Mercury Cougar Complaints

1,886 consumer complaints on file.

#10045497November 5, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ODOMETER STOPPED AT 40,296. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER OWNERS OF MY SAME CAR AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045531November 5, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1997 COUGAR XR7, 4.6LITER ENGINE. CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOD ALLOWS COOLING FLUID TO ESCAPE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR OVER THREE YEARS BUT HAS NEVER BEEN LOCATED UNTIL LATELY WHEN FLUID LOSS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY/*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042078November 5, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE HAD BATTERY PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATED THAT MECHANIC TOLD HIM THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.*AK UNDER ANY ACCELERATION (LIGHT OR HEAVY) THE BATTERY LIGHT TURNED ON. IT ALSO TURNED ON OCCASIONALLY WHILE CRUISING. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY A SHORT SOMEWHERE THAT HE COULD NOT FIND AND THAT THIS WAS A POTENTIAL FIRE RISK. *PH *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045321November 3, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
AT 25,600 MILES, I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HARD & RAPID SHIFTING AND THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE LIGHT, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SHIFTING ISSUES. I CONTINUED TO BELIEVE THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT APPROPRIATELY. AT 38,200 MILES, WITH THE VEHICLE JUST OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THE VEHICLE AGAIN HAD HARSH RAPID SHIFTING WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. OUT OF FEAR FOR MY SAFETY, I EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND WAS COMPLETING A TURN WHEN MY VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH OUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS, LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER STEERING AND NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS REQUIRED TO PAY THE $90 DIAGNOSTIC FEE FOR THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAD NOT BEEN FIXED AT 25,000 MILES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY INFORMED ME I HAD A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THEY WOULD FLUSH AND FILL THE TRANSMISSIONS. THEY INDICATED THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE HARD SHIFTING AND STALLING. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THESE COMPLAINTS. A LITTLE OVER A WEEK LATER, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING TO WORK ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE WAS UP AND DOWN SHIFTING HARSHLY AND ONCE AGAIN STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AGAIN. I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO STALL AND BOTH TIMES HAS STALLED WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 - 40 MPH. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042952October 15, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WE BOUGHT A MERCURY COUGAR 1994 AND DISCOVERED WE HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND AN ENGINE FOR THE V6 MODEL AT A REASONABLE PRICE. WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS 1994 MODEL IS FAMOUS FOR BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042890October 14, 2003
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. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041808October 14, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
MY VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF AT STEVEN'S FORD INC. ON 9/17/03 TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHTS REPAIRED. MY ELDERLY PARENTS HAVE LOANED ME THEIR VEHICLE TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. I HAVE 3 YOUNG DAUGHTERS TO SUPPORT AND DO NOT WANT TO CHANCE LOSING MY JOB; HOWEVER, MY FOLKS ARE GETTING STRESSED NOT HAVING A CAR TO GET TO THEIR SENIOR ACTIVITIES. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD (MERCURY) CORP. REGARDING THIS MATTER AND I'M TOLD THAT SHIPMENT OF THE PART NEEDED WILL BE MADE ON OCT. 31, 2003 - TO BE RECEIVED BY DEALERS BY 11/25/03. I FIND THIS VERY RIDICULOUS TO WAIT 2 AND A HALF MONTHS FOR A VEHICLE REPAIR. I CANNOT AFFORD TO RENT A CAR; NOR CAN MY PARENTS - WHO LIVE ON SS BENEFITS. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS SITUATION. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041621October 11, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. MADE OF A PLASTIC MATERIAL. IS THERE ANY RECALLS OUT THERE FOR THIS? IF NOT, WHY NOT? WHY WOULD YOU PUT PLASTIC MATERIAL IN THE ENGINE? *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042566October 8, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 99V275000; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042229October 2, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH DRIVER HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND PARKED, AND THEN VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC STATED THAT MOTOR NEEDED REPLACING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037861October 1, 2003
AIR BAGS
WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS ALSO CONTACTED BUT STATED THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED. *AK *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040946September 30, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
HYDRAULIC PUMP WENT OUT ON MY COUGAR - I HAD NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER! LUCKILY, THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT WITH NO TRAFFIC, SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DOWNSHIFTING AND USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040991September 30, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THERE APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH FUEL TANK WARPAGE ON 2000 MERCURY COUGARS. THE TANK IS MOLDED PLASTIC AND CAN DISTORT. THIS DISTORTION OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING OR NOTICEABLE INCIDENT. ONCE DISTORTED, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY FAIL TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE LAST QUARTER TANK OF FUEL AND WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER OR STALL. THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE CAR DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE TANK AND FUEL SENDER; HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS ON INTERNET GROUPS RELATED TO THE CAR OR MAKER REVEAL THAT THERE ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS WHOSE LOCAL DEALERS ARE EITHER IGNORANT OF THE PROBLEM OR UNWILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT THE FACTORY'S EXPENSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040753September 26, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039127September 18, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE WERE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR STARTED TO HESITATE THEN ACCELERATE FAST IT DID THIS 6 TIMES. WE STOPPED AT A STORE AND PULLED IN FORWARD WHEN WE CAME BACK OUT AND STARTED THE CAR THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. THE CAR SOME HOW WAS FROZEN INTO DRIVE EVEN IF YOU PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. NOW OUR CAR IS AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WITH NO EXPLANATION WHY OR HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040130September 17, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CABLE THAT ATTACHED THE BATTERY TO THE ALTERNATOR SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED A FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034262September 12, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, SUSPENSION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
VEHICLE SHUT OFF AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR HALF HOUR, AND FAILED TO START. THE DEALER REPLACED BATTERY/ALTERNATOR/ IGNITION SWITCH, AND RELAY, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *AK AFTER ALL REPAIRS WERE MADE, PROBLEMS CONTINUED TO EXIST. *PH. ALSO THE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED, THE TRUNK RELEASE DID NOT WORK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037305September 5, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:REAR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DRUM:DRUM
MY CAR IS A LEMON. HAVE HAD A NEW ENGINE PUT IN IT 2 TIMES BECAUSE THE RODS SPUN. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE LIGHTS "FIXED" 3 TIMES, THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES, NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTERS TWICE. NEW POWER STEERING. TRANSMISSION DONE 3 TIMES. THERES DEFINANTLY MORE I JUST CANT THINK OF ALLLLLLL MY REPAIRS ON THIS 1999 COUGAR. I BOUGHT IT USED AND IT HAS NOW 98000 MILES CAUSE I DRIVE OUT OF STATE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037138September 3, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MADE OF PLASTIC. THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE PLASTIC MATERIAL ON THE WATER CROSS-OVER JACKET (PORTION OF THE MANIFOLD). THIS CAUSED ALL THE COOLANT TO FLOOD OUT. I FOUND FORD HAD ISSUED A TSB (97M91) THROGH ITS OWNERS NOTIFICATION PROGRAM (ONP) IDENTIFYING FATIGUE AND FAILURE OF THIS PART. A NEW PART HAD BEEN DESIGNED BY FORD ENGINEERS THAT USED AN ALUMINUM COOLANT CROSS-OVER JACKET RATHER THAN THE PLASTIC. THE ONP TSB WAS RELEASED IN 1999. I CALLED THE SUPPORT PHONE NUMBER, 1-800-392-3673. IS NOW THE CLAIMS NUMBER. HOWEVER, HE INDICATED THE VIN NUMBER STILL SHOWED THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THIS WAS PROMPTLY CHANGED. IT TURNS OUT THE 7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED BY FORD (TO ALL NEW AND SUBSEQUENT OWNERS) HAD EXPIRED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. HEAR IS MY PROBLEM: 1. I BOUGHT THE CAR(USED) FROM A MAJOR DEALER IN MARCH OF 2002. WHY DID FORD NOT HAVE MY OWNERS INFORMATION? WHAT GOOD IS THE ONP IF IT IS INACCURATE? 2. I HAD TO DO AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH TO FIND THIS TSB 97M91. HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THIS, I WOULD OF HAD IT REPLACED BEFORE IT FAILED, OR HAD IT PERIODICALLY INSPECTED.. I WAS NEVER GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT DESCISION. 3. IT SEEMS THE OWNERS NOTIFICATION PROGRAM ONLY BENEFITS THOSE WHO ARE "IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM". 4. I FEEL I HAVE NO RECOURSE TO NEGOTIATE WITH FORD. THE CLAIMS PHONE NUMBER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE TO THIS INQUIRY. 5. THIS IS A POORLY DESIGNED PART. SO POOR, FORD ISSED A 7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHAT MAKES THEM FEEL THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO ITS CONSUMERS EVEN AFTER 7 YEARS? THIS IS A MAJOR SYSTEM COMPONENT. IT SHOULD HAVE A REASONABLE LIFE EXPECTANCY. IT WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE TO CRACK AN ENGINE BLOCK, HEAD, TRANSMISSION BELLHOUSING. SO WHY IS IT ACCEPTED THAT 7 YEARS IS ACCEPTABLE FOR AN INTAKE MANIFOLD? IT IS NOT NORMAL TO HAVE A 3 INCH FATIGUE CRACK IN AN INTAKE MANIFOLD. I FEEL FORD SHOULD INCLUDE MY VEHICLE IN A MANDATORY RECALL OF THIS PART.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037172September 3, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT IGNITE IF THE GEAR SHIFT IS NOT COMPLETELY UP. IT APPEARS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH AND THE GEAR SHIFT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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