FaultScore

1991 Mercury Cougar electrical problems

13 of the 98 complaints about the 1991 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 141,000 miles.

F

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

7

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Switch 4 30.8%
Front Underhood 2 15.4%
Electrical System 2 15.4%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 2 15.4%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 7.7%
Wiring 1 7.7%
Interior/Under Dash 1 7.7%

Electrical System across every Mercury Cougar year

1985 13 4.6%
1987 15 5.3%
1988 14 4.9%
1989 13 4.6%
1990 21 7.4%
1991 13 4.6%
1999 110 38.6%
2000 74 26.0%
2001 12 4.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 141,000 miles Aurora, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT. RECALL NUMBER 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) WAS FOUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 141,000.

NHTSA complaint #10197452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lincoln, NE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING HARNESS NOT PROTECTED RESULTING IN DISINTEGRATION.

NHTSA complaint #530192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaumont, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #513354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaumont, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #513354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaumont, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #513354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, VA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #507701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lutz, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

PARKED CAR AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK CONSUMER STATESVEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER IT WAS ON FIRE NEAR STEERING WHEEL AREA.

NHTSA complaint #986389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Knoxville, TN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 200 YDS, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, STOPPED & CHECKED UNDER HOOD, FEW MINUTES LATER FLAMES WERE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA complaint #986009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodbridge, VA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE ALTENATOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #984334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Royalt, OH Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #983643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staten Islan, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF HOME, OWNER HEARD EXPLOSION SOUND; CAME OUT TO CHECK; VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED WITH FLAMES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, UNDERDASH/UNDERHOOD.

NHTSA complaint #983474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brick, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE, CAUSES LOSS OF POWER WINDOWS AND BRAKING. TT

NHTSA complaint #977243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chillicothe, OH Fire 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

IN THE DASH ABOVE THE STEERING COLUMN A FIRE WAS STARTED FROM THE WIRING HARNESS POSSIBLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #969800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Mercury Cougar problems

← Full 1991 Mercury Cougar report