Mercury Cougar Complaints (1996)

62 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#10034560August 25, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, CAR OVERHEATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT INTAKE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029681August 15, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING. THE HOOD FLEW OPEN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#568297November 19, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SOMETHING INTERNAL AND WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING. *SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769832November 18, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TEAR ALONG FRONT FACE OF UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. CALLED SEVERAL SALVAGE YARDS TO FIND REPLACEMENT AND WAS TOLD BY ALL THAT THEY CAN'T KEEP THESE IN STOCK. WHEN I DID LOCATE ONE THE MANAGER AT THE SALVAGE YARD ASKED WHAT HAPPENED TO MY INTAKE. I SHOWED HIM WHERE THE INTAKE SPLIT OPEN AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THEY'RE SEEING A LOT OF THESE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND I WAS LUCKY TO FIND THE ONE HE HAD. THIS PLASTIC (COMPOSITE) COMPONENT PROBABLY DOESN'T FAIR WELL IN ARIZONA. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768293October 9, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION HAS FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS. CAR WOULDN'T SHUT OFF BY IGNITION KEY. HAD TO SHUT OFF VIA FUEL SHUTOFF. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011804June 13, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
VEHICLE WAS GOING 20MPH RIGHT BALL JOINT LOCKED UP. VEHICLE STEERED STARIGHT, BUT WAS PULLING RIGHT. EVERTUALLY, VEHICLE STOPPED ITSELF. MERCURY DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8008694April 26, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
IF HEAT IS LEFT ON MODULE IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8007418April 11, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON FIVE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751154August 26, 2001
TIRES
WHILE TRAVELING ON I-4 FROM TAMPA, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 INCHES OF TREAD BECAME SEPARATED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886551April 23, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CONSUMER HAD A RECALL FOR ENGINE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED DEFECTIVE PART FROM RECALL. SIX MONTH LATER, REPLACEMENT PART DIDN'T WORK. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. AND STAYED ON. SHE COMPLAINED THAT ENGINE COOLANT WAS RUNNING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT REPLACEMENT PART DIDN'T WORK AT FIRST, AND SHE NEEDED SOME HELP FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#741057February 17, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
GAS LINE LEAK POSITIONED OVER ELECTRICAL WIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738438December 28, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE GAS DID NOT SHUT OFF DURING IMPACT,ALONG WITH THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. THE DRIVER COULD OF BEEN KILLED TODAY. PLEASE FIND OUT WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THANK YOU JAYNE HOWARD. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730191September 5, 2000
TIRES
TIRE BLEW OUT ON CITY STREET GOING APPROX 35MPH. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED ON 5-28-98 AND ALSO 9-2-98 BY FORD DEALER. HAVE INFO ON SERVICE TICKETS. FIRESTONE REP SAID TIRE HAD BEEN DRIVEN WITH LOW PRESSURE AND ALSO ON GLASS. SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. THIS PERSON WAS NOT WORTH TALKING TO. PURCHASED ANOTHER BRAND AND DISCARDED CARCASS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215 70R/1 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729488August 29, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, SEATBELT BECAME UNLATCHED
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#727460August 10, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, I HAD A FLAT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO DISCOUNT TIRES WHO TOLD US THAT THE TIRE ON THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE WAS SEPARATING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE FLAT UNTIL WE REPLACED THE TIRE DUE TO SAFETY. WE BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT TIRE FROM DISCOUNT TIRES AND HAD IT PLACED ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON ONE OF OUR LOOPS, AT THE POSTED SPEEDLIMIT OF 70 MPH, WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SHREDDED AND BLEW OUT. THE CAR ENDED UP GOING SIDEWAYS DOWN THE LOOP IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. HE ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY IN THE GRASS. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE TIRE DID DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND THE REAR BUMPER WHEN IT CAME LOOSE. WE REPLACED THAT TIRE AND THE OTHER FRONT TIRE AT THE SAME TIME. ABOUT TWO TO THREE WEEKS LATER I NOTICED A BAD VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AND HAD THE FOURTH TIRE REPLACED. I HAD ASKED THE TECHNICIAN AT DISCOUNT TIRES, IF I SHOULD GO TO FIRESTONE AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE TIRE, AS THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM TO COME APART LIKE THAT. I WAS TOLD I COULD TAKE IT TO THEM, HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME VERY MUCH, AS THE TREAD WAS LOW, I MIGHT GET A LITTLE BIT OF REPLACEMENT VALUE BUT NOT MUCH. SINCE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES, AND THE TIRE RETAILERS CHARGED ME A DISPOSAL FEE, AND KEPT THE BAD TIRES, I HAVE NO WAY OF PROVING THAT I HAD THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES THE CAR CAME WITH. THESE TIRES LOOKED FINE AND APPEARED TO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF TREAD STILL ON THEM, BUT ALL FOUR OF THEM COMPLETLY SEPARATED THE TREAD FROM TIRE.IT MOUNTED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725401July 13, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM EXISTED BUT I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE "SHUDDER". DEALER RECCOMMENDED ADDITIVE TO TRANSMISSION. FLUID JUST AFTER I PURCHASED CAR (NEW). NOW SHUDDER IS SO BAD I HAVE TO GET TRANSMISSION WORK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724029June 14, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE FIRST TIME THE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 10,000 MILES ON IT, THAN IT WAS RESURFACED AGAIN AND FINALLY WE HAD TO HAVE NEW ROTORS INSTALLED. THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN CAUSING THE BRAKES TO WEAR, ROTORS RESURFACED AGAIN, THAN NEW TIRES IN THE FRONT WERE WEARING OUT OF ROUNDS, NOW THIS WILL BE THE FIFTH TIME WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ROTORS REPAIRED (RESURFACED). THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES TERRIBLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#861163May 1, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK AND WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC IN MISSISSIPPI FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720631March 27, 2000
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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