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U.S. public vehicle records

Mercury COUGAR problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,470 owner complaints analyzed

48 distinct recall campaigns

70,182 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1962 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 474 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 169 of 1,470 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior21014.3%
Engine operation15910.8%
Electrical and battery issues1469.9%
Fuel system concerns1037.0%
Transmission and shifting936.3%
Steering behavior745.0%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
169
Electrical System
87
Vehicle Speed Control
79
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
72
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
63
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
61
Fuel System, Gasoline
60
Engine And Engine Cooling
53
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine169
Electrical System87
Vehicle Speed Control79
Power Train:Automatic Transmission72
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline63
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump61
Fuel System, Gasoline60
Engine And Engine Cooling53

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 169; Electrical System: 87; Vehicle Speed Control: 79; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 72; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 63; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 61; Fuel System, Gasoline: 60; Engine And Engine Cooling: 53

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
39
25,000 to 49,999
96
50,000 to 74,999
116
75,000 to 99,999
101
100,000 to 149,999
89
150,000 and above
33
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00039
25,000 to 49,99996
50,000 to 74,999116
75,000 to 99,999101
100,000 to 149,99989
150,000 and above33

Under 25,000: 39; 25,000 to 49,999: 96; 50,000 to 74,999: 116; 75,000 to 99,999: 101; 100,000 to 149,999: 89; 150,000 and above: 33

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (116). 996 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.

1995
128
1996
98
2000
258
2001
192
2002
144
2003
148
2004
141
2005
72
2006
60
2007
48
2008
35
2009
19
2010
15
2011
24
2012
14
2013
13
2014
16
2015
9
2016
11
2017
12
2018
4
2019
1
2020
7
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995128
199698
2000258
2001192
2002144
2003148
2004141
200572
200660
200748
200835
200919
201015
201124
201214
201313
201416
20159
201611
201712
20184
20191
20207
20231

1995: 128; 1996: 98; 2000: 258; 2001: 192; 2002: 144; 2003: 148; 2004: 141; 2005: 72; 2006: 60; 2007: 48; 2008: 35; 2009: 19; 2010: 15; 2011: 24; 2012: 14; 2013: 13; 2014: 16; 2015: 9; 2016: 11; 2017: 12; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 7; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 210 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 159 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 146 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 10099244 · 2005-01-06 (January 6, 2005)

WHILE RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION LEFT TIRE MARKS ON THE DRIVEWAY. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099244 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 486068 · 1995-04-20 (April 20, 1995)

FRONT BRAKE HOSE AT FACTORY CRIMPED CONNECTOR ON CALIPER, CAUSED EQUALIZATION VALVE TO FAIL/LOSS OF BACKUP BRAKING SYSTEM. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486068 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 557920 · 2000-11-07 (November 7, 2000)

IGNITION MODULE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 557920 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 557769 · 2000-11-20 (November 20, 2000)

THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TEMPERAMENTAL AND THE VEHICLE IS STALLING. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 557769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 896821 · 2001-09-25 (September 25, 2001)

VEHICLE STALLED AT ANY SPEED. HAS STALLED 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED 4 WEEKS AGO. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID THAT TFI MODULE AND IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THESE COMPONENTS CAUSED ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 896821 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983619 · 1996-04-26 (April 26, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, ENGINE COMPARTMNET FIRE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983619 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 558917 · 2001-01-12 (January 12, 2001)

INJECTOR ON THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED. SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558917 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10248214 · 2008-11-09 (November 9, 2008)

THE CAR IS NOW TOAST. IT WAS ABOUT 100 MILES PAST ITS SCHEDULED OIL-CHANGE/TUNE UP BUT OTHERWISE HAS BEEN WELL-CARED-FOR AND WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. I WAS DRIVING, AND A BEEPING STARTED. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT'S COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE CAR, AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON WARNING OF VERY LOW BATTERY, BUT NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT THE BACK (REARVIEW AND SIDE MIRRORS) AND IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING SYNTHETIC IS BURNING (THIS ALL HAPPENS IN SECONDS TIME); SO, I PULL OVER, PARK, TURN THE CAR OFF. MY FRIEND AND I GOT OUT OF TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 166,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248214 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11534721 · 2023-07-27 (July 27, 2023)

Brake pads constantly keeps running out on front driver, passenger front brakes are still good but rotor keeps running out unevenly, no brake fluid leaks but needs refill every 3rd about 3/4 of a pints bottle, making a left turn it accelerated by itself brakes didn't react, instead of causing in a big accident, pulled the steering wheel, went through a fence and a brick wall stopped my car, checked all fuses replaced fuses if needed, confirmed fuses AMP Ganges with the vehicle own owners manual, dashboard backlights keeps going on and off on i…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11534721 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 973252 · 1995-10-11 (October 11, 1995)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FAILS TO FULLY ENGAGE INTO INDICATED GEARS. TT WHEN IN PARK, TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES IS IN REVERSE UNLESS SHOVED INTO BACK FULL FORCE, WHEN IN DRIVE THE INDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL, CONSUMER STATES THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. SHOULDER STRAP REFUSES TO ENGAGE AND PULLS TIGHT AGAINST THE BODY. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973252 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8010521 · 2002-05-28 (May 28, 2002)

TIRE ON THE VEHICLE HAD BULGES ON THE TREAD. CONTACTED DEALER. FIRESTONE FR721 205/75R15 (DOT UNKNOWN), REPLACEMENT TIRES, 8OOO MILES, MOUNTED ON A 1973 ,MERCURY, COUGAR.*AK WHILE DRIVING STEERING WAS WOBBLY AND SHAKY. UPON INSPECTION FOUND FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT REAR TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND AND STEEL BELTS HAD SHIFTED. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8010521 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983688 · 1996-04-29 (April 29, 1996)

WHEN SHE PUT THE KEY INTO IGNITION, THE CAR STRETED TO GET FILLED WITH SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983688 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1986
2
1987
1
1988
1
1989
4
1990
3
1991
3
1992
3
1993
3
1994
0
1995
0
1996
2
1997
0
1999
7
2000
3
2001
1
2002
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19862
19871
19881
19894
19903
19913
19923
19933
19940
19950
19962
19970
19997
20003
20011
20021

1986: 2; 1987: 1; 1988: 1; 1989: 4; 1990: 3; 1991: 3; 1992: 3; 1993: 3; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 2; 1997: 0; 1999: 7; 2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 1

Year-by-year records

Mercury COUGAR model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196210Not available
196702Not available
196801-1
196904+3
197001-3
1971010
1972010
197320-1
197402+2
1975020
197601-1
197703+2
197821-2
197902+1
198001-1
198223Not available
198322-1
1984111-1
1985710
1986102+1
1987261-1
19883510
1989474+3
1990453-1
19914730
19925530
199314730
1994800-3
19956400
1996442+2
1997530-2
19994027Not available
20002113-4
2001821-2
20029510