Mercury Cougar Complaints

1,886 consumer complaints on file.

#852082December 29, 1999
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, SEATS, SUSPENSION:FRONT, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. IT FAILED TO COOL INSIDE OF VEHICLE, NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE TRUNK FAILS TO LOCK WHEN CLOSED. THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS NOT HOLDING THE LATCH . WOULD NEED TO JIGGLE THE IGNITION KEY IN THE SWITCH BEFORE IT STARTS. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SLIDES BACK & FORTH WITHOUT LOCKING INTO PLACE. WHILE BACKING UP VEHICLE, IT WOULD MAKE LOUD NOISES FROM THE FRONT END NEAR WHEELS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716455December 26, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MADE OF A COMPOSITE MATERIAL THE HEAT OF MOTOR MUST HAVE CRACKED IT, THE CRACK IS RIGHT BEHIND WHERE THE ALTERNATOR SITS. SO, IT IS ON THE FRONT OF THE INTAKE. WHY IS AN INTAKE MADE OF PLASTIC ANYWAY?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#550065December 22, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF AND SMOKE TO COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716208December 18, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE LINE CORRODED BY BATTERY ACID AND BROKE, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTION AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH VEHICLE THAT STOPPED AHEAD. BRAKE COMBINATION VALVE LOCATED IN FRONT OF BATTERY. ALL THE BRAKE LINES RUN PAST THE BATTERY FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND TO THE WHEELS AND ARE FULLY PROTECTED BY A PLASTIC COATING EXCEPT THE LINE TO THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. ON THIS LINE THE PLASTIC COATING STARTS AT THE VALVE AND STOPS JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE BATTERY. THE LINE BROKE AT THE POINT WHERE THE COATING STOPS AND IS HEAVILY CORRODED BY BATTERY ACID FOR SEVERAL INCHES. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER INVESTIGATING THIS ACCIDENT FOR ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A COPY OF MY REPORT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#854110December 17, 1999
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 44MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#716143December 16, 1999
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
REMOTE TRUNK LID RELEASE DOES NOT RELEASE TRUNK LID; MUST STILL USE KEY TO OPEN. DEALER REPLACED SPRING BUT LID STILL DOES NOT RELEASE WITHOUT KEY. SUSPECT DESIGN FLAW FROM MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716144December 16, 1999
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER AND PASSENGER POWER WINDOWS DO NOT SEAL WHEN DOORS ARE CLOSED; MUST OFTEN POWER WINDOWS DOWN AND BACK UP TO PROPERLY CLOSE. DEALER "CORRECTED" RATTLING DRIVER WINDOW ON ITS TRACK, BUT BOTH WINDOWS STILL FAIL TO CLOSE OR SEAL PROPERLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853652December 3, 1999
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
NHTSA RECALL #99V-275 000/HEADLIGHTS: VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS PREECEDED BY FLICKING/BLICKING. DEALER NOTICED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL. ASKING NHTSA TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715309November 27, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
CAR DIED @ 50MPH. CONTROL OF CAR LOST IMMEDIATELY. COULD BARELY GET CAR OFF ROAD! SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715327November 27, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT IS 5 MONTHS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 8,000 MILES WITH FULL GAS TANK AND NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER SUDDENLY THE CAR SHOOK, AND SPUTTERED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE DIED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN AT THE DEALER FOR 5 DAYS AND THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED IT. FOUR DAYS AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK WHILE ALONE IN THE CAR ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK LATE IN THE EVENING, THE CAR AGAIN SUDDENLY STARTED TO SPUTTER, AND SHAKE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE CAR DIED AGAIN. WILL NOW HAVE TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALER AGAIN. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND FRIGHTENING THAT WE HAVE A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WHICH WE ARE NOW WITHOUT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND TO GO ANYWHERE AS THE DEALER IS CLOSED AND HAVE TO WORRY WHETHER OR NOT WILL SUDDENLY GET STRANDED LATE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FAILS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#851777November 18, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN, AND THERE IS SOME TYPE OF NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853095November 18, 1999
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A FOUR-WAY STOP SIGN, CAR TO THE RIGHT OF CONSUMER'S STOP SIGN, VEHICLE AT THIS POSITION CAUSES IT TO BE HIDDEN FROM CONSUMER'S RIGHT OF REARVIEW MIRROR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714941November 18, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE WILL NOT CLOSE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS BELOW 3500 RPM'S. CAR WILL ACTUALLY ACCELERATE WHEN LETTING OFF THE THROTTLE UNDER 3500 RPM'S. WHEN DOWN SHIFTING CAR WILL ACCELERATE ALSO IF SHIFTING UNDER 3500 RPM'S. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC AS DRIVER MUST CONSTANTLY RIDE THE BRAKE TO SLOW AUTO. CAR IS A STICK SHIFT AND MERCURY HAS STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A MINIMAL REPORTED PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE AWARE OF IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714672November 11, 1999
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
I HAVE THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION, AND WHEN DRIVING BELOW 35 MPH WITH THE DEFROSTER OR AIR CONDITIONER TURNED ON A CONSTANT, SURGING IS FELT ABOUT EVERY MINUTE. AT EVEN SLOWER SPEEDS IT BECOMES MORE OF A CONCERN AS THE CAR WILL SURGE UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS OR NEGOTIATING CORNERS. IF THE DEFROSTER OR AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT TURNED ON THEN THE CAR OPERATES NORMAL WITHOUT ANY SURGING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714170November 1, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN 3 SEPERATE TIMES FOR THE FRONT BRAKES. THEY CONTINUE TO GRIND AND THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. I HAVE NOTICED A DECREASE IN BRAKE PERFORMANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714063October 29, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED TWICE ALREADY WITHIN 6 MONTHS, AND TODAY IS ANOTHER POSSIBLE FAILURE. TWICE WHILE PARKED AND ONCE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#549571October 29, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE, RECALL ON OTHER MODELS HOWEVER COUGAR WAS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH SAME ENGINE AS RECALL MODELS, DENIED RECALL REPAIR (98M01). MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713895October 26, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
I BOUGHT MY COUGAR IN 1997. AT 6,113 MILES THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND HAD TO BE TURNED . AT 8,788 MILES THE ROTERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 15,718 MILES THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AGAIN AND HAD TO BE TURNED AGAIN. AT 16,992 MILES THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AGAIN AND TURNED ONCE AGAIN. AT 20,990 MILES MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES,PREMIUM AFTERMARKET ROTORS AND PADS WERE ORDERED AND WERE INSTALLED AT 21,461 MILES.THEN AT 26,402 THE BRAKE PROBLEM CONTINUES THE ROTORS WERE TURNED AGAIN. I HAVE TRIED TO BE PATIENT WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CENTROPLEX FORD BUT THE LAST TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS THEY SAID THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I AM VERY CONCERNED. MY WARRANTY WILL RUN OUT SOON AND I WOULD LIKE MY BRAKES FIXED FOR GOOD .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#851414October 21, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE TRAVELING TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. ALSO, VIBRATION WITHIN THE FRONT END WHEN TRAVELING OVER 50 MPH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713655October 21, 1999
AIR BAGS
THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT A STOP LIGHT. MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED,BUT SOMEHOW THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE BACK OF A 1986 PICKUP TRUCK. THE SUN WAS VERY LOW AND THERE WAS APOSSIBILITY THAT MY JUDGEMENT WAS IMPAIRED. THE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK WAS MINIMAL $350. MY SMALL DG WAS STRUCK BY THE AIRBAG WHICH EXPLODED ON BOTH SIDES WITH A FORCE THAT KNOCKED ME OUT AND INJURED HIM SEVERELY. HE DIED 5 DAYS LATER AFTER DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SAVE HIM. HIS NECK WAS SNAPPED, AND HE HAD INTERNAL INJURIES. THE FRONT DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS NOT THAT GREAT AND COULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. I HARDLY TOUCHED THE TRUCK. MY CONCERN IS WERE THE AIRBAGS DEFECTIVE THE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE OF MY CAR WAS ENOUGH TO TOTAL THE CAR. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS HAPPENED BEFORE WITH THE 1994 COUGAR XR7. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL COMMENTS CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, AND I AM CONCERNED AS I REALLY DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED AND WHY THE AIRBAGS EXPLODED AS THEY DID. I HAVE TO SAY THIS WAS A DEVESTATING XPERIENCE TO ME, AND ONE I HOPE NEVER HAPPENS TO ANYONE. THE CAR ACTUALLY EXPLODED INSIDE AND I THOUGHT THE CAR HAD BLOWN UP WITH ALL THE SMOKE IT MADE. THE WAY THAT THE BAG EXPLODED BROKE OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IN 2 PLACES, BROKE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, BROKE THE DRIVER VISOR OVERHEAD, BROKE THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND CRACKED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IN HALF WHERE IT EXPLODED OUT. THIS DAMAGE WAS WHY THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALLED THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1

← Back to Mercury Cougar