Mercury Cougar body problems

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE SUNROOF JUST RELEASED FROM THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF I71 DOING 65MPH AND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF COUGAR

NHTSA complaint #10993568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY CAR WASHED AND RUST PROOFED DURING THE WINTER EVER 2 WEEKS. LAST DECEMBER THE PAINT UNDER THE BOTTOM OF BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER DOORS STARTED HAVING THE PAINT BUBBLE UP ON BOTH ROCKER PANELS. IT STARTED BUBBLING UP THEN CURLING AND THE PAIN STARTED COMING OFF. IVE SEEN MANY OTHER COUGARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND FEEL IT IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE PAINT THAT WAS USED OR SOMETHING MISSING FROM THE PAINT JOB THAT WAS DONE

NHTSA complaint #10724832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

SUNROOFS ON THE 1999 TO 2001 MERCURY COUGARS SEEM TO BREAK WITH ALOT OF FREQUENCY. ONE DAY THEY SEEM TO WORK AND THEN FOR NO REASON THEY BREAK. INCLUDED IS A WEBSITE WITH OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD/MERCURY SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW OF USING PLASTIC TRACKS FOR THE SUNROOF. HERE'S A LINK TO THE SITE WITH COMPLAINTS HTTP://WWW.COUGARSUNROOF.COM/

NHTSA complaint #10272717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

THE PLASTIC SUNROOF TRANSPORT MECHANISM HAS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME DURING THE LIFE OF THIS CAR (I AM THE ONLY OWNER). THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED EARLY IN MY OWNERSHIP AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP THAT FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME HAS REFUSED TO FIX IT AGAIN CITING A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM IS A WELL KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT IN THE 1999 AND 2000 MODEL YEAR MERCURY COUGARS AND WAS ADDRESSED IN THE 2001 MODEL YEAR DESIGN. THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS IS UNCONSCIONABLE CONSIDERING THE FACTS REGARDING THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT CLEAR KNOWLEDGE OF THESE ISSUES OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE SHOULD HAVE NECESSITATED A RECALL LONG PRIOR TO THIS AND BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A RECALL I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10241104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR AUTOMATIC V6. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. LIKE OTHER 1999 ' 2000 MERCURY COUGAR OWNERS I WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH MORE PROBLEMS THAN CAN COST EFFECTIVELY BE FIXED. MY LIST OF BROKEN ITEMS INCLUDE THE RADIO, POWER WINDOW REGULATOR, O2 SENSORS, TRANSMISSION AT 59,000 MILES, DASHBOARD LIGHTS (LOW COOLANT AND CHECK ENGINE), DOOR/WINDOW LEAKY SEAL ISSUES, ENGINE MISFIRE (DECREASED ACCELERATION) AND NOW MY CRUISE CONTROL AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. UPON RESEARCHING THE RECALL FOR CRUISE CONTROL FIRES DEALING WITH FORD PRODUCTS I FOUND THAT I AM AMONG OTHER DISGRUNTLED COUGAR OWNERS. FORD/MERCURY OR FORD TECHNICIANS HAVE NOT DONE A SATISFACTORY JOB LETTING OWNERS KNOW OF RECALLS THAT NEED ATTENTION. MY LATEST CONCERN IS THAT MY COUGAR MIGHT START ON FIRE, PER MY COMPLAINT WITH FORD; THEY SEE NO THREAT WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ISSUES AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE NHTSA WITH MY COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10222903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

MOONROOF ON A 99 COUGAR DOESN'T WORK. WASN'T MUCH OF A PROBLEM UNTIL THE ROOF FLEW UP AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD OF THE PERSON BEHIND ME.

NHTSA complaint #10156086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

I OPENED MY MOONROOF ONE DAY AND IT MADE A NOISE SO I LOOKED AT IT AND IT LOOKED TO BE OFF TRACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SO WE TRIED TO SHUT IT AND IT WOULD NOT SHUT ALL THE WAY SO WHEN IT RAINED, IT RAINED IN MY CAR. FINALLY TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE PLASTIC CLIP WAS BROKE AND HAD TO FORCE IT CLOSED SO NOW WHEN I GO DOWN THE ROAD IT OPENS SOME AND COULD EVENTUALLY FLY OFF, IT IS A DISTRACTION WHEN I AM DRIVING BECAUSE IT MAKES NOISE AND RIGHT NOW IT IS COLD OUT AND IT RAINS IN IT. THE REPAIR GUY TOLD ME THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE CAME IN FOR THE SAME REASONS THIS COULD CAUSE A PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THESE COMPANY'S NOW DAYS MAKE THEIR PARTS SO CHEAP AND THEN SALE THEM FOR A LOT OF MONEY, THEY NEED TO RE-THINK WHAT THEY ARE DOING BEFORE THEY LOOSE ALL OF THEIR CUSTOMERS, NO WONDER THERE ARE SEVERAL PLACES HAVING TO CLOSE. THE REPAIR GUY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF I DO GET IT REPAIRED THEN I WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE TO GET IT REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE SO CHEAP.

NHTSA complaint #10149465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

DT: THE SUN ROOF I BROKE. THE SUN ROOF WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE PROBLEM STARTED ON OCTOBER 2, 2005. AND WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK IT IN TO BE REPAIRED, THEY HAD TO BREAK THE ATTACHMENTS TO GET IT TO CLOSE. AFTERWARDS , THERE WAS STILL A CRACK BETWEEN THE SUN ROOF AND THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ALLOWS WIND TO COME THROUGH WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. SHE HAD TO TAPE IT DOWN TO KEEP IT FROM FLYING OFF. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURE R'S DEFECT, AND THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR HERSELF.

NHTSA complaint #10139557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

THE METAL SUNROOF ON MY 2001 MERCURY COUGAR BROKE FREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE DRIVING. FORD APPARENTLY USED PLASTIC PARTS IN THE ASSEMBLY WHICH HOLDS THE METAL SUNROOF TO THE CAR. THESE PARTS FAILED AFTER ONLY 26,500 MILES. IF THE DRIVER SIDE ASSEMBLY HAD ALSO BROKEN, THE METAL ROOF COULD HAVE FLOWN OFF THE CAR AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. A COMPLAINT WEBSITE (WWW.COUGARSUNROOF.COM) CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 800 COMPLAINTS OF 1999-02 COUGAR METAL SUNROOF'S FAILING IN A SIMILAR FASHION. SEVERAL OF THESE COMPLAINTS NOTE THAT THE METAL SUNROOF ACTUALLY FLEW OFF THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. FORD CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS DEFECT, BUT NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR DIE IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THESE DEFECTIVE METAL SUNROOF'S BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED?

NHTSA complaint #10139073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE CONTACT'S SON DROVE THE VEHICLE THE HOOD LATCH BROKE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY UP AND SHATTER THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED SERVICE DEALER, BUT THEY STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL, AND THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #10135460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

1999 MERCURY COUGAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEAKERS, BATTERY EQUIPMENT, BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING SHE NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO FIND A MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED ALL FOR ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE.

NHTSA complaint #10119217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

THE FRONT BUMPER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE DRIVER PICKED UP THE BUMPER AND ATTACHMENTS AND PLACED THEM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. THE DRIVER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10105519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

CHECK FOR COOLANT LEAK AT INTAKE MANIFOLD. REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD. THERE WERE REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TIRE ROTATION. *BF THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, AND THE COOLANT LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT AND ADDED A CUP OF WATER. THE CONSUMER'S SON IN LAW WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE RUBBER STRIP ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMING OFF, THE RIGHT REAR TRIM PANEL COMING LOOSE, THE BRAKES MADE RUBBING NOISE INTERMITTENTLY, GLOVE BOX DOOR WON'T SHUT, THE AIR BAG WOULD RATTLE, THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR RATTLED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AND THE DOOR SWITCH TRIM PANEL WAS DISCOLORED.

NHTSA complaint #10101992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

THERE IS A HEALTH ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THERE WERE PARTICLES COMING FROM THE FRONT AND WINDSHIELD VENTS. SOME WERE VERY SMALL, SOME PROBABLY TOO SMALL TO SEE, WHILE OTHER WERE LARGE, 1/2 X 1/4. THE PARTICLES CONSISTED OF BLACK, ROUGH SURFACE, SHARP MATERIAL, PROBABLY COMING FROM THE AIR MIXING BOX. ALSO COMING OUT WERE PIECES OF FOAM RUBBER. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE FORD CARS, AND HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. FURTHER, FORD HAS DECIDED NOT TO HONOR A WARRANTY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, NOT TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC THAT THEY DO NOT CONSIDER PIECES OF THE AIR-CONDITIONER FALLING APART IMPORTANT, AND NOT TO CONSIDER IT A HEALTH ISSUE. THEY SAID THAT THE MATERIAL IS NOT TOXIC. WHILE THAT MAY BE TRUE, WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT SHARP PARTICLES ENTERING A PERSONS LUNGS IS DEFINITELY NOT GOOD FOR A ONES HEALTH! I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT SOMEONE AT FORD, INCLUDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TO ADDRESS THE WARRANTY AND HEALTH ISSUE, BUT IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME! IN MY LETTER TO THE COMPANY, I SENT BOTH PICTURES AND SAMPLES WHICH THEY DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT IT. I HAVE SOME DEFINITIVE PICTURES THAT I DONT THINK YOUR FORMAT WILL ACCEPT. IF YOU CONTACT ME WITH A DIRECT EMAIL, I WILL SEND YOU THE PICTURES. YOU ASKED HOW MANY INCIDENTS, DEATHS, INJURIES, ETC. I DONT KNOW. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT FORD HAS SAID THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE WITH MANY OF THEIR CARS. THANK YOU, WILLIAM KAHN TELEPHONE: (407) 647-1713 EMAIL: RENBAR@EARTHLINK.NET

NHTSA complaint #10093333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND TOOK TO SHOP TO HAVE ALTERNATOR AND WHATEVER ELSE LOOKED AT. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. BATTERY LIGHT STILL FLASHING. I'M SCARED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND LEAVE ME STRANDED. ALSO HAVE HAD SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (POWER WINDOWS) AS EVERYONE ELSE, AS WELL AS SPENDING $600 ON BRAKES, AND TRUNK LATCH WON'T WORK. RADIO WORKS OFF AND ON. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BUMPER AS IT WAS RIPPED OFF WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. (NOT NEGLIGENC).

NHTSA complaint #10086633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

THE FRONT BUMPER IS SO LOW IT DRAGS OUT OF DRIVEWAYS, SHOPPING CENTER PARKING BLOCKS AND SO ON. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE WHOLE FENDER HAS TORN OFF ON BOTH SIDES OF CAR. THE FULL FENDER AND LOWER SECTION WHERE FOG LIGHTS WOULD GO IS TORN OFF TOO. INCIDENT DATE WAS LAST TIME, THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN.

NHTSA complaint #10078379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH 1999 MERCURY COUGAR. *MR THE VEHICLE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ON THREE OCCASIONS. THERE WERE ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A CREDITED AMOUNT OF FUNDS AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE BATTERY, BRAKES AND ADDITIONAL EXPENSES. OTHER PROBLEM ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE NEW WHEELS WERE DEFECTIVE (CORRODED AND FROZEN), THE BRAKE SENSOR SNAPPED OFF OF THE WHEEL, THE CD PLAYER WAS SKIPPING, THE HATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE PROPERLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE, THE KEYLESS ENTRY WITH ANTI-THEFT WAS INOPERATIVE, THERE WAS ROUGH IDLE, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD STICK, THE CUP HOLDER DID NOT SHUT, THE HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN, AND THE LIGHTS WOULD DIM AND OR BRIGHTEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10075877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

THE HOOD IS HELD UP WITH A THIN METAL ROD AND PLACED INTO A HOLE IN THE HOOD. THERE ARE SEVERAL HOLES TO PUT THE ROD INTO BUT ONLY ONE IS PROPER SIZE AND FIT. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE HOOD AND YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPS THE ROD, THEN YOU WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD OR HANDS LITERALLY CHOPPED OFF SINCE THE WEIGHT OF THE HOOD IS SO HEAVY DUE TO HEAVY METAL PLATES PLACED IN THERE FOR FRONT END CRASH PROTECTION. I COMPLAINED TO THE FORD COMPANY IN 1986 BUT THEY JUST LAUGHED AS WELL AS NHTSA. ALSO MY CAR HAD ONE OF THE RUNAWAY PROBLEMS WHEREBY THE CAR WOULD JUST TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN DOWN THE STREET AT 90 MPH WITH BOTH FEE ON THE BRAKES. THE DEALER LAUGHED AND SAID I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT COMPLAINED. NHTSA HAD 500 COMPLAINTS ON FILE FOR THAT PROBLEM. I WROTE CERTIFIED LETTER TO PRES OF FORD AND TOLD HIM THAT OF MY CAR INJURED OR KILLED ANYONE THAT HE WOULD BE FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. 2 WEEKS LATER I GOT A NEW COMPUTER THAT SOLVED THAT PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS KEPT IN SHOWROOM MINT CONDITION AND WAS STOLEN IN 1999.

NHTSA complaint #10060600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.