2001 Mercury Mystique problems
The Ford Mondeo I (first generation) is a mid-size car that was produced by Ford, beginning on 23 November 1992, with sales beginning on 22 March 1993. It is also known as the Mk I Mondeo; the 1996 facelift versions are usually designated Mk II. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk. In December 1992, Autocar published a section on the Mondeo, and how it would conquer rivals.
Intended as a world car, it replaced the Ford Sierra in Europe, the Ford Telstar in a large portion of Asia and other markets, while the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique replaced the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz in North America. Despite being billed as a world car, the only external items the Mondeo shared initially with the Contour were the windscreen, front windows, front mirrors and door handles. Thus, the CDW27 project turned out not to be a true world car in the sense that the original Ford Focus and newer Fords developed under the "One Ford" policy turned out to be. The first generation Mondeo was replaced in 2000, by the larger second generation; in the United States and Canada, the Contour/Mystique were replaced initially by the Focus and later the Fusion.
Design and development
Mk I
Instigated in 1986 (just before its Sierra predecessor received a major facelift), the design of the car cost Ford US$6 billion. It was one of the most expensive new-car programmes ever. The Mondeo was significant as its design and marketing were shared between Ford USA in Dearborn and Ford of Europe. Its codename while under development reflected thus: CDW27 signified that it straddled the C and D size classes and was a "world car". The head of the Mondeo project was John Oldfield, headquartered at Ford Dunton in Essex.
A large proportion of the high development cost was due to the Mondeo being a completely new design, sharing very little, if anything, with the Ford Sierra. Unlike the Sierra, the Mondeo is front-wheel drive in its most common form, with a rarer four-wheel drive version available on the Mk I car only. Over-optimistically, the floor pan was designed to accept virtually any conceivable drivetrain, from a transverse inline-four engine to a longitudinal V-8. This resulted in a hugely intrusive and mostly disused bellhousing cover and transmission tunnel. Resultingly the front interior, especially the footwells, feels more cramped than would be expected from a vehicle of this size. The Mondeo featured new manual and automatic transmissions and sophisticated suspension design, which give it class-leading handling and ride qualities, and subframes front and rear to give it executive car refinement. The automatic transmission featured electronic control with sport and economy modes plus switchable overdrive. The program manager from 1988, and throughout its early development, was David Price.
By 1989, Ford had confirmed that it would be launching an all-new front-wheel drive car to replace the Sierra within the next four years, although it had not yet decided whether the Sierra name would continue or be replaced, with some subsequent reports even hinting that the Cortina name could make a comeback, having been axed in 1982 when replaced by the Sierra. Several prototypes were tested that year, but the launch of the Nissan Primera in 1990 prompted Ford to make a number of major alterations to the final product, as it saw the new competitor from Nissan to be the benchmark car in this sector, having previously identified the Honda Accord as the class leader.
The car was launched in the midst of turbulent times at Ford of Europe, when the division was haemorrhaging hundreds of millions of dollars, and had gained a reputation in the motoring press for selling products which had been designed by accountants rather than engineers. The fifth-generation Escort and third-generation Orion of 1990 was the zenith of this cost-cutting/high-price philosophy, which was by then beginning to backfire on Ford, with the cars being slated for their substandard ride and handling, though a facelift in 1992 had seen things improve a little. The Sierra had sold well, but not as well as the all-conquering Cortina before it, and in Britain, it had been overtaken in the sales charts by the newer Vauxhall Cavalier. Previously loyal customers were already turning to rival European and Japanese products, and by the time of the Mondeo's launch, the future of Europe as a Ford manufacturing base was hanging in the balance. The new car had to be good, and it had to sell. It was unveiled to the public on 23 November 1992, although sales would not begin for another four months. At this stage, Ford confirmed that the new car would feature a completely new name and would be called the Mondeo.
Safety was a high priority in the Mondeo design, with a driver's side airbag (it was the first-ever car sold from the beginning with a driver's airbag in all of its versions, which helped it achieve the European Car of the Year title for 1994), side-impact bars, seat belt pretensioners, and antilock braking systems (higher models) as standard features. Other features for its year included adaptive damping, self-leveling suspension (top estate models), traction control (V6 and 4WD versions), and heated front windscreen, branded Quickclear.
The interiors were usually well-appointed, featuring velour trim, an arm rest with CD and tape storage, central locking (frequently remote), power windows (all round on higher models), power mirrors, illuminated entry, flat-folding rear seats, etc. Higher-specification models had leather seats, trip computers, electric sunroof, CD changer, and alloy wheels.
During its development, Ford used the 1986 Honda Accord and in the later stages the 1990 Nissan Primera as the class benchmarks that the CDW27 had to beat.
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Common 2001 Mercury Mystique problems
The Mercury Mystique, a compact sedan produced by Ford Motor Company, was well-received for its comfortable interior and smooth ride. However, like any vehicle, the 2001 model year had its fair share of common problems reported by owners. Here are some of the most frequently mentioned issues:
- Transmission Failure: Transmission problems were a significant concern for many 2001 Mercury Mystique owners. The most common issue reported was the transmission failing entirely, often without any warning signs. This problem was particularly prevalent in vehicles with automatic transmissions. When the transmission failed, the car would not move, and the only solution was to replace the entire transmission system, which could be quite costly.
- Engine Stalling: Another common problem reported by Mercury Mystique owners was engine stalling. This issue was often caused by a faulty crankshaft position sensor, which would result in the engine stalling while driving or not starting at all. Replacing the sensor would typically solve the problem, but it could be frustrating for drivers who experienced repeated stalling.
- Power Steering Failure: Power steering failure was a common issue reported by Mercury Mystique owners. The power steering system would often fail without warning, making it challenging to steer the vehicle. This problem was often caused by a leak in the power steering system, which would require replacement of the affected parts.
- Air Conditioning System Failure: Many Mercury Mystique owners reported issues with the air conditioning system. The most common problem was that the system would blow warm air instead of cold. This issue was often caused by a faulty compressor or a refrigerant leak, which would require replacement of the affected parts.
- Faulty Ignition Coils: Ignition coil failure was a common problem reported by Mercury Mystique owners. The ignition coils would often fail, causing the engine to misfire or stall. Replacing the faulty ignition coils would typically solve the problem, but it could be an expensive repair.
- Faulty Oxygen Sensors: Faulty oxygen sensors were a common problem reported by Mercury Mystique owners. The sensors would often fail, causing the check engine light to come on and the engine to run poorly. Replacing the faulty sensors would typically solve the problem, but it could be an expensive repair.
- Excessive Oil Consumption: Many Mercury Mystique owners reported issues with excessive oil consumption. The engine would often consume more oil than expected, which could lead to engine damage if not addressed. This problem was often caused by worn piston rings or cylinder walls, which would require replacement of the affected parts.
In conclusion, while the Mercury Mystique was a well-regarded vehicle, the 2001 model year had several common problems reported by owners. These issues included transmission failure, engine stalling, power steering failure, air conditioning system failure, faulty ignition coils, faulty oxygen sensors, and excessive oil consumption. While some of these problems were relatively minor and could be easily fixed, others were more serious and could be quite expensive to repair.
Is the Mercury Mystique the same as the Ford?
Since its introduction in 1995, the Mystique has been Mercury's counterpart to the Ford Contour. Based on the same platform, the Mercury has differentiated itself by having different styling and trim packages. But for all intents and purposes, the Contour and Mystique were the same car.
What year was the Mercury Mystique made?
The Contour and Mystique, sold from 1995-2000, were, in the U.S., offered only in a four-door sedan version.
Was Mercury nicer than Ford?
What is the difference between a Ford and a Mercury? Most Mercury models were higher trim, than Ford models, but lower trim, than Lincoln. Mercury had more standard features, than Ford and was priced higher than Ford, but less than Lincoln.
Why did Ford stop Mercury?
Ford completely phased out the Mercury brand in 2011, as the company refocused its marketing and engineering efforts solely on the Ford and Lincoln brands. “Mercury has been a tremendous line for Ford Motor Company because it filled the niche between our Ford and Lincoln lineups,” said Kreipke.
Is the Mercury Mystique the same as the Ford?
Since its introduction in 1995, the Mystique has been Mercury's counterpart to the Ford Contour. Based on the same platform, the Mercury has differentiated itself by having different styling and trim packages. But for all intents and purposes, the Contour and Mystique were the same car.
When was the Mercury Mystique made?
The Contour and Mystique, sold from 1995-2000, were, in the U.S., offered only in a four-door sedan version.
Was Mercury nicer than Ford?
What is the difference between a Ford and a Mercury? Most Mercury models were higher trim, than Ford models, but lower trim, than Lincoln. Mercury had more standard features, than Ford and was priced higher than Ford, but less than Lincoln.
Why did Ford stop Mercury?
Ford completely phased out the Mercury brand in 2011, as the company refocused its marketing and engineering efforts solely on the Ford and Lincoln brands. “Mercury has been a tremendous line for Ford Motor Company because it filled the niche between our Ford and Lincoln lineups,” said Kreipke.
2001 Mercury Mystique car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mercury Mystique problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Tires problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2001 Mercury Mystique vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2001 Mercury Mystique complaints
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2001 Mercury Mystique.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2015-01-04
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: TIRE WOULD DEFLATE ON AND OFF. WENT IN TO THE SHOP TODAY TO GET IT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RIP IN SIDEWALL. REPAIRMEN STATED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE, NOT ANYTHING I DID. HAD TO BUY A NEW TIRE. *TR
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-10-28
- VIN: 2MESM74W81X
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: AT A COMPLETE STOP CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OF BRAKE TO ACCELERATE. IF AT A SLIGHT INCLINE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARD EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN DRIVE. DEALER SAID THAT WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLE. *AK
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2001 Mercury Mystique problems:
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