14 of the 72 complaints about the 1988 Mercury Cougar are about the electrical system — 19% of everything reported for this model year.
14
Complaints
0
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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.
NHTSA complaint #10037172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RECALL 96 V 071 000/IGNITION SWITCH: RECALL REPAIRS WAS DONE AT BAYWAY LINCOLN, MERCURY; HOUSTON, TX; PHONE# 281/ 929-6500. AT THE PRESENT TIME PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8009718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN, BUT ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS WILL STILL BE WORKING, LIKE HEADLIGHTS/ RADIO/ POWER WINDOW, AND AIR CONDITIONER. BUT NOT COLD AND MOTOR WILL STILL BE WORKING; IGNITION MODULE HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, AND NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #874762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
BOTH FORD MOTOR CORP. AND GALPIN LINCOLN-MERCURY REFUSED TO COVER FOR REPAIRS. OWNER HAD TO DO SO AT HIS OWN EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #732358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGN. SW. RECALL WORK DONE PREVIOUSLY 2 TIMES BY GALPIN LINCOLN-MERCURY. SEAT BELT FAILURE REPORTED BOTH TO GALPIN LINCOLN-MERCURY AND FORD MOTOR CORP. BECAUSE OF NO DOCUMENTED RECALL, THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING EVER SINCE WITHOUT SHOULDER BELT PROTECTION.
NHTSA complaint #731200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL NOTICE REPAIR. NLM
NHTSA complaint #545336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
NHTSA complaint #510031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #514553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #514553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE INGITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED .
NHTSA complaint #986505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SON DRIVING VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND BURN UNDER DASHBOARD, HAD TO OPEN DOOR TO SEE BECAUSE OF SMOKE, VEHICLE SOON AFTER CAUGHT FIRE, JUNKED VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #985789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED; FIRST, WOULD LATCH, THEN WOULD NOT LOCK AT ALL; REPLACED BY DEALER. TT
NHTSA complaint #971073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #485060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
MISSING NUTS TO ALTERNATOR.
NHTSA complaint #485060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.