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U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Mercury COUGAR problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

82 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

69,900 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 82 complaints (9.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation1822.0%
Fuel system concerns1113.4%
Transmission and shifting911.0%
Braking behavior78.5%
Electrical and battery issues67.3%
Steering behavior22.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
8
Electrical System
7
Fuel System, Gasoline
7
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
7
Fuel/Propulsion System
6
Engine And Engine Cooling
4
Tires
4
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump8
Electrical System7
Fuel System, Gasoline7
Power Train:Automatic Transmission7
Fuel/Propulsion System6
Engine And Engine Cooling4
Tires4
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly4

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 8; Electrical System: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Tires: 4; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
13
50,000 to 74,999
10
75,000 to 99,999
7
100,000 to 149,999
10
150,000 and above
7
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,99913
50,000 to 74,99910
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,99910
150,000 and above7

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 7

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 31 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2001
8
2002
8
2003
7
2004
18
2005
9
2006
2
2007
5
2008
3
2009
2
2011
5
2012
3
2014
2
2015
1
2016
2
2017
3
2020
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20018
20028
20037
200418
20059
20062
20075
20083
20092
20115
20123
20142
20151
20162
20173
20204

2001: 8; 2002: 8; 2003: 7; 2004: 18; 2005: 9; 2006: 2; 2007: 5; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2020: 4

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 18 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10045321 · 2003-11-03 (November 3, 2003)

AT 25,600 MILES, I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HARD & RAPID SHIFTING AND THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE LIGHT, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SHIFTING ISSUES. I CONTINUED TO BELIEVE THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT APPROPRIATELY. AT 38,200 MILES, WITH THE VEHICLE JUST OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THE VEHICLE AGAIN HAD HARSH RAPID SHIFTING WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. OUT OF FEAR FOR MY SAFETY, I EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND WAS COMPLETING A TURN WHEN MY VEHIC…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045321 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10047398 · 2003-11-23 (November 23, 2003)

FUEL PUMP FAILURE - FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED PREVIOUSLY (WITH AN OEM FORD ONE), WHILE DRIVING ON I95 NEAR DC IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, PUMP DIED, CAUSING CAR TO STALL, ALMOST CAUSING A MULTI CAR ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO MERGE THRU TRAFFIC TO REACH THE BREAKDOWN LANE. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP (52,000 MILES). NOW AT 61,000 THE PUMP IS DYING AGAIN. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047398 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10073110 · 2004-05-25 (May 25, 2004)

I HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER AS IF MY CAR WAS NOT GETTING GAS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS. DEALER REPLACED THE DPFE UNIT. GOOD FOR 4 MONTHS. STALLED OUT. WE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER. DID NOT WORK, STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. STALLED OUT ON THE ROAD AGAIN, HAD TO BE TOWED. TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN. THEY REPLACED THE DPFE UNIT AGAIN. STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. ALSO, EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL REGISTERING AFTER FILLING THE CAR UP, IT STILL READ EMPTY. STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM WITH HESITATION AND STALLING OUT. THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073110 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10112067 · 2005-02-23 (February 23, 2005)

2001 MERCURY COUGAR. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE REPLACE THE ENGINE AT 65,000 MILES, LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AT 70,000 MILES, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING IS ON ITS WAY OUT AT 100,000 MILES ALONG WITH A PLUGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. A/C ALSO FAILED AT 115,000 MILES.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112067 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10040946 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)

HYDRAULIC PUMP WENT OUT ON MY COUGAR - I HAD NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER! LUCKILY, THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT WITH NO TRAFFIC, SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DOWNSHIFTING AND USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040946 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10083702 · 2004-07-28 (July 28, 2004)

TEN MINUTES AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES REPLACED AND WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A WOMAN. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083702 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10083467 · 2004-07-22 (July 22, 2004)

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED BY POPPING THE CLUTCH. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIRING AROUND THE STARTER BURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083467 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10384744 · 2011-02-28 (February 28, 2011)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT A PIECE OF THE METAL BATTERY CONNECTOR HAD MELTED. THE METAL CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING HER TO LOSE ALL POWER SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V031000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10384744 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10057298 · 2004-01-14 (January 14, 2004)

CONSUMER NOTICED BLISTERS ON SIDEWALL OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. DEALERSHIP ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE BENT DUE TO SHORT SIDEWALL HEIGHT. *LA THE VIBRATIONS FROM THE TIRES AND WHEEL CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. *SC THE DEALERSHIP FELT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE MAGNESIUM/ALUMINUM WHEELS AND THE LOW PROFILE TIRES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057298 at NHTSA ↗