FaultScore

1995 Mercury Cougar brake problems

49 of the 160 complaints about the 1995 Mercury Cougar are about the braking system — 31% of everything reported for this model year.

F

49

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Rotor 13 26.5%
Foundation Components 11 22.4%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 8 16.3%
Disc 6 12.2%
Pads 3 6.1%
Rotor 2 4.1%
Master Cylinder 1 2.0%
Caliper 1 2.0%
Drum 1 2.0%
Shoes/Linings 1 2.0%

Brakes across every Mercury Cougar year

1989 11 4.2%
1991 12 4.6%
1992 13 5.0%
1993 25 9.5%
1994 36 13.7%
1995 49 18.7%
1997 13 5.0%
1999 91 34.7%
2000 12 4.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Powell, TN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE ROTORS ON THE FRONT BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER (ORIGINAL PARTS). THEY HAD BEEN REFACED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT AVAIL, BEFORE THEY WERE REPLACED. THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION HAS BEEN REPLACED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN WITHIN ONE YEARS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #717880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Blamc, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A GRINDING AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP .

NHTSA complaint #851272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Blamc, MI Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

MASTER CYLINDER WENT COMPLETLY OUT, AND CONSUMER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #851274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unknown, UN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKES VIBRATED AND MADE NOISE WHEN PRESSURE APPLIED. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #513759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millersburg, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

ROTORS HAVE FAILED IN LESS THAN 18000 MILES HAVE CALLED FORD CUSSTOMER SERVICE THE LADY CALLED THE DEALER THAT MADE THE REPAIR WHO TOLD HER IT WAS NORMAL .SHE THEN CALLED ME BACK WITH THAT INFORMATION . I TOLD THE LADY THIS IS NOT NORMAL SHE THEN TOLD ME IT WAS AND SHE CHANGED HER BRAKES EVERY SIX MONTHS AT THAT I GAVE UP THIS MAY BE THE REASON FORDMOTOR PUT WOMEN ON THAT JOB

NHTSA complaint #710635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Texarkana, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED EVERY 8 -12 MONTHS WHICH CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #841176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Biloxi, MS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST ON FRONT WHEELS. REAR BRAKE DRUMS KEEP WARPING. THEY HAVE BEEN TURNED TWICE. BRAKE PADS LOOK GOOD BUT SOMETHING KEEPS CAUSING DRUMS TO WARP RESULTING IN BRAKE NOISE AND CAR SHIMMYING WHEN COMING TO A STOP.

NHTSA complaint #707671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, AR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

FIRST PROBLEMS OF BREAKING SYSTEM STARTED AT 40,000 MILES BOUGHT CAR AT 23,000 MILES. THE CAR SHIMMIES AND STERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN BREAKING. HAVE TURNED ROTOR TWICE AND REPLACED BRAKE PADS TWICE. MY CAR IS AT 50,000 MILES NOW AND HAVE REPLACED WITH NEW ROTORS AND NEW PADS FOR THE THIRD TIME WITHIN 10,000 MILES BECAUSE THE SHIMMING IF GETTING MORE VIOLENT AND WILL CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT I AM FOR SURE BECAUSE THIS PUTS STRESS ON ALL OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE POWERTRAIN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME IT IS FROM OVER TORCHING OR RIDING THE BRAKES. HOWEVER I HAVE HAD THREE PREVIOUS CARS WITH NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKES AND NO ONE HAS DRIVEN THESE VEHICLES BUT ME. I DO NOT HAVE INDUSTRIAL WRENCH SO OVERTORCHING IS NOT THE PROBLEM. IN CONCLUSION SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE FROM THIS MALFUNCTION. SOMETHING IS WRONG I HAVE ALREADY LOOKED AT THE DATA ON THIS VEHICLE FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND THEIR IS CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO LOOK INTO AND RECALL I BELIEVE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

NHTSA complaint #705548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

APO, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

THE BRAKES ARE HAVING TO BE COMPLETLY REPLACED (PADS AND ROTORS). IF NOT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE FOR OPERATION. CURRENTLY BRAKES ARE LASTING ABOUT 2,500 MILES. TORQUE CONVERTER IS HAVING TO BE REPLACED EVERY 15,000 MILES. PERHAPS FROM HAVING TO DO MORE WORK IN STOPPING THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #705026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

APO, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE BRAKES ARE HAVING TO BE COMPLETLY REPLACED (PADS AND ROTORS). IF NOT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE FOR OPERATION. CURRENTLY BRAKES ARE LASTING ABOUT 2,500 MILES. TORQUE CONVERTER IS HAVING TO BE REPLACED EVERY 15,000 MILES. PERHAPS FROM HAVING TO DO MORE WORK IN STOPPING THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #705026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lewisville, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

CAR VIBRATED DURING STOPPING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND TOLD THEM THE BRAKES WERE VIBRATING, BUT THEY SAID THEY TURNED THE DISKS,BUT IT DID NOT HELP. LATER I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY ORDERED A STEERING COMPUTER, STILL DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. THEY THEN REPLACE THE STEERING CYLINDER. NO HELP. I FINIALLY TOOK THE BRAKES DISKS OFF MYSELF AND HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THEM TURNED AND WHICH HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR NOW. AFTER REVIEWING THE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS MODEL, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL HAS EVERY COME TO FIX A VERY BAD HANDLING PROBLEM WITH THE 1995 MERCURY COUGAR. I FEEL THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REQUIRE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #700159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mineral Point, MO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE SQUEAKS WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #828124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mineral Point, MO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE SQUEAKS WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #828124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millersburg, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN FRONT BRAKES ARE IN USE, BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES & VIBRATES. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES/VIBRATES IN HAND. IF BRAKES ARE APPLIED QUICKLY, VEHICLE COULD GO OFF ROAD. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED WAS NORMAL. HAD ROTORS CHANGED 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED ON 28 JUN 98.

NHTSA complaint #826099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millersburg, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHEN FRONT BRAKES ARE IN USE, BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES & VIBRATES. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES/VIBRATES IN HAND. IF BRAKES ARE APPLIED QUICKLY, VEHICLE COULD GO OFF ROAD. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED WAS NORMAL. HAD ROTORS CHANGED 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED ON 28 JUN 98.

NHTSA complaint #826099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tinley Park, IL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

BRAKES SQUEAL AND GRIND BECAUSE THE ROTORS ARE WARPED. STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 55-65MPH ON HIGHWAY EVERY 20,000 MILES. VEHICLE NEEDS NEW ROTORS AND PADS DUE TO FRONT DISC BRAKES BEING POORLY DESIGNED.

NHTSA complaint #823737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MC Kenzie, TN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #529861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

FRONT BRAKE NOISE AND MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #523038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Havelock, IA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED AND COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE STARTED SHIMMERING WHILE PUTTING ON THE BRAKES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND HAS HAD THE BRAKE ROTORS REPAIRED 4 TIMES. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #814229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cabot, AR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS

DEGLAZED REAR SHOES.

NHTSA complaint #514962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cabot, AR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM

BRAKE DRUMS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #514962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cabot, AR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

FRONT ROTORS TURNED.

NHTSA complaint #514962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cabot, AR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #514962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

REX, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES VIBRATE.

NHTSA complaint #513571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

REX, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKE MAKES SCRUBBING SOUND.

NHTSA complaint #513571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houghton Lake, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, STEERING VIBRATES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FRONT ROTORS BUT CONDITION HAS PERSISTED.

NHTSA complaint #807340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

REX, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HE CHANGED THE PADS BUT VEHICLE STILL MAKES THE NOISE. ALSO EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #806730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vacaville, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

CONSUMER HAS HAD A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AT 10,000 MILES, ALL BRAKES WERE REPLACED .

NHTSA complaint #802538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coco Beach, FL Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

NON-ABS BRAKES; FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED THREE TIMES DUE TO UNKNOWN VIBRATION W/STEERING WHEEL SHAKING. ON TWO OCCASIONS, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #801129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coco Beach, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WHEN BRAKING, THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND PULLS TO THE LEFT. ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING AND MAKING A TURN.

NHTSA complaint #800323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1995 Mercury Cougar problems

← Full 1995 Mercury Cougar report