DEFECTFILE
Vehicles / Mercury / Cougar

Mercury Cougar

2,637 federal complaints across 21 model years (1982-2002) ยท 27 recall campaigns

Complaints by model year

Federal complaints filed against each model year of the Mercury Cougar. Hover a bar for the count.

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Three most-complained-about yearsAll other years

Which years to avoid

Ranked from the same federal record. Click any year for its full file.

Years to look at twice

  1. 1999 Mercury Cougar - 740 complaints
  2. 2000 Mercury Cougar - 283 complaints
  3. 1993 Mercury Cougar - 236 complaints
Highest raw complaint counts. Counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Quieter years

  1. 1988 Mercury Cougar - 72 complaints
  2. 1996 Mercury Cougar - 77 complaints
  3. 1991 Mercury Cougar - 98 complaints
Fewest complaints among years with a meaningful record; the two newest model years are excluded because they have had little time to accumulate filings.

What fails, all years combined

Engine & cooling
449
Electrical system
340
Brakes
296
Fuel system
238
Power train
177
Speed control
164

Every model year

Model yearComplaintsRecalls
2002 Mercury Cougar1271
2001 Mercury Cougar1031
2000 Mercury Cougar2833
1999 Mercury Cougar7407
1998 Mercury Cougar10
1997 Mercury Cougar1120
1996 Mercury Cougar772
1995 Mercury Cougar1600
1994 Mercury Cougar1780
1993 Mercury Cougar2363
1992 Mercury Cougar1223
1991 Mercury Cougar983
1990 Mercury Cougar1043
1989 Mercury Cougar1044
1988 Mercury Cougar721
1987 Mercury Cougar491
1986 Mercury Cougar202
1985 Mercury Cougar221
1984 Mercury Cougar251
1983 Mercury Cougar22
1982 Mercury Cougar23

Recall campaigns, all years

Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Recall repairs are free at the dealer.

CampaignYearsComponentSummary
04V4210001999-2002Fuel System, GasolineON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION OF THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) CAN REDUCE, AND EVENTUALLY BLOCK, THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.
01V2300001999Electrical SystemON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEM
01V0320001999Exterior LightingVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH TERMINALS COULD OVERHEAT.
01V0310001999-2000Electrical SystemVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L V6 ENGINES. THE BATTERY CABLE WAS MISROUTED AND ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE ALTERNATOR CABLE WAS UNDER-TORQUED. IF MISROUTED, T
00V0750001999-2000Service Brakes, HydraulicVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROS
99V2750001992-1993Exterior LightingVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A
99V2260001999Latches/Locks/LinkagesVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DOOR LATCH MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A LATCH PAWL THAT HAS A COATING WHICH WILL SWELL IN HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS. THE LATCH PAWL
99V1940001999Vehicle Speed ControlVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A BURR ON OR NEAR THE END OF THE CABLE SLEEVE INTERIOR. THIS BURR COULD FRAY THE CORE
97V1590001992-1993Fuel System, GasolineVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MAS
96V0710001988-1993Electrical SystemTHE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
96V0700001996Latches/Locks/LinkagesWHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTIO
96V0070001996EquipmentUNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE BLOWER COULD (1) STICK ON "HIGH;" (2) OPERATE ERRATICALLY WITH BLOWER OUTPUT VARYING BETWEEN
91V0760001990-1991VisibilityTHE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. THIS CAUSES CHANGED WIPER PATTERNS, OR THE WIPER
91V0480001991Power TrainTHE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.
90V0260001990Electrical SystemBATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY.
89V0810001989Service Brakes, AirDUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CALIPER OF THE INBOARD FRONT WHEEL AND THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, THERE MAY BE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FOLLOWING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS.
89V0800001989SuspensionIMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES COULD EXPERIENCE HIGH MILEAGE FATIGUE CRACKS AND EVENTUAL FRACTURE.
88V1650001989Fuel System, GasolinePLASTIC ROLLOVER VALVE MOUNTING PLATE MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEALED TO THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK.
87V1390001986-1987Fuel System, GasolineSPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
86V0650001986Exterior LightingHEADLAMP COVERS WERE INSTALLED ON VEHICLES IN ERROR. CAUSING THE CARS NOT TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE H
85V0250001985Service Brakes, HydraulicBRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY HAVE IMPROPERLY ANODIZED INTERNAL SURFACES CAUSING ACCELERATED WEAR OF A PISTON SEAL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ONE PORTION OF THE SPLIT BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD
83V1340001984Seat BeltsTHE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE D-SHAPED RING FOR THE SHOULDER BELT ARE INADEQUATELY SUPPORTED BY THE MATERIAL IN WHICH THEY ARE MOUNTED. THE ATTACHMENT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREM
83V0500001982Fuel System, GasolineSOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH IMPROPERLY WELDED FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAPS. UNDER CERTAIN COLLISION CONDITIONS, THESE STRAPS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT TH
83V0280001983Power TrainTHE PARKING GEAR MAY NOT ENGAGE, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THIS OCCURS IF THE LINKAGE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION THAT ACTUATES THE PARK GEAR W
83V0120001983Fuel System, GasolineSOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH FUEL TANKS THAT HAVE INADEQUATELY WELDED FRONT SEAMS THAT CAN LEAK.
82V0310001982Fuel System, OtherSOME OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED PROPANE FUEL SYSTEM FITTINGS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT; FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.
81V1510001982EquipmentINCORRECT INFORMATION ON TIRE PLACARDS CONSTITUTES A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS". THE INFORMATION CONCERNING TIR