1992 Mercury COUGAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
55 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
95,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 55 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 7.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 10; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 9; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 8; Exterior Lighting: 3; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 2
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 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 45 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 | 8 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 8; 1996: 3; 2000: 14; 2001: 11; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10007016 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
HEAD GASKETS BLEW A LEAK DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION AT RAHWAY, NJ INSPECTION STATION. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734305
Owner-reported narrative. 77,777 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014811 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
THE HEAD LIGHTS TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021103 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
THE 1992 MERCURY COUGAR INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT BELONGED TO MY FATHER, BUT HAD BEEN LOANED TO ME. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE PASSED OUT, POSSIBLY FROM LOW BLOOD SUGAR AND RAN THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT HE WAS GOING 50MPH, WHEN HE HIT A DIRT CULVERT THAT WAS ABOUT 5 FT HIGH. THE IMPACT CRUNCHED THE FRONT OF THE CAR AGAINST THE FIREWALL LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE METAL CROSS BARS IN THE TRUNK, BEHIND THE BACK SEAT SNAPPED, WHICH CAUSED EVERYTHING IN THE TRUNK TO FLY INTO THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042566 · 2003-10-08 (October 8, 2003)
HEADLIGHTS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 99V275000; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047606 · 2003-11-26 (November 26, 2003)
RECALL 99 V275 000/HEADLIGHTS: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AND COMING BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 99V275 DUE TO VIN. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079179 · 2004-07-02 (July 2, 2004)
ON TRIP TO OHIO ONE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE SECOND BECAME DEFORMED WHICH WOULD HAVE SHORTLY BLOWN EXCEPT IT WAS ON THE FRONT AND EXIBITED A DEFINITE WOBBLY . THE TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES ON THEM.MADE IN CANADA BY NATIONAL MODEL XT 6000. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081457 · 2004-07-30 (July 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH FRONT/REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NATIONAL, XT6000, SIZE 21570R15, DOT#DHM37777018. *AK A SECOND TIRE WAS REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE DEFORMITIES THAT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE ALONG WITH OTHER DIFFICULTIES. (TIRE MAKE/NATIONAL XT6000X) *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103221 · 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)
RECALL 99V275000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON /OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, AND/OR INTERMITTENTLY WOULD GO OFF AND COME BACK ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER FOUND THIS RECALL NUMBER ON NHTSA WEBSITE, CALLED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103221 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 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 ↗97V159000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1997-09-22 (September 22, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence: THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V275000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
Reported: 1999-10-12 (October 12, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING.
Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗