2002 Mercury COUGAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
95 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
66,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 79 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 95 complaints (23.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 26 | 27.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 24 | 25.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 9.5% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 8.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 22 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 16 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 22; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 16; Engine: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Air Bags: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2002: 3; 2003: 15; 2004: 9; 2005: 8; 2006: 3; 2007: 12; 2008: 9; 2009: 5; 2010: 2; 2011: 8; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 7; 2015: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 26 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 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 10003987 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
DURING A FRONTAL COLLISION A AIR BAGS FAILE DTO DEPLOY, RESULTING IN DRIVER SUSTAINING INJURIES. PH...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003989 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE, THEN IT ACCELERATED IN FULL THROTTLE. THIS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003991 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING WHEEL LOCKS,(WHICH WHEEL UNKNOWN)WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE PAD TO WEAR ON ONE SIDE BEFORE THE OTHER(SIDE UNKNOWN). PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003991 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004178 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART AT ALL PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014166 · 2003-04-09 (April 9, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 12 TIMES AT HIGH SPEEDS AND RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND TWICE HAS RESULTED IN LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016452 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
I HAVE A 2002 MERCURY COUGAR C2 THAT I PURCHASED MARCH OF 2002 AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. WITHIN ONE YEAR OF MY PURCHASE I HAVE HAD ALL FOUR TIRES GO FLAT AND ADDITONAL FLATS ON TOP OF THOSE. MY FUEL PUMP ALSO WENT OUT ON ME APRIL 18TH WITH ONLY 18,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I HAVE ASKED TURNPIKE FORD, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, ON OCCASION TO COME AND GET MY CAR FOR ME TO FIX THE TIRE AFTER I HAD ALREADY PUT THE DOUGHNUT ON BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO SO AND TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CALL ROADSIDE SERVICE. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017690 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024932 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH A VEHICLE AHEAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED AND ACCELERATED WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO HIT THE VEHICLE AHEAD. DURING THIS, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024932 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.
04V421000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 2004-08-30 (August 30, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION OF THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) CAN REDUCE, AND EVENTUALLY BLOCK, THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.
Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. OVER TIME, THE FILTER MAY BECOME SUFFICIENTLY BLOCKED TO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: THIS ACTION IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE SAFETY ACT. ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FDM WITH A NEW DESIGN AT NO CHARGE IF THE OWNER REPORTS THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS ANY OF THE IDENTIFIED SYMPTOMS. THE FREE REPLACEMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, WITH NO MILEAGE LIMIT. THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign record ↗