FaultScore report
Owners have filed 178 complaints about the 1994 Mercury Cougar with NHTSA between 1995 and 2016. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 9 worst.
FaultScore 48/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mercury Cougar.
How this is worked out178
Complaints
13
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
10
Injuries reported
1 complaint reports a death.
70,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
17%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 80,000 miles
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 122,500 mi
2 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 30,000 miles
Median failure at 45,000 miles
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DT: ON 6/21/2005 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN CLEAR CONDITIONS ON DRY PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 5-7 MPH. THERE WERE NO BRAKES, NO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NO POWER STEERING, NO ENGINE SOUND, NO LIFE IN THE VEHILCE AT ALL. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT CAME ON. THE VEHILCLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES AND 40 MILES BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. THEN, THE VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS.THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING FINE, AND WAS SERVICED A A WEEK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC THAT DAY AND EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE, BESIDES THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD TO BE REPAIRED, BUT IT WAS NOT THE FUSE THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED, OWNER WAS UNSURE WHAT COMPONENT CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TTO FAIL. THERE WERE ALSO NO TAIL LIGHTS .EITHER.THE BACK LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY OUT. AFTER REPAIR EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL FIRE. WHEN THE CAR STALLED ON 6/21/05, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD, THEN THERE WAS A MAN WHO CAME TO HELP AND SPRAYED THE FIRE WITH EXTINGUISHER. .
NHTSA complaint #10126196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON DECEMBER 23 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 1994 MERCURY COUGAR AND SHE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK,
NHTSA complaint #757170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER HAD A FRONT END COLLISION, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #861614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT A STOP LIGHT. MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED,BUT SOMEHOW THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE BACK OF A 1986 PICKUP TRUCK. THE SUN WAS VERY LOW AND THERE WAS APOSSIBILITY THAT MY JUDGEMENT WAS IMPAIRED. THE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK WAS MINIMAL $350. MY SMALL DG WAS STRUCK BY THE AIRBAG WHICH EXPLODED ON BOTH SIDES WITH A FORCE THAT KNOCKED ME OUT AND INJURED HIM SEVERELY. HE DIED 5 DAYS LATER AFTER DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SAVE HIM. HIS NECK WAS SNAPPED, AND HE HAD INTERNAL INJURIES. THE FRONT DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS NOT THAT GREAT AND COULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. I HARDLY TOUCHED THE TRUCK. MY CONCERN IS WERE THE AIRBAGS DEFECTIVE THE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE OF MY CAR WAS ENOUGH TO TOTAL THE CAR. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS HAPPENED BEFORE WITH THE 1994 COUGAR XR7. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL COMMENTS CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, AND I AM CONCERNED AS I REALLY DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED AND WHY THE AIRBAGS EXPLODED AS THEY DID. I HAVE TO SAY THIS WAS A DEVESTATING XPERIENCE TO ME, AND ONE I HOPE NEVER HAPPENS TO ANYONE. THE CAR ACTUALLY EXPLODED INSIDE AND I THOUGHT THE CAR HAD BLOWN UP WITH ALL THE SMOKE IT MADE. THE WAY THAT THE BAG EXPLODED BROKE OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IN 2 PLACES, BROKE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, BROKE THE DRIVER VISOR OVERHEAD, BROKE THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND CRACKED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IN HALF WHERE IT EXPLODED OUT. THIS DAMAGE WAS WHY THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALLED THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #713655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #847452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH REAR ENDED A PARKED VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, SEAT BELTS DIDN'T RESTRAIN THE CONSUMERS FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #844758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
SEATS
TAKATA RECALL.... JUST LOOKING FOR ANY RECALLS ON MY CAR,,,,WHOLE FRONT END FELL OUT..
NHTSA complaint #10854223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL.... JUST LOOKING FOR ANY RECALLS ON MY CAR,,,,WHOLE FRONT END FELL OUT..
NHTSA complaint #10854223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TAKATA RECALL.... JUST LOOKING FOR ANY RECALLS ON MY CAR,,,,WHOLE FRONT END FELL OUT..
NHTSA complaint #10854223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NUMEROUS TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10177947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
3RD BRAKE LIGHT/HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP IN THE REAR WINDOW. THE EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE BULBS THAT ARE USED CAUSED THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT THE BULBS ARE IN TO MELT AROUND THE BULB ALONG WITH THE ACTUAL HARNESS THAT THE BULB IS PLUGGED INTO. SINCE I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER OF MY CAR, I'M SURE THE INCIDENT DATE IS NOT TODAY BUT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10161111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A 1994 MERCURY COUGAR VIN# [XXX]. I WAS THE SECOND OWNER AND IT HAD ONLY 29K ON IT BACK IN JULY 1997. WELL MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT BEFORE 68K AND THE COUGAR IS RATTLING APART. I HEARD LATER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 3.8 MOTOR FOR THE BLOWER BY WHICH I'M HAVING NOW BUT BEING OVER 100K THEY SAID IT HAD TO BE BY A CERTAIN DATE AND UNDER 100K BUT I WAS NEVER TOLD OR NOTIFIED. FOUND OUT FROM A MECHANIC FRIEND. DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BECAUSE THE LOW END SHIFT PLATE WAS FAULTY ON THOSE MODELS TOO. ENGINE KEEPS GETTING HOT AND BURNING OFF RADIATOR FLUID. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10157491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DT: ON 6/21/2005 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN CLEAR CONDITIONS ON DRY PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 5-7 MPH. THERE WERE NO BRAKES, NO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NO POWER STEERING, NO ENGINE SOUND, NO LIFE IN THE VEHILCE AT ALL. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT CAME ON. THE VEHILCLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES AND 40 MILES BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. THEN, THE VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS.THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING FINE, AND WAS SERVICED A A WEEK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC THAT DAY AND EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE, BESIDES THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD TO BE REPAIRED, BUT IT WAS NOT THE FUSE THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED, OWNER WAS UNSURE WHAT COMPONENT CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TTO FAIL. THERE WERE ALSO NO TAIL LIGHTS .EITHER.THE BACK LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY OUT. AFTER REPAIR EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL FIRE. WHEN THE CAR STALLED ON 6/21/05, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD, THEN THERE WAS A MAN WHO CAME TO HELP AND SPRAYED THE FIRE WITH EXTINGUISHER. .
NHTSA complaint #10126196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE IGNITION STARTER SYSTEM. THE STARTER WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED BY A STARTER SPECIALIST, HOWEVER NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE STARTER WAS REINSTALLED. THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO START. THE IGNITION CYLINDER TURNS ALL THE WAY AROUND ALSO. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE GARAGE FOR A YEAR DUE TO THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAUSE COULDN'T BE FOUND.
NHTSA complaint #10105229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10091451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BEEPING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10071585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR OVERHEATS DUE TO A BAD HEAD GASKET. PER FORD'S TSB 00M10, THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN ISSUE THAT THEY FIXED ONLY IF THERE WAS A PROBLE DURING THE FIRST 7 YEARS AFTER THE WARRANTY INCEPTION DATE FOR 1994 AND 1995 VEHICLES WITH A 3.8L ENGINE. THIS DEFECT CAN EASILY RESULT IN A SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENGINE FIRE DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT IF OIL LEAKS ON THE ENGINE WHEN THE GASKET FAILS.
NHTSA complaint #10059920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY VEHICLE WAS REBUILT IN OCTOBER 2001 @ 120000 MILES BECAUSE IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR DURING ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. SINCE THE REBUILD, THE CAR HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SUCH AS SELF-ACCELERATION WHEN CURSE CONTROL IS ENGAGED, SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AND NOT REENGAGING, OR DOWNSHIFTING DURING ACCELERATION. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THREE DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION SHOPS EACH BEING UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP BUT, HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE CAR AS A WORK VEHICLE, NOW @ 137K MILES, BUT REFUSE TO CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10049564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WE BOUGHT A MERCURY COUGAR 1994 AND DISCOVERED WE HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND AN ENGINE FOR THE V6 MODEL AT A REASONABLE PRICE. WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS 1994 MODEL IS FAMOUS FOR BLOWN HEAD GASKETS.
NHTSA complaint #10042952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 87,000 MILES UNDER RECALL FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE. 30,000 MILES LATER ENGINE HEAD BLEW UP AGAIN DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF A HELICOIL IN THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE. THIS HELICOIL WAS PRESENT IN THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE FROM THE FACTORY. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE, AS THE HEAD SHOULD HAVE BEEN MACHINED BY THE FACTORY NOT JUST HAVE A HELICOIL STUFFED IN. THIS IIS THE CAUSE OF THE NEW FAILURE AND FOR REFUSES TO REPAIR. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10036605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 87,000 MILES UNDER RECALL FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE. 30,000 MILES LATER ENGINE HEAD BLEW UP AGAIN DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF A HELICOIL IN THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE. THIS HELICOIL WAS PRESENT IN THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE FROM THE FACTORY. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE, AS THE HEAD SHOULD HAVE BEEN MACHINED BY THE FACTORY NOT JUST HAVE A HELICOIL STUFFED IN. THIS IIS THE CAUSE OF THE NEW FAILURE AND FOR REFUSES TO REPAIR. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10036605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 87,000 MILES UNDER A RECALL. DUE TO A SPARK PLUG THAT BUSTED THROUGH THE ENGINE. 30,000 MILES LATER, ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10034562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET. THIS PROBLEM WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL. *CB *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10027059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPAIRED THREE TIMES & NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. HELP P.S NO ONE TAKES BETTER CARE OF A CAR THEN ME.
NHTSA complaint #10025918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCH BROKE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10019956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKET BLEW DUE TO A FAILED PART IN THE ENGINE. *JB PH
NHTSA complaint #10019848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT RESPOND TO MODERATE TO EXTREME ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSION. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM IN FIRST OR 4TH GEAR OR THE SPEED. THE ENGINE IS SLOW TO RESPOND IN RPMS WHEN I ASK FOR IT, THEN GOES TO 2,000, THEN TO 3,000, BUT WITH NO CHANGE IN VEHICLE VELOCITY. THE CAR RESPONDS RELATIVELY WELL WITH LIGHT, INCREASING DEPRESSION TO THE PEDAL, BUT NOT TO ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE A DOWN SHIFT. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AFTER 8 MILES OR SO OF CITY DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10014006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #10015106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 1994 MERCURY COUGAR WITH 33,465 MILES AS OF MAR 4, 2002. AND THERE WAS A GENERAL RECALL ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM IN QUESTION WHICH INVOLVES THE POTENTIAL FOR A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET(S).AT THE TIME OF THE NOTICE THIS CONDITION WAS NOT EXPERIENCED AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. HOWEVER THIS CONDITION HAS NOW DEVELOPED AND IS CAUSING SEVERE ENGINE OVER HEATING. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL MERCURY DEALER AND THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE DIAGNOSIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED WITH THE REPAIR REQUIRING A COMPLETE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE TAKE DOWN AND REBUILD COSTING 1400. AS OF THIS WRITING MY EFFORTS TO HAVE FORD MOTOR CO TO AGREE TO PICK-UP AND/OR AT LEAST ASSIST WITH THE PAYMENT OF THESE RELATED REPAIR FEES HAS BEEN DENIED. AND I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR REVIEW AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #10008422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
THE AIR FLOW METER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #568026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE BUT FAILED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE SINCE THE SYMPTOMS INDICATED DID NOT EXIST. AFTER TWO YEARS THE VEHICLE'S LOW COOLANT LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE DIAGNOSIS SHOWED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED PREMATURELY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE MONIES SPENT ON REPAIRS. *YH THE WATER PUMP AND THE RADIATOR HAD LEAKED. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #568026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.