1993 Mercury COUGAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
147 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
114,664 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 69 of 147 complaints (46.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 7.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 69 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 17 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 69; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 17; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 7; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 4; Exterior Lighting: 4; Structure:Body:Door: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 129 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 | 9 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 2000 | 51 |
| 2001 | 37 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 9; 1996: 7; 2000: 51; 2001: 37; 2002: 20; 2003: 9; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10002225 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL ACCELERATE. TS *JG
Owner-reported narrative. 114,522 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002522 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES IT IS HARD TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT TAKES NUMEROUS TRIES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START. DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009453 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLOCK. *JB THE AUTO SHOULDER BELT DID NOT MOVE AND INTERRUPTS THE ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER DOOR MOLDING DID WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE DRIVER DOOR HAS TO BE PULLED UP IN ORDER TO SHUT. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009453 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009455 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
THE DRIVER'S DOOR BECAME STUCK.*JB....*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013863 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
HEAD GASKET BLEW @ 114,000 MILES ON 93 MERCURY COUGAR 3.8 V-6 ENGINE. TWO REPAIR SHOPS HAVE STATED "EVERYBODY" IN VEHICLE REPAIR BUSINESS KNOWS THE 3.8 ENGINE HAS GASKET PROBLEM TO THE POINT THE GASKETS BLOW IN ONE OF TWO PLACES. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF CAR AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED. UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME 3.8 FORD ENGINES, BUT NOT THE '93 ENGINE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 114,806 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014413 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON. I HAD TO PLAY WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO FINALLY GET THEM BACK ON. AT FIRST THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NOT COME ON, BUT BARELY PULLED ON SWITCH AND THEY CAME ON. PULLED DASH APART AND NOTICED THE SWITCH BRACKET WAS MELTED A LITTLE AND A (BROWN AND GRAY?) WIRE WAS SCORCHED, MELTED, FRAYED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016129 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF OR BECAME DIM. *NLM *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 153,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021545 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGES HAS A FAILURE, THAT RESULTS IN THE DOOR BEING INOPERATIVE(MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CLOSE).*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021545 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 ↗