1985 Mercury COUGAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 28.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 28.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 14.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Solenoid | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Solenoid: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Structure:Body: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 7 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 4; 2000: 1; 2001: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 503837 · 1996-04-20 (April 20, 1996)
ROOF LINING FALLING APART, INTERFERING WITH DRIVERS VISION. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503837 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 876891 · 2000-12-21 (December 21, 2000)
WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 876891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 976658 · 1995-12-15 (December 15, 1995)
DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON A FEW OCCASIONS WILL NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976658 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 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 ↗
Owner report 983972 · 1996-05-02 (May 2, 1996)
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983972 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
85V025000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 1985-03-11 (March 11, 1985)
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY HAVE IMPROPERLY ANODIZED INTERNAL SURFACES CAUSING ACCELERATED WEAR OF A PISTON SEAL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ONE PORTION OF THE SPLIT BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD BECOME INEFFECTIVE RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER WOULD BE WARNED BY INCREASED PEDAL TRAVEL AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT.
Remedy: MASTER CYLINDERS BUILT ON JANUARY 9, 1985 WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗