FaultScore

Mercury Cougar tire problems

66 of the 2,646 complaints filed about the Mercury Cougar are about the tires — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.

66

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

Tires complaints by model year

1973 Cougar 3 4.5%
1985 Cougar 2 3.0%
1988 Cougar 2 3.0%
1989 Cougar 1 1.5%
1991 Cougar 1 1.5%
1992 Cougar 2 3.0%

Median failure at 42,500 miles

1993 Cougar 2 3.0%
1994 Cougar 1 1.5%
1996 Cougar 5 7.6%
1997 Cougar 5 7.6%
1999 Cougar 29 43.9%

Median failure at 19,260 miles

2000 Cougar 5 7.6%
2001 Cougar 5 7.6%

Median failure at 147,892 miles

2002 Cougar 3 4.5%

Median failure at 12,000 miles

What owners said

2001 Mercury Cougar at 147,892 miles Auburn,, NY

TIRES

COOPER TRENDSETTER SE,P205/55/R16,INSIDE ONE TIRE IS A PILE OF POWDERED RUBBER/INSIDE WALL OF TIRE,RUBBER HAS CAME OFF AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT LOOKS LIKE BANDS.

NHTSA complaint #10485371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Cougar Toledo, OH

TIRES

2000 MERCURY COUGAR, EXPERIENCED EQUIPMENT FAILURE WITH HER LEFT TIRE THAT ALSO DAMAGED TO THE VEHICLE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0338-90)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10

NHTSA complaint #10340066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Cougar at 12,000 miles Green BAY, WI

TIRES

I HAVE FIRESTONE FIRE HAWK TIRES ON MY 2002 MERCURY COUGER XR. THE TIRE MODEL NUMBER IS 215-50-17. MY CAR HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT IT NEW AND I HAVE HAD 5 FLAT TIRES ON THE FRONT TWO TIRES OF MY CAR. THE REAR TIRES HAVE 44,000 MILES ON THEM. EACH TIME I GET A FLAT TIRE, THE TIRE IS SHREDDED IN THE INSIDE AND I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY NOT GOING VERY FAST. I HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERY TIME THAT MY TIRE PRESSURE MUST BE LOW AND THEREFORE CAUSED A FLAT. I GOT MY 5TH FLAT TIRE IN 4 YRS ON 11/22/07 (THANKSGIVING). MY TIRES HAD JUST BEEN CHECK WHEN I GOT MY OIL CHANGE TWO WEEKS BEFORE, BUT I STILL GOT A FLAT TIRE. I HAD JUST BEEN DRIVING ON A HWY GOING 65MPH AND I AM THANKFUL IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THEN, I AM DISABLED AND THE ROAD I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. SOON AFTER I RETURN TO TOWN I GOT A FLAT TIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS THEN IN THE CAR WITH ME. I TOOK THE TIRE IN TO POMPS TIRES THE SAME PLACE I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN THEM, AND THE TIRE WAS AGAIN SHREDDED. I AM NOT SURE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT I TRULY THINK THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10210036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Cougar at 12,000 miles Green BAY, WI

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

I HAVE FIRESTONE FIRE HAWK TIRES ON MY 2002 MERCURY COUGER XR. THE TIRE MODEL NUMBER IS 215-50-17. MY CAR HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT IT NEW AND I HAVE HAD 5 FLAT TIRES ON THE FRONT TWO TIRES OF MY CAR. THE REAR TIRES HAVE 44,000 MILES ON THEM. EACH TIME I GET A FLAT TIRE, THE TIRE IS SHREDDED IN THE INSIDE AND I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY NOT GOING VERY FAST. I HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERY TIME THAT MY TIRE PRESSURE MUST BE LOW AND THEREFORE CAUSED A FLAT. I GOT MY 5TH FLAT TIRE IN 4 YRS ON 11/22/07 (THANKSGIVING). MY TIRES HAD JUST BEEN CHECK WHEN I GOT MY OIL CHANGE TWO WEEKS BEFORE, BUT I STILL GOT A FLAT TIRE. I HAD JUST BEEN DRIVING ON A HWY GOING 65MPH AND I AM THANKFUL IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THEN, I AM DISABLED AND THE ROAD I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. SOON AFTER I RETURN TO TOWN I GOT A FLAT TIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS THEN IN THE CAR WITH ME. I TOOK THE TIRE IN TO POMPS TIRES THE SAME PLACE I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN THEM, AND THE TIRE WAS AGAIN SHREDDED. I AM NOT SURE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT I TRULY THINK THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10210036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Cougar Columbus, MS

TIRES

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAD A FLAT TIRE. WE THOUGHT THE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT, BUT WHEN WE CHANGED THE TIRE, WE FOUND THAT THE RIM HAD BURST OPEN AND THE TIRE WAS PERFECTLY FINE. THANK GOD THE CAR DID NOT FLIP. IF IT HAD, NO ONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT HAPPENED. WE CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD NOT INCUR ANY COST FOR THEIR CLEARLY DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. AFTER ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE CAUSED THE PUBLIC WITH THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS, YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD HAVE AT LEAST HAD A DEALERSHIP LOOK AT THE RIM TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. BUT APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS UNLESS SOMEONE GETS KILLED LIKE IN THE CASE WITH THEIR DEFECTIVE TIRES. I REALLY FEEL THAT IF THEY HAD TAKEN THE COMPLAINTS SERIOUS ABOUT THE TIRE SITUATION, NO ONE WOULD HAVE LOST THEIR LIFE. IF ONE CUSTOMER COMPLAINS, AND YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR PRODUCT, I WOULD THINK THE COMPANY WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHY THEIR PRODUCT WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I TRULY HOPE THE FORD COMPANY GETS WHAT IS DUE THEM. AS THE OLD SLOGAN SAYS; FORD REALLY DOES MEAN FOUND ON THE ROAD DEAD.

NHTSA complaint #10158202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Cougar at 16,000 miles Webster, TX

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2003, THE TIRES HAVE BEEN A CONSTANT BATTLE. NOW AS THE CAR HAS REACHED 16,000 MILES, ONE TIRE HAS FAILED COMPLETELY, WHILE TWO OTHERS ARE NOT IN GREAT CONDITION.*AK 3 TIRES HAVE BEEN PUNCTURED BY SMALL ROUND PEBBLES FOUND CLOSE TO MY HOME. ONE TIRE THE STEEL BELT ACTUALLY SNAPPED ON THE FREEWAY, CAUSING MINOR TREAD SEPERATION AND INSTANT PRESSURE LOSS. THE INCIDENT WAS CONTROLLABLE AND TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, RESULTING IN NO ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED BF GOODRICH ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH TIRES AND THEY ONLY OFFER TO REPLACE ONE AT A TIME WHEN THEY COMPLETELY FAIL. THEN THEY WILL ONLY GIVE 50% OFF ON ONE NEW TIRE. THE TIRES ARE OEM ON 2002 MERCURY COUGAR. BFGOODRICH COMP/TA P215/50R16 89V I REALLY FEEL IF ONE HAS ALREADY HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE AT 16,000 MILES AND THE OTHERS HAVE THERE OWN PROBLEMS, THAT A SECOND FAILURE IS POSSIBLE. MAYBE WITH WORSE RESULTS.

NHTSA complaint #10100767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Cougar at 8,520 miles Ofallon, MO

TIRES

PURCHASED CAR NEW, IN 57000 MILES WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE, 2 ALTERNATORS, 1 STARTER, 2 BATTERIES, ENTIRE RACK AND PINION, POWER STEERING PUMP, TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER, 4 SET OF BRAKES, 4 SETS OF TIRES PLUS TWO INDIVIDUAL TIRES ALL WITH SIDEWALL BLOW OUTS EXCEPT ONE PUNCTURE AND 2 HEADLIGHT SWITCHES, 2 CIG LIGHTERS. THE ENTIRE UPPER ENGINE GASKET SET HAD TO BE REPLACED TO GET TO AN INTAKE LEAK. THE HEAD LIGHTS AND FOGLIGHTS WORK ITERMITTANTLY, ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING ON AND OFF. CURRENTLY ONE HEADLIGHT IS OUT (LAMP IS GOOD) FOG LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING (TODAY) AND AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT IS INDICATING A PROBLEM AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10093261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Mercury Cougar Buchanan, MI

TIRES

EARLY JULY OF 2004, THE CONSUMER FOUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT TIRE. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRE. TWO MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS FOUND FLAT, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TIRE IS. B-.F . MODEL COMPT/8 DR4. MODEL P215/15R16 DOT: 89VMTS THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRE AT HIS EXPENSE.

NHTSA complaint #10092295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Mercury Cougar at 42,000 miles Brewster, NY

TIRES

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH FRONT/REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NATIONAL, XT6000, SIZE 21570R15, DOT#DHM37777018. *AK A SECOND TIRE WAS REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE DEFORMITIES THAT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE ALONG WITH OTHER DIFFICULTIES. (TIRE MAKE/NATIONAL XT6000X)

NHTSA complaint #10081457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Mercury Cougar at 43,000 miles Brewster, NY

TIRES

ON TRIP TO OHIO ONE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE SECOND BECAME DEFORMED WHICH WOULD HAVE SHORTLY BLOWN EXCEPT IT WAS ON THE FRONT AND EXIBITED A DEFINITE WOBBLY . THE TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES ON THEM.MADE IN CANADA BY NATIONAL MODEL XT 6000.

NHTSA complaint #10079179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Mercury Cougar Strongsville, OH

TIRES

CONSUMER NOTICED BLISTERS ON SIDEWALL OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. DEALERSHIP ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE BENT DUE TO SHORT SIDEWALL HEIGHT. *LA THE VIBRATIONS FROM THE TIRES AND WHEEL CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. *SC THE DEALERSHIP FELT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE MAGNESIUM/ALUMINUM WHEELS AND THE LOW PROFILE TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #10057298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Cougar at 30,000 miles Woodbridge, VA

TIRES

CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT TIRES WERE WEARING OUT FROM THE INSIDE OUTWARD. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNS OTHER THAN VEHICLE RIDING ROUGH.

NHTSA complaint #10042890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Mercury Cougar Philadelphia, PA Crash 1 injured

TIRES

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *NLM THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT ALL BF GOODRICH TIRES FAILED ON SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. DOT # UNKNOWN. *TT

NHTSA complaint #10017792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1973 Mercury Cougar Grand View, NY

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CARLTON, P205/75R15, DOT REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT WITH 1000 MILES ON A 1973, MERCURY, COUGAR. PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AT 45-50 MPH, CAUSING 1100.00 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK DOT CKUL IMC 115. WHILE IN MOTION THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING A BLOWOUT AND DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AN EXPERT OF PIRELLI TIRES STATED THE REASON FOR THE BLOWOUT WAS DUE TO TIRE UNDER INFLATION. CONSUMER EXPLAINS TEH TIRE PRESSURE WAS AT THE SPECIFIED PSI.

NHTSA complaint #8011617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1973 Mercury Cougar Grand View, NY

TIRES

TIRE ON THE VEHICLE HAD BULGES ON THE TREAD. CONTACTED DEALER. FIRESTONE FR721 205/75R15 (DOT UNKNOWN), REPLACEMENT TIRES, 8OOO MILES, MOUNTED ON A 1973 ,MERCURY, COUGAR.*AK WHILE DRIVING STEERING WAS WOBBLY AND SHAKY. UPON INSPECTION FOUND FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT REAR TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND AND STEEL BELTS HAD SHIFTED.

NHTSA complaint #8010521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1973 Mercury Cougar Grand View, NY

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TIRE ON THE VEHICLE HAD BULGES ON THE TREAD. CONTACTED DEALER. FIRESTONE FR721 205/75R15 (DOT UNKNOWN), REPLACEMENT TIRES, 8OOO MILES, MOUNTED ON A 1973 ,MERCURY, COUGAR.*AK WHILE DRIVING STEERING WAS WOBBLY AND SHAKY. UPON INSPECTION FOUND FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT REAR TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND AND STEEL BELTS HAD SHIFTED.

NHTSA complaint #8010521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Cougar Santa Clarita, CA

TIRES:SIDEWALL

THE VEHICLES REAR TIRE WAS FLAT, THE FRONT TIRE WAS GOING FLAT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE ALL LOW, UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION THE SIDEWALLS ON ALL 4 TIRES HAD A SPLIT IN THE RUBBER THAT WAS PERFECTLY CIRCULAR AND ON THE FLATTEST TIRE THE RUBBER HAD SPLIT AND WAS GAPING OPEN. THE SEPARATION IS THIN AND SMOOTH-EDGED NOT TORN(FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA,P205/55R16).

NHTSA complaint #563078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Cougar Ladoga, IN

TIRES

PURCHASED NEW TIRE FROM DEALERSHIP - TIRE HAD SEAM-LIKE CUT ON OUTSIDE WALL - TIRE LOST ABOUT 2 TO 10 LBS OF PRESSURE PER DAY - TOOK CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES OVER THIS MATTER - WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE - TIRE WAS FINALLY REPLACED BY DEALER AFTER CONSUMER COMPLAINED MULTIPLE TIMES. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE CHECKED OUT AFTER HIT BY UNLICENSED/UNINSURED MOTORIST IN THE SIDE - WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP (ETTERS FORD IN CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN) THAT TRANSMISSION DESPERATELY NEEDED SERVICED - WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD A KNOCK AND WOULD CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS IF NOT DEALT WITH - CUSTOMER BROUGHT UP THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT OVERDUE OR EVEN DUE FOR A TRANSMISSION SERVICE FOR QUITE A WHILE AND POINTED TO OWNER'S MANUAL SPECIFICATIONS - WAS TOLD, AFTER CAR RELOOKED AT, THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE AND THAT TRANSMISSION WAS FINE - HAVE HAD A KNOCK AND SLIPPING OF TRANSMISSION SINCE.

NHTSA complaint #760444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Cougar Cincinnati, OH

TIRES

HAD TWO TIRES COMPLETELY SHREADDED, BOTH TIRES HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED AROUND THE SAME TIME. HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THE CAR VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT, RESULTING IN A UNCONTROLABLE ISSUE WHERE THE VEHICLE WENT ONTO THE GRAVEL SHOULDER OF THE RAMP.

NHTSA complaint #9006394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Cougar Grand Saline, TX

TIRES

THE FIRST TIME THE WHEEL CRACKED WHILE EXITING INTERSTATE AND RUNNING OVER A SMALL POTHOLE. THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING MY DAUGHTER DID. THE SECOND TIME A FEW MONTHS LATER, ANOTHER ONE CRACKED IN THE SAME LOCATION ON THE WHEEL AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. CHECKED WITH THE DEALER WHO REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION OR EVEN INVESTIGATE ANY CHANCE OF MALFUNCTION OF WHEELS. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WHEN HAVING THE CAR SERVICED, WAS TOLD THE OTHER 2 WHEELS WERE BENT CAUSING THE CAR TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING AT 55 TO 60 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #757404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mercury Cougar problems