My complaint involves a 1996 Mercury Mystique involving a failure of all interior lighting, side mirror adjustment, radio and clock related to a blown fuse #34 in the auxlillary fuse box. The cause was the overhead map light assembly which had overheated and the plastic retaining the 10W bulb holder melted allowing the metal bulb holder to slide in the molten plastic until it just barely contacted a negative bus in the assembly and blowing the fuse.it was a difficult problem to diagnose being a short was not present until the circuit was fused and then heat from the bulb would cause the metal holder to expand and short out blowing the fuse.I feel it appropriate to report this problem as I feel if the contacts had not shorted and blown the fuse and considering it became hot enough to melt the plastic is a potential fire hazard and I don't feel the assembly was engineered properly to support a 10W bulb.there has been, I believe, eight recalls to date on this model, several of those involved electrical components.

- Trenton, NJ, USA

I am writing in regards to my 1996 Mercury Mystique in which just had a fire. On Monday, December 10th, 2001, as I was driving, smoke startecome out of both exits where my rear seat shoulder harness seatbelts release. I immediately pulled over and run to a business for help. A gentleman sprayed sprayed the fire extingisher into the opening on the side walls where smoke was coming out. The fire department arrived also. The fireman checked my fuse bux and found a fuse melted into the box. My extended warranty - western general - says the part between the seat and panel was bent making wires touch and start a fire. The dealer won't admit anything. They gutted the whole inside, bending the part western general mentioned, in order to get to the wiring underneath. I am waiting for a call from Ford Motor Company.

- Westminster, CA, USA

Smoke emenated from steering column when engaging turn signal. Potential fire hazard as quoted by Ford service advisor.

- Shirley, MA, USA

Took vehicle to a Ford dealer for recall of engine cooling fan motor. They checked and said there was no problem, however a fuse was blown and they did replace the fuse. This tells me there must have been a problem for the fuse to need replacing. Approx. 3 weeks later, without any signs, was driving to work and the "check engine soon" light came on. Immediately afterwards the car stopped. The engine overheated and totally melted the engine components. The car had just been serviced. I feel that there obviously was a problem with the cooling fan and the result was exactly as the recall warned for the engine cooling fan. I have called Ford with no results. I now have to replace the motor. Please advise. What is my recourse?

- Milford, DE, USA

The electrical work on the car is in terrible condition. I purchased the car without noticing a failure in the reverse lighting. The reverse lights failed to work therefore since purchasing the car in greenville my daughter commuted from greensboro to greenville 3 times to have the problem corrected. Next the system failed again and with the same reverse lighting problem. I returned to car to the dealer and the system was corrected, however the panel lights failed and I have had the same problem up until this point.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

Headlights stayed on, and vehicle caught on fire. Consumer indicated vehicle was non repairable.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

The other problems, the trunk having water damage due to a severe leak, my electrical system is no good. I have a loose rod underneath car apart of the steering/ I drove around without the car being properly inspected and registered/ no admission sticker/engine makes this weird sound a rattling noise/ driving on the highway between 45-50 sometimes at no given moment the car will take off up the highway/ when you put car in gear it jerks so hard you think the car has broken down. The fuel tank does not pass inspection. The speakers and radio has also never played properly. I tryed and have been trying for the last 2 years and 3 months plus. When I found out all the things were going on I was very furious because these people knew that I was disabled, with a terrible injury, this was why I was trading in my car because it had over 100,000 miles and I needed something extra dependable. I voiced this to them, because I had trouble getting around. I have tryed many times to resolve this and nothing has been done from the dealership to rectify this. They told me alot of lies to stall me during the window to return the car. I was told that only the salesman that sold me the car could do the paperwork on the return, then I was told this same salesman had gone to work elsewhere. I was told then that the manager was on vacation and only he could do this. I left message for the owner to call me. I was put on hold for long periods of time. Left on hold, hung up on. The service manager was so rude to me about fixing the recalls he brought me to tears all three times that I called. He was very mean to me and told me he did not care what Ford had sent out about recalls he was not going to put my car up unless I paid for it. And, that if he put it up and fixed it I would not get my vehicle until he was paid for it. At that point I made up my mind not to go there and be humiliated again. The dates 07/14/1999 are actually 07/14/1997, (mistake) there's more no room!

- Waterbury, CT, USA

The brake lights fail to illuminate when the brakes are applied. Had been to mechanic & the fuse & light bulb were changed. The problem still exists. Mechanic feels its an electrical short in the wires.

- Lantana, FL, USA