11 of the 127 complaints about the 2002 Mercury Cougar are about the transmission — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 66,750 miles.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE FOUND 3 RECALLS FOR MY CAR, THEY ARE ALL THE EXACT PROBLEMS I AM HAVING, BUT WHEN I SEARCHED FOR OPEN RECALLS IT SAID NONE ARE OPEN FOR MY CAR. I NEED MY CAR REPAIRED AND THE RECALLS COMPLETED.
NHTSA complaint #11074669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTLY PULLING THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND LATER CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE AND THEY MADE REPAIRS AT THE COST OF $697. THE FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V421000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. OVER TIME, THE FILTER MAY BECOME SUFFICIENTLY BLOCKED AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 07/16/08*LJ THE BUSHINGS AND CLUTCH WERE WORN. THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENDER WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE DEALER REPLACED A LEAKING INTAKE. UPDATED 07/16/08
NHTSA complaint #10231582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 85,000 MILES UNDER NORMAL OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10215075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 85,000 MILES UNDER NORMAL OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10215075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING POORLY AND SUDDENLY SAME DAY, REVERSE WILL NOT ENGAGE, ALSO NO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10174136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED THIS 2002 MERCURY COUGAR 9 DAYS AGO AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HESITATING IN OVERDRIVE, SO I TURNED O/D OFF AND IT WAS FINE. WHEN I GOT HOME I TRIED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I TRIED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT MOVED FORWARD. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE, I HAVE SEEN REPEATED ACCOUNTS OF THIS SAME A/T FAILURE ON THIS SAME YEAR & MODEL ON THE INTERNET INCLUDING THIS SAME COMPLAINT FORUM. I ALSO DISCOVERED THIS WAS A RESULT OF MERCURY'S POOR ENGINEERING IN THE OVERDRIVE GEAR, AND THE PLASTIC VALVE BOX (USED FOR GEAR SELECTION) INSIDE THE TRANS AXLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE MERCURY MOTOR COMPANY PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED A VEHICLE TO EXPECT COSTLY REPAIRS DUE TO ENGINEERING MISTAKE OR POOR DESIGN.
NHTSA complaint #10138315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2002 MERCURY COUGAR, STARTED GRINDING IN THE THIRD GEAR. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND THEY QUOTED ME 1500.00-2500.00 AS AN ESTIMATE REPAIR. I WAS UNABLE TO AFFORD THE COST, SO I HAD TO DRIVE SKIPPING THE THIRD GEAR POSITION. THE SAFTEY ISSUE INVOLVED IS THAT IT IS HARD TO GET ON THE CALIFORNIA RAMPS AT A GOOD SPEED TO KEEP FROM CAUSING A WRECK. COME TO FIND OUT, MERCURY MADE THIRD GEAR WRONG WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN THE FACTORY. SUPPOSEDLY, A LOT OF MERCURY COUGARS ARE COMING BACK WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THIRD GEAR. I FEEL THAT IT IS MERCURY'S DUTY TO RECALL THIS ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS. IT WAS THEIR FAULT IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THANK THE LORD THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE WITH THIS ISSUE (AS FAR AS A WRECK). BUT THERE ARE OTHER COUGARS OUT THERE.
NHTSA complaint #10124974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BOUGHT THE CAR IN 12/02 AND IN 7/04 ALMOST WHEN THE WARRANTY IS OVER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AND MY CAR HESITATED TO GO WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL, WHEN IT FINALLY GRABBED THE GEAR IT JERKED ME TWICE. THE FOLLOWING DAY IT DIED ON ME AND IT WOULD DRIVE OR GO ON REVERSE. IT'S BEEN ON THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES SINCE 7/04 WITH MILEAGE OF 33,000. NEW CAR WARRANTY IS OVER IN 12/04 OR 35,000. NOT A GOOD CAR. IT'S BEEN DISCONTINUED. NO WONDER.
NHTSA complaint #10090984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TOTAL FAILURE OF THE 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION AT 4046 MILES. DEALER REFUSED REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, AS DID FORD. SAID CAR WAS ABUSED WITH NO APPARENT VISABLE DAMGE TO CAR
NHTSA complaint #10051365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE WERE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR STARTED TO HESITATE THEN ACCELERATE FAST IT DID THIS 6 TIMES. WE STOPPED AT A STORE AND PULLED IN FORWARD WHEN WE CAME BACK OUT AND STARTED THE CAR THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. THE CAR SOME HOW WAS FROZEN INTO DRIVE EVEN IF YOU PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. NOW OUR CAR IS AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WITH NO EXPLANATION WHY OR HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #10039127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10017690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.