11 of the
104 complaints about the 1989 Mercury Cougar are about the
braking system — 11% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
93,655 miles.
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A REREATED BRAKE PROBLEM; WHEN SLIGHTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, DURING HIGH/LOW SPEEDS, CITY/HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUES TO DEPRESS ON ITS OWN UNTIL IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN SLAPS THE CONSUMERS FOOT AS IT COMES BACK UP TO NORMAL POSITION, WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING FOR 15 MINS, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AT LOW/NO SPEED-AND HAS HAPPENED TO THE CONSUMER WHEN SITTING AT A RED LIGHT/ON SEVERAL TIMES WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM-@ J & S/DIFEO FORD SERVICE STATION. UNTRUSTING FORDS SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MIDAS, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AS WELL. THE CONSUMER THEN RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR SEVERAL RECALLS AND FOUND THAT AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COULD START EXPERIENCING A REDUCTION IN THE BRAKE PERFORMANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF 978.02, AND REQUEST INFO ON ALL NECESSARY REPAIR INFO AS WELL AS ANY PARTS TO BE REPLACED ALONG W/INSTRUCTIONS TO BE FORWARDED TO MIDAS AUTO SERVICE. REFER TO #89V081000. SCC
NHTSA complaint #10001373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Batesville, AR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1989 COUGAR WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP IN A SMALL DITCH WITH NO OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED. ATTEMPTED TO GET THE ABS SYSTEM REPAIRED BUT THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT IT WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $4000 TO REPAIR. SPENT OVER $100 FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS TURBO-CHARGED, A NORMAL BRAKING SYSTEM CANNOT BE INSTALLED WHICH WOULD BE MORE REASONABLE PRICED. BRAKING IS SPORADIC.
NHTSA complaint #759414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bronx, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE PADS/SHOE FAILED CAUSING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #523651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
RIGHT FRONT ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO RIGHT FRON TPADS/ROTORS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUDDER UPON BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint #524499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
RIGHT FRONT ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO RIGHT FRON TPADS/ROTORS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUDDER UPON BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint #524499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, KYCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE POSITION IN PARK, PUT IN GEAR INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, PEDAL WENT THE FLOOR, TRIED TO BRAKE, RPMS UNKNOWN, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED.
NHTSA complaint #807829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tampa, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #509914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Beach, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED 5 TIMES AFTER RECALL WORK PERFORMED. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #485049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Worth, TXCrash4 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING BACKWARD.
NHTSA complaint #969491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #482930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.