AND BEING TOLD IT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, IN A MATTER OF 3 DAYS, MANY PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY 4WD LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING, ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAISES TO HIGH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND THE CHECK GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON. THE CAR BEGAN DYING, THE IDLE DROPPING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN DIED IN MID DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LEAVING ME TO VEER TOWARDS THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HONOR MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, I PAID $1200 FOR. MY ESTIMATE CAME UP TO ALMOST $3000 WITH THE WARRANTY ONLY OPTING TO COVER $ 300. THE PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED BY THE MECHANIC WERE: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR: $680, SLACK IN BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS (NEED REPLACING): $625, ELECTRICAL AND RELATED REPAIRS: $ 215, SENSOR FOR FRONT AND REAR INTERNAL FAILURE $ 700, T/CASE MOTOR $725. I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE 4WD ON MY VEHICLE PURCHASED ONLY FOR THAT REA

Mileage: 122,000

20051110SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

AFTER ONLY OWNING MY VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS, AND BEING TOLD IT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, IN A MATTER OF 3 DAYS, MANY PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY 4WD LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING, ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAISES TO HIGH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND THE CHECK GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON. THE CAR BEGAN DYING, THE IDLE DROPPING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN DIED IN MID DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LEAVING ME TO VEER TOWARDS THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HONOR MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, I PAID $1200 FOR. MY ESTIMATE CAME UP TO ALMOST $3000 WITH THE WARRANTY ONLY OPTING TO COVER $ 300. THE PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED BY THE MECHANIC WERE: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR: $680, SLACK IN BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS (NEED REPLACING): $625, ELECTRICAL AND RELATED REPAIRS: $ 215, SENSOR FOR FRONT AND REAR INTERNAL FAILURE $ 700, T/CASE MOTOR $725. I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE 4WD ON MY VEHICLE PURCHASED ONLY FOR THAT REA

Mileage: 122,000

20051110SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

AFTER ONLY OWNING MY VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS, AND BEING TOLD IT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, IN A MATTER OF 3 DAYS, MANY PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY 4WD LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING, ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAISES TO HIGH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND THE CHECK GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON. THE CAR BEGAN DYING, THE IDLE DROPPING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN DIED IN MID DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LEAVING ME TO VEER TOWARDS THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HONOR MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, I PAID $1200 FOR. MY ESTIMATE CAME UP TO ALMOST $3000 WITH THE WARRANTY ONLY OPTING TO COVER $ 300. THE PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED BY THE MECHANIC WERE: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR: $680, SLACK IN BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS (NEED REPLACING): $625, ELECTRICAL AND RELATED REPAIRS: $ 215, SENSOR FOR FRONT AND REAR INTERNAL FAILURE $ 700, T/CASE MOTOR $725. I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE 4WD ON MY VEHICLE PURCHASED ONLY FOR THAT REA

Mileage: 122,000

20051110VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

AFTER ONLY OWNING MY VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS, AND BEING TOLD IT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, IN A MATTER OF 3 DAYS, MANY PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY 4WD LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING, ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAISES TO HIGH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND THE CHECK GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON. THE CAR BEGAN DYING, THE IDLE DROPPING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN DIED IN MID DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LEAVING ME TO VEER TOWARDS THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HONOR MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, I PAID $1200 FOR. MY ESTIMATE CAME UP TO ALMOST $3000 WITH THE WARRANTY ONLY OPTING TO COVER $ 300. THE PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED BY THE MECHANIC WERE: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR: $680, SLACK IN BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS (NEED REPLACING): $625, ELECTRICAL AND RELATED REPAIRS: $ 215, SENSOR FOR FRONT AND REAR INTERNAL FAILURE $ 700, T/CASE MOTOR $725. I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE 4WD ON MY VEHICLE PURCHASED ONLY FOR THAT REA

Mileage: 122,000

20050919ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TWICE WHEN WE HAVE STARTED TO BRAKE, THE ENGINE HAS SPEEDED UP TO VERY HIGH RPMS. ON SAT. 9/17/05 AS I TRIED TO STOP THE ENGINE REVVED SO HIGH THAT I COULD NOT STOP THE VANS FORWARD PROGRESS WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT WAS ABLE TO SQUEEZE BY. VERY SCARY. MY WIFE HAD IT HAPPEN WHEN SHE WAS ON AN ICY ROAD AS SHE STARTED TO BRAKE THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP. THE ONLY THING THAT WILL WORK IN THIS SITUATION IS TO TRY & SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL BUT IT HAPPENS SO FAST THERE ISN'T MUCH TIME TO REACT. IF IT HAPPENS IN THE RIGHT SITUATION IT COULD BE VERY DISASTROUS. *NM

Mileage: 72,000

20050729ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE ALTERNATOR FAILED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER 1, 2002. CURRENTLY, AGAIN THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THE MILEAGE WAS 64,965 MILES ON THE CAR. CURRENTLY. 3 YEARS LATER THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE PRIVATE MECHANIC TO BE FIXED. THE ALTERNATOR THAT WAS REPLACED IN 2002 WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY EITHER. THE OWNER WAS DRIVING THE DIED. THE OWNER HAD TO PAY $700.00 FOR THE REPAIR BILL ON THE FIRST ALTERNATOR. *AK

Mileage: 64,965

20050505SEATS

DT: A BROKEN ROD UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT ALLOWED THE SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. IT FELT LIKE THE SEAT MAY BREAK COMPLETELY AND CAUSE THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. A SEAT BOLT RECALL WAS DONE IN 2003. *NM CONSUMER BOUGHT A NEW SEAT TRACK AND PUT IT ON THEMSELVES.*SB

Mileage: 85,000

20020715SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEATBELT WILL NOT LATCH INTO BUCKLE, CAUSING IT TO BE USELESS IN EVENT OF A CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Compare 1998MERCURYMERCURY to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 MERCURY MERCURY have?
The 1998 MERCURY MERCURY has 9 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 MERCURY MERCURY?
The most-complained component for the 1998 MERCURY MERCURY is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and SEATS.
Is the 1998 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.