19 of the 104 complaints about the 1990 Mercury Cougar are about the throttle and cruise control — 18% of everything reported for this model year.
19
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND ACCELERATED WAY TOO FAST AND HE BOLTED FORWARD STRIKING A CONCRETE BARRIER. *DT CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL LETTER REGARDING RESULTS FROM INCIDENT. *TGW 04/06/10 THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE WAS DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10313173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #735763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL NOT BEING ENGAGED, ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF. THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS AT 30-35 MPH. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE CONTROL VALVE AND CLEANED OUT THROTTLE BODY. *AK
NHTSA complaint #860625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #719214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE. FIRST TIME AT 65MPH. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SUSPECTED AS PROBLEM SO IT WAS DISCONNECTED. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ON 5/7/99. SPEED 30MPH. IN BOTH CASES, THE ACCLERATOR SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR & THE VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #707698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE. FIRST TIME AT 65MPH. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SUSPECTED AS PROBLEM SO IT WAS DISCONNECTED. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ON 5/7/99. SPEED 30MPH. IN BOTH CASES, THE ACCLERATOR SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR & THE VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #707698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED,CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #835893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED. CONSUMER PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALR INSPECTED VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #835777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 65MPH THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR BY ITSELF AND WOULD NOT COME UP, NO ACCIDENTS OCCURRED. CONTINUING A COUPLE OF MILES FURTHER, THE VEHICLE TOTALLY STOPPED. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #826502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING DAMAGE TO BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #522467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE.
NHTSA complaint #819963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL PROBLEM. (3RD VEHICLE ON 503665/601565)
NHTSA complaint #601564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVER ENTERED VEHICLE, PUT ON LAP/SHOULDER BELT, PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE POSITION, SUDDENLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF, TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES, WHICH DID NOT WORK, DRIVER STEERED VEHICLE TOWARDS A WALL, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #800933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
GAS PEDAL STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE/ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #506595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SURGES, DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #506915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STAYED IN ACTIVE POSITION. TT *SLC
NHTSA complaint #974149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED.
NHTSA complaint #969731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
APPLY THE BRAKES AND BEFORE COMING TO A STOP ACCELERATES 3,000RPM. PLEASE EXPLAIN FURTHER. TT
NHTSA complaint #959997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. TT
NHTSA complaint #959436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.