47 of the
2,646 complaints filed about the Mercury Cougar
are about the equipment —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
MY CAR STALLED WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION WHILE IN MOTION. LATER FIND OUT THAT I NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP. WAS NOT AWARE IT WAS UNDER RECALL. PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED IN JULY OF 2009. REPAIR SHOP FAILED TO PUT MY VIN, MILEAGE, AND CORRECT YEAR OF VEHICLE ON INVOICE RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO GET MY MONEY BACK FROM FORD. RECALL WAS GOOD THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2010. MY CAR ONCE AGAIN STALLED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT SPARKS AND SMALL FLAMES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START AFTER STALLING. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, AND FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STILL NO CRANK OR CLICKING. ALSO LISTED AS A RECALL. SPEND $651.02 TO HAVE FUEL PUMP FIXED AND NOW CAN'T GET MY MONEY BACK BECAUSE REPAIR SHOP DID NOT FILL OUT INVOICE CORRECTLY. NOW WILL HAVE TO POSSIBLY PAY OVER A $1,000.00 TO FIX THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE... WHEN THE FUEL PUMP WAS FIXED, THE SHOP FAILED TO SECURE THE GAS TANK CORRECTLY CAUSING FUEL TO POUR OUT WHILE DRIVING AT A RATE OF A GALLON PER MINUTE. FORD IS NOW DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO AVOID PAYING ME BACK FOR THE RECALL SERVICES AFTER I WAS INFORMED BY A FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP THAT I WOULD BE PAID BACK. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH FOR WEEKS NOW TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH A NEW EXCUSE EVERYTIME AS TO WHY THEY CAN NOT REPAY ME...
NHTSA complaint #10336479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 COUGAR I WISH I WOULD HAVE MADE A BETTER CHOICE IN WHAT VEHICLE I BOUGHT. THE ONE RECALL THAT THEY HAD ON THE FUEL PUMP I HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED, BUT I AM NOT SURE THEY REALLY FIXED IT BECAUSE IT STILL HESITATED WHEN I ACCELERATING . THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON THE DASH WENT ON IN THE WINTER TIME WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE CAR. AFTER I DRIVING A BIT THE LIGHT WILL JUST TURN OFF. SO HOW THE AM I SUPPOSE TO KNOW WHEN THERE REALLY WAS A COOLANT PROBLEM IF THE LIGHT JUST WENT ON. THEN, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 94,000 MILES WITH NO SIGNS OF IT GOING OUT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED, LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I TRIED DIFFERENT GEARS AND NOTHING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO BRING THE CAR HOME AND COST $300.00. I HAD TO FIND A PLACE TO BRING THE CAR TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 3 DAYS TO HAVE IT DONE, AND TURNED OUT TAKING 2 WEEKS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PUT THE CORRECT TRANSMISSION IN THE BOX. THEY SENT TWO WRONG TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE FORD FINALLY GOT THE CORRECT TRANSMISSION FOR THE CAR TO THE SHOP. THIS COST ME $3,235.00. TRANSMISSIONS FAILING AT 94,000 MILES WAS RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING ALL PROPER MAINTENANCE WAS DONE WHEN IT WAS NEEDED. THERE WERE STILL OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, BUT I COULD NOT FIT ALL THE WORDS ON THIS FORM. I DID NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING WAS DONE AT ALL, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM FORD WAS TERRIBLE. THE NEXT VEHICLE I BUY MOST DEFINITELY WILL NOT BE A FORD AND PROBABLY NOT AN AMERICAN VEHICLE EITHER. WORD OF MOUTH IS VERY POWERFULLY AND PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO ABOUT COUGAR PROBLEMS WILL NEVER BE BUYING A FORD. IF ONLY FORD WOULD CARE A LITTLE AND NOT BE AFRAID TO SPEND SOME MONEY TO MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS A LITTLE MORE PLEASED WITH THEIR PURCHASE THEN MAYBE PEOPLE WOULDN'T LOOK DOWN SO MUCH ON FORD PRODUCTS.
NHTSA complaint #10190620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MY COUGAR. I CANNOT PASS THE IL. EMISSIONS TESTS, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE O2 SENSORS ARE DEFECTIVE. MY ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT, ALONE, 8 DIFFERENT TIMES. EIGHT! THIS IS INCREDIBLE. ALSO, MY CAR MAKES A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START IT. -IF IT STARTS AT ALL.- I HAVE HAD MY STARTER REPLACED TWICE. TWICE!!! THIS CAR IS A LEMON. NOTHING BUT A LEMON. HOW COULD MERCURY SALE SUCH CRAP AND GET AWAY WITH IT. MY DRIVERS' LICENSE WILL BE SUSPENDED BECAUSE I CANNOT PASS THE EMISSIONS TEST. IF I CAN EVEN GET MY CAR TO THE TESTING FACILITY. I HAVE HAD THE ALTERNATOR CHANGED, THE FUEL PUMP, THE ELECTRICAL WIRING CHANGED, SUNROOF, TURNING SIGNAL, EVEN THE RADIO WAS DEFECTIVE. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THERE IS A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MERCURY, BECAUSE I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE IN LINE TO SUE. *NM
NHTSA complaint #10160273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
CD PLAYER BURNED, THE CD UNEXPECTEDLY WAS PLAYING. SMOKE AND STRONG SMELL FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CD PLAYER RED ERROR, AND CD WAS UNABLE TO BE RETRIEVED. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #10103170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2002 COUGAR WITH 60K MILES AND I'VE ALREADY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP,POWER STEERING PUMP, AND NOW THE HEATER CORE IS CLOGGED. ALTHOUGH LINCOLN/MERCURY IS THE ONLY ONE TO WORK ON THE CAR, THE WARRANTY WONT COVER A CLOG. THEY WILL COVER A LEAK...BUT NOT A CLOGG. HOW ASININE IS THAT? FIDELITY WARRANTY SERVICE IS A JOKE!
NHTSA complaint #10095615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAD CATASTROPHIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE WHILE ON VACATION. FOMOCO HAS A RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT (97M91) BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE RELIEF. AS I UNDERSTAND THE RECALL OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM, FORD WILL ONLY REPLACE WHEN IT FAILS, BUT IT MUST FAIL IN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME. THIS WAS A SILENT RECALL AS FORD NEVER PUBLICIZED IT. I HAD ATTEMPTED A PREVENTATIVE REPLACEMENT AS I WAS AWARE OF THE INHERENT PROBLEM -- AGAIN MY LOCAL MERCURY DEALER (KING - GAITHERSBURG, MD) WOULD ONLY REPLACE WHEN THE MANIFOLD FAILED. WELL IT DID WHILE I WAS ON VACATION HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME. AS THIS WAS A KNOWN MANUFACTOR'S PROBLEM FROM THE DATE OF INSTALLATION, REPLACE MUST BE DONE WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST COMES TO FORD'S KNOWLEDGE. INSTEAD, WHEN ISSUING THE RECALL (MARCH 1999) FORD CHOSE TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE CONSUMER BRINGS IT TO THE DEALERSHIP'S ATTENTION. ONLY THEN WOULD THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL EXISTED.
NHTSA complaint #10082642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
THIS CAR HAS INTERMITTENTLY SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC AT 70 MPH, ALSO WILL NOT START FROM TIME TO TIME. VERY UNRELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. INCREDIBLY POOR CHOICE OF VEHICLE. KEY HAS ELECTRONIC CHIP IN IT WHICH MALFUNCTIONS. KEY REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY; WENT BAD AGAIN. COSTS $400 TO REPLACE.
NHTSA complaint #10069419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
PROBLEMS WITH ODOMETER, GAS GAUGE, TURN SIGNALS,WINDOWS, RADIO, HAZARD LIGHTS, AIR BAG LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER.*MR. THE MILEAGE AND CLOCK WERE NO LONGER VISIBLE. A NEW BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE INSTALLED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE SUN ROOF LEAKED CONSTANTLY AND WAS ALSO FIXED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE BATTERY AND WRENCH LIGHT WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. CONSUMER HAD TO EXIT AND BARELY MADE IT HOME WHEN SHE ENTERED THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED. *PH. THE AIR CONDITION WAS NOT COLD ENOUGH, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS BROKE, THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE, THE DOOR LOCKS/LATCHES WERE INOPERATIVE, AND THE VEHICLE HAD A TRANSMISSION LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #10032290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 14000 MILES TRANSMIMSSION WAS REPLACED. FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT 14500 MILES. TRANSMISSON REPLACED SECOND TIME AT 21000 MILES. LCD DASHBOARD FEATURES NEVER WORKED PROPERLY, SERVICED TWICE FOR THE PROBLEM NEVER RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10031145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON OCCASION, THE CAR HAS LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE CONTROL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED THE CONDITIONS RESULTING IN POWER LOSS AS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. THIS PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED.
NHTSA complaint #10018915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A REREATED BRAKE PROBLEM; WHEN SLIGHTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, DURING HIGH/LOW SPEEDS, CITY/HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUES TO DEPRESS ON ITS OWN UNTIL IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN SLAPS THE CONSUMERS FOOT AS IT COMES BACK UP TO NORMAL POSITION, WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING FOR 15 MINS, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AT LOW/NO SPEED-AND HAS HAPPENED TO THE CONSUMER WHEN SITTING AT A RED LIGHT/ON SEVERAL TIMES WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM-@ J & S/DIFEO FORD SERVICE STATION. UNTRUSTING FORDS SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MIDAS, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AS WELL. THE CONSUMER THEN RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR SEVERAL RECALLS AND FOUND THAT AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COULD START EXPERIENCING A REDUCTION IN THE BRAKE PERFORMANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF 978.02, AND REQUEST INFO ON ALL NECESSARY REPAIR INFO AS WELL AS ANY PARTS TO BE REPLACED ALONG W/INSTRUCTIONS TO BE FORWARDED TO MIDAS AUTO SERVICE. REFER TO #89V081000. SCC
NHTSA complaint #10001373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK IT SEEMED FINE. WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR AFTER WORK I IDLED REALLY ROUGH I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MORE EXPENSIVE GAS I PUT INTO IT THE NIGHT BEFORE, SO I PROCEEDED TO THE GAS STATION TO LET THEM KNOW. THE CAR DROVE REALLY ROUGH ALL THE WAY THERE. A RED LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASH JUST BEFORE I GOT TO THE GAS STATION SAYING CHECK GAUGES. THE GAUGE SHOWED THAT THE CAR OVERHEATED. AFTER HAVING MY CAR WORKED ON ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO FOR A OVERHEATING PROBLEM, IT HAD BEEN RUNNING REALLY COOL, SO DIDN'T THINK I WOULD HAVE A OVERHEATING PROBLEM. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE FAN WORKED I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE CAME A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE THAT DISAPATED REALLY FAST AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE. CHECKED OIL THERE WAS NO WATER IN IT, BUT IT WAS LOW . I ADDED A QUART IN ORDER TO GET IT HOME. IT STILL HAD WHITE SMOKE OR STEAM COMING OUT THE TAIL PIPE. ALSO THE SEATS DO NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. THE AIRCONDITIONER DOES NOT GET COLD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT I SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT I NEED TO HAVE FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #762625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN WHEN DOOR CLOSED AND AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. CONSUMER NOTED THIS WAS NOT A FEATURE OF VEHICLE. KEY FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, CONSUMER REACHED INSIDE VEHICLE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK DOOR. DEALER STATED IF A NEW ALARM SYSTEM WAS PUT IN TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE, PROBLEM MIGHT BE CORRECTED. *AK AIR CONDITIONER TURNS ON AND OFF. RADIO WILL NOT COME ON AT TIMES. MOTOR WILL DIE OUT. ALARM WENT OFF, DOOR LOCK BY THEMSELVES. KEY WILL NOT CRANK VEHICLE AT TIMES. VEHICLE JUMPED AND JERKED ALMOST HITTING CONSUMERS SISTER WHO WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #891001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN WHEN DOOR CLOSED AND AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. CONSUMER NOTED THIS WAS NOT A FEATURE OF VEHICLE. KEY FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, CONSUMER REACHED INSIDE VEHICLE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK DOOR. DEALER STATED IF A NEW ALARM SYSTEM WAS PUT IN TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE, PROBLEM MIGHT BE CORRECTED. *AK AIR CONDITIONER TURNS ON AND OFF. RADIO WILL NOT COME ON AT TIMES. MOTOR WILL DIE OUT. ALARM WENT OFF, DOOR LOCK BY THEMSELVES. KEY WILL NOT CRANK VEHICLE AT TIMES. VEHICLE JUMPED AND JERKED ALMOST HITTING CONSUMERS SISTER WHO WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #891001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.