13 of the 104 complaints about the 1989 Mercury Cougar are about the electrical system — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,000 miles.
13
Complaints
0
Crashes
8
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, CUSTOMER SMELT A BURNING ODOR. THEN DIGITAL DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. MAYBE CAUSE BY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10029786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER. CONTACTED DEALER. NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #835025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING THE WIRING FROM THE DASH CAUGHT ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #535075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHEN IN AN EMERGENCY OR UPON WARNING OTHER MOTORIST WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE HORN PAD, CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY GREAT FORCE TO THE HORN IN ORDER FOR THE HORN TO SOUND.
NHTSA complaint #821465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #511222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL WIRING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #509914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #506319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #510675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE DASH AREA WIRING SYSTEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #984318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE FIRE: CAUGHT ON FIRE IN EITHER THE ALTENATOR OR THE WIRING HARNESS. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE FIRE: CAUGHT ON FIRE IN EITHER THE ALTENATOR OR THE WIRING HARNESS. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, AFTER BEING DRIVEN 60 MILES AND PARKED, MELTING DASH/BURNING STEERING COLUMN. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #503236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHEN DRIVING AND VEHICLE STALLS. TT
NHTSA complaint #973775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.