1988 Mercury COUGAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
67,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 35 complaints (34.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 12 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 12; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 33 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 | 13 |
| 1996 | 11 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
1995: 13; 1996: 11; 2000: 6; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10037172 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT IGNITE IF THE GEAR SHIFT IS NOT COMPLETELY UP. IT APPEARS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH AND THE GEAR SHIFT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059749 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TIRE THAT FAILED FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. FRONT LEFT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM A CHEVROLET BLAZER 1984, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE HIT TWO OTHER VEHICLES, ONE BEING THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE. DURING THE CRASH CONSUMER'S WRIST WAS BROKEN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100078 · 2004-11-17 (November 17, 2004)
THE RIGHT SELTBELT BUCKLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILS OFTEN. FORD NO LONGER SUPPLIES THESE BUCKLES, AND THEY ARE VERY SCARCE IN WRECKING YARDS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100078 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118272 · 2005-04-22 (April 22, 2005)
ON FEB 12, 1994 MY WIFE AND HER FRIEND TOOK MY RED 1988 MERCURY COUGAR LS TO CHURCH AT 6:30 PM. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY FOGGY EVENING. I RECEIVED A CALL AT THE HOUSE AT 6:50 PM THAT MY WIFE HAD BEEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THAT I NEEDED TO COME TO THE SITE. MY CAR WAS IN MINT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. WHEN I SAW THE CAR, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE!! MY WIFE, WITNESSES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOODYEAR TIRE CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS THE MERCURY COUGAR?S COMPUTER THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO GO FULL-THROTTLE. DIANE, MY WIFE AND PASSENGER TESTIF…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481917 · 1995-01-31 (January 31, 1995)
HEAD GASKET FAILED, DAMAGING ENGINE HEADS. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481968 · 1995-02-16 (February 16, 1995)
SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484489 · 1995-07-25 (July 25, 1995)
REAR COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE IS WEIGHTLESS, WHICH RESULTS IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485060 · 1995-06-15 (June 15, 1995)
BRAKES REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485060 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.
96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗