Mercury Cougar Complaints

1,886 consumer complaints on file.

#10149323February 2, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER FOUND THE BATTERY WIRE HAD CAME LOOSE FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE PROBLEM RETURNED A SECOND TIME UNDER A SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE BATTERY WIRE WAS REATTACHED THE SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT FOUND THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE BATTERY CABLES, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 01V031000. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON OCTOBER 15, 2001 AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FOUND. ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS THE RECALL IS CLOSED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148468January 24, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY DAUGHTER'S CAR IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. IT IS EXACTLY AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V031000. THE DEALER WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM AS A RECALL BECAUSE IS WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL BEFORE MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT THE CAR. IT IS A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. FORD HAS TOLD HER IT WAS REPAIRED AND WHAT DEALER REPAIRED IT IN NEW JERSEY. SHE IS IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN COLLEGE , AND TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER THERE. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T DO RECALL REPAIRS. SHE CALLED THE DEALER IN NEW JERSEY THAT FORD TOLD HER DID THE WORK, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT SOMETIMES RECALL WORK HAS TO BE REDONE, BUT THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR ONE YEAR. I DON'T FEEL SHE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE WORK DONE IF IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MERCURY COUGARS, AND HER CAR WAS ONE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. I WISH FORD COULD AT LEAST HELP HER PARTIALLY WITH THE REPAIRS. THE RECALL SAID THE CAR MIGHT CATCH ON FIRE. I HOPE THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO HER OR ANYONE OWNING A COUGAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148389January 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AS SOON AS I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 49000 IT WOULDN'T START. REPLACED THE STARTER, STILL WASN'T RIGHT. HAD TO REPLACE THE FLYWHEEL BECAUSE THE OLD AND NEW STARTER NEVER MATCHED PROPERLY WITH FLYWHEEL. THEN, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE EGR SENSOR WAS BAD. REPLACED THE SENSOR. ALL OF THIS WITHIN ONE MONTH OF OWNING THE CAR. THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER COOLANT LIGHT WASN'T JUST COMING ON, BUT STAYING ON, HAD TO REPLACE COOLANT TANK DUE TO SHORTING OF THE SENSOR IN THE TANK. NOW, SIX MONTHS AFTER OWNING CAR, ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147933January 17, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON AN ICY ROAD, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONSUMER HIT INTO A CURB. THE THROTTLE HAS STUCK INTERMITTENTLY SINCE AUGUST OF 2005. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE TWO RECALLS, #00V075000 REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES AND #99V194000 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147941January 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
3/21/05 VEHICLE TAKEN TO LINCOLN MERCURY DRIVEABILITY CONCERN BY>>( MY WIFE)>>>CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, THEY FOND INTAKE GASKETS LEAKING VAC & BANK 2 ALSO MONITOR ARE VERY ACTIVE NEED TUNE UP AND PLUG WIRES AND TIRES... MY WIFE GAVE THEM ALL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES PO420 & PO430 PAPER....ALSO,TOLD THEM 99-MERCURY COUGAR 2.5L ENGINE STALL AND HAVE INABILITY TO START CAR...THEY KEPT PAPER, AND TOLD HER SHE NEED NEW BATTERY CABLES!!!! CALL MANUFACTURER ON TSB AND RECALL, WE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON OUR VEHICLE I.D. NUMBER....ETC........CONSUMER REPORTS USED CAR BUYING GUIDE FOND RECALL ---99-00 MERCURY COUGAR WITH 2.5L V6 ENGINE----NATSA NUMBER #01I009000 PLEASE HELP............. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147299January 9, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END SUSPENSION INCLUDING BALL JOINTS CAUSING FRONT END COLLAPSING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146830January 3, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V421000 REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM DELIVERY MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146831January 3, 2006
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE NEW, IN 2000. IN 2002, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE A TOTAL OF 38,000 MILES, THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM COVERED THE WORK UNDER MY EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN. JUST THE OTHER DAY, WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY BROKE AGAIN. THIS TIME THOUGH, THE SUNROOF DETACHED FROM MY VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, I WAS DRIVING ON A ROAD THAT HAD LITTLE TO NO OTHER TRAFFIC. HAD I BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK DURING RUSH HOUR, THE SUNROOF WOULD HAVE MOST SURELY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, IT APPEARS THAT THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY FAILING IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, AS IT IS DOCUMENTED ON WWW.COUGARSUNROOF.COM. IF QUALITY IS INDEED JOB 1 AT FORD, WHY WOULD THEY NOT FIX AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146385December 29, 2005
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF ARMS BREAK AND SUNROOF GOES FLYING OFF THE CAR AT HIGH SPEEDS. THERE ARE ALSO OVER 800 PEOPLE WITH THIS SIMLAR PROBLEM. THE FULL LIST IS AT WWW.COUGARSUNROOFS.COM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146388December 29, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THERE IS RECALL ON MERCURY COUGAR 1999 V6 FOR A FUEL FILTER THAT MAY CAUSE HESITATION, STALLING, SURGING. OVER FIFTY TIMES HAS THIS OCCURRED NEARLY CAUSING SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OVER FIVE TIMES. THE CAR HAS BEEN GIVEN A "TUNE UP" TO ELIMINATE THAT AS THE CAUSE. THE ONLY OTHER CAUSE COULD BE THE FUEL FILTER WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED AS PER RECALL 04V421000 NHTSA. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND FORD DEALERSHIPS AND THEY REFUSE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. IF THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER VEHICLES THEN IT IS THE CAUSE ON THIS VEHICLE WHETHER THEY WANT TO ADMIT TO THAT OR NOT. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145669December 20, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLAMPS FLICKER- WHEN MY HEADLAMPS ,"FLICKER", THEY GET SO DIM THAT I AM CONCERNED I WILL NOT SEE ITEMS IN THE PATH OF MY MOVING VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TWO NEAR MISSES; ONE WITH AN ANIMAL AT LARGE, THE OTHER MUCH MORE SERIOUS, AND A PEDESTRIAN IN A CROSSWALK. THE ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT WAS DONE 2 TIMES, BATTERY REPLACEMENT DONE ONCE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY SERVICE ADVISOR AT FORD HE STATED THAT THIS IS ONLY A BULLETIN BECAUSE IT IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE LIGHTS DO NOT GO COMPLETELY OUT. MY CHILDREN WHOM RIDE IN THIS CAR AND THE PEDESTRIAN THAT I COULD NOT SEE WOULD DEEM THIS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN RIGHT ALONG WITH MYSELF AND OTHER PASSENGERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE. I ONLY DRIVE MY CAR AFTER DARK BECAUSE I HAVE NO OTHER CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145090December 13, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR. I PURCHASED THE VECHICLE NEW AND HAVE MAINTAINED ALL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS. AT THIS POINT, THE VECHICLE STILL HAS LESS THAN 45,000 MILES (I DO NOT DRIVE ALL THAT MUCH). HOWEVER, SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWICE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, ALL THE BRAKES, TIRES, AND NOW THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMPS, SO I CONTACTED FORD, BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY COUGAR IS NOT IN AMONG THOSE ON THE LIST. HOWEVER, MY CAR HAS THE EXACT SYMPTOMS THAT ARE LISTED BY FORD; IT STALLS AND WILL NOT RUN. IN FORD'S STATEMENT, THEY INDICATE THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE FAILED FUEL PUMP, BUT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THAT FOR ME. BECUASE OF THIS FAILED FUEL PUMP SITUATION, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TWICE AND HAVE BEEN STUCK IN SOME VERY INCLEMENT WINTER WEATHER SITUATIONS. I AM NOW FACING A $640 FUEL REPLACEMENT BILL WHICH I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY GIVEN THE CURRENT RECALL. I HAVE NEVER BEFORE COMPLAINED ABOUT WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE EXCESSIVE REPAIRS, BUT THIS LATEST FAILURE HAS ME LIVID. I DO HOPE THAT OTHERS DO NOT FACE THIS SAME SITUTAION AND THAT FORD WILL RECONSIDER ITS POSITION TO NOT COVER THE COST OF MY FULE PUMP REPLACEMENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144753December 8, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I WAS COMMUTING TO WORK IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL, THE CAR LOST POWER AND THEN THE ENGINE QUIT COMPLETELY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO ROLL THE CAR OUT OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE ANOTHER VEHICLE APPROACHED THE BLIND CURVE FROM MY REAR AND SWERVED TO AVOID THE BROKEN DOWN CAR AND MYSELF. I CONDUCTED AN INTERNET SEARCH AFTER FINALLY GETTING THE CAR RESTARTED AND RETURNING TO HOME THAT EVENING AND DISCOVERED THAT FORD MOTOR CO. HAD INITIATED A PROGRAM TO ALLEVIATE THE SYMPTOMS THE CAR WAS EXPERIENCING. ALTHOUGH THE CAR BEHAVED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS DESCRIPTION OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS(INCLUDING SURGING, HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, AND ENGINE STALLING), I WAS TOLD AFTER CONTACTING THE SELLING DEALER AND FORD THAT MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE IT FELL OUTSIDE OF THE PRODUCTION WINDOW OF THE VEHICLES THEY HAD IDENTIFIED AS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED 4 TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING ON INCLINED SURFACES BUT I DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE CAR ON THE MOUNTAIN ROADS. THE EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM 04N02 IS THE PROGRAM I REFERRED TO WHEN CONTACTING BOTH THE DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY. AS A RESULT OF THIS, I AM UNABLE TO USE THIS CAR TO COMMUTE TO WORK AND HAVE RESORTED TO THE USE OF RENTAL OR BORROWED VEHICLES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144790December 8, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT BELT CLIPS WILL NOT CLIP. DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144683December 7, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT STATED APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS AGO HE HAD THE FRONT END REDONE. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER THE LEFT BALL JOINT FAILED AND IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN, HE NOTICED Y THAT THE RIGHT BALL JOINT MALFUNCTIONED. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144711December 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD .THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING THE LOSS OF ANTIFREEZE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.*AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD RECALL THIS PART BUT NOT FOR CIVILIAN VEHICLES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144092November 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
MERCURY COUGAR 2000 STARTED TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS WITHIN THE LAST WEEK: LIGHTS FLICKERING,LOSS OF POWER, STALLING. CURRENTLY IN A GARAGE GETTING A NEW ALTERNATOR INSTALLED. NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I FORTUNATELY FOUND ON THE WEB THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT DON'T BELIEVE THIS WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE AS IT HASN'T FOR ANYONE ELSE. I READ COUNTLESS REPORTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE WEB. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143543November 23, 2005
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. ALL FOUR LUGS: BOLTS SNAPPED OFF. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BUT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND BACK CORNER PANEL, BUMPER, HOOD, AND DOOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142892November 16, 2005
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 10/99. I HAVE HAD THE SUN ROOF REPLACED ONCE AND NOW NEEDS IT AGAIN FOR THE SAME REASON; THE TRACK BROKE ($1000 TO FIX, $2000 IF I GO TO THE DEALER). THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE BECAUSE IT STICKS (IT NEED TO BE CHANGED AGAIN). IN 2/00 IT STARTED: WHENEVER THE CAR GOT COLD, THE CAR WOULD EITHER NOT TURN ON OR WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HE CHANGED NUMEROUS PARTS BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, UNTIL A 2004 RECALL FOR SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT WHICH TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AT WHICH TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. THAT, I HAD REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEN STILL HAD TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DONE A SECOND TIME, AND TO HAVE THE COMPUTER RESET TO HAVE THE ENGINE LIGHT SHUT OFF. ANYTIME I HAVE WORK DONE ON THE CAR, EVEN JUST MAINTENANCE, THE CHECK COOLANT LIGHT OR THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND I HAVE TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT SHUT OFF. IN 9/05 THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A DAY LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CHANGED THE OVERFLOW TANK BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IT TO BE A BAD SENSOR. AFTER FIXING THAT, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF AS WELL AS ONE OF MY BRAKE LIGHTS. HE DID MULTIPLE TESTS AND DETERMINED THAT IT IS SOMETHING ELECTRICAL, UNFORTUNATELY HE COULD NOT PINPOINT THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. FOR SOME REASON THOSE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF BUT I EXPECT THEM COME BACK ON SOON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142520November 12, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION UNTIL ONE DAY I WENT TO PULL OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. DURING THAT SAME EPISODE, WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL IT WAS PUT IN 2 INSTEAD OF DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 48,000 AND THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT OF A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS $3,256 + TAX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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