Mercury Cougar Complaints

1,886 consumer complaints on file.

#10088131August 18, 2004
SEATS, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN IN SELECTED POSITION SLIDES BACKWARD AND FORWARD. IT NO LONGER LOCKS IN PLACE, CAUSING EXTREME DIFFICULTIES IN STOPPING AND TURNING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086692August 12, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE PLASTIC TUBE THAT RUNS FROM "VMV" VALVE THROUGH TH ESTEEL LINE TO THE FUEL TANK (WHICH HOUSES THE GAS EMISSIONS) IS RUPTURED. ACCORDING TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER (LINCOLN-MERCURY) THAT AFTER THE TUBE IS REPLACED, IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT WILL RUB AGAINST THE OXYGEN SENSOR PLUG WHICH GETS VERY HOT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081501August 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. VEHICLE STALLED, AND WAS STARTED AGAIN. THEN, THE VEHICLE REVVED SEVERELY. DEALER SENT THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOPS FIVE TIMES FOR ESTIMATES, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086633August 11, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND TOOK TO SHOP TO HAVE ALTERNATOR AND WHATEVER ELSE LOOKED AT. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. BATTERY LIGHT STILL FLASHING. I'M SCARED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND LEAVE ME STRANDED. ALSO HAVE HAD SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (POWER WINDOWS) AS EVERYONE ELSE, AS WELL AS SPENDING $600 ON BRAKES, AND TRUNK LATCH WON'T WORK. RADIO WORKS OFF AND ON. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BUMPER AS IT WAS RIPPED OFF WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. (NOT NEGLIGENC). *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081559August 5, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RECALL 01V230000 CONCERNING AIR CONDITIONER HEATER BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR DEFECT. THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER AND HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. CURRENTLY A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS YEAR/MAKE, AND MODEL. HOWEVER, AFTER CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087191August 4, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE STUCK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083109August 1, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I NOTICED THAT AFTER FUELING THAT THE FUEL GAUGE STILL STAYED ON EMPTY AFTER A WHILE IT CORRECTED ITSELF BUT AFTER THAT NOW EVERYTIME THAT I PUT FUEL IN THE CAR IT REGISTERS EITHER EMPTY OR ONLY HALF FULL. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT COUGARS ARE KNOWN FOR THERI FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE CAR THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND TO WATCH AND NOT OVERFILL THE TANK. TO THIS DAY THE FUEL GAUGE IS STILL WRONG. AFTER THAT THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF THE CAR STARTED PEELING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER SOME HARSH WORDS AND WEEKS OF WAITING THEY TOOK IT IN AND REPAINTED THE HOOD WHICH NOW IS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT COLOR THAT THE REST OF THE CAR. THEN 6 MONTHS AFTER THAT THE CAR STARTED HESITATING ON ACCELERATION AND WOULD SPIT AND SPLUTTER AND QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT IT ON THE MACHINE AND FOUND THAT A COMPONENT IN THE COMPUTER WAS OUT SO THEY REPLACED IT. THEN ONE DAY AS I WAS DRIVING IT MY BREAK PEDAL WENT ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I ALMOST HIT SEVERAL CARS TRYING TO GET IT STOPPED I HAD IT TAKEN TO A NEARBY GARAGE AND I HAD NO BREAK PADS ON THE FRONT OR THE BACK OF THE CAR ALSO I HAD TO HAVE MY ROTORS REPLACED( WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY A WARRANTY) HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO GRINDING NO WARNING, NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT A CAR WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES ON IT WOULD HAVE BRAKE PROBLEMS. AFTER THOSE WERE FIXED I WAS DRIVING TO CLASS ONE EVENING IN HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND TURNED TO INTO A PARKING LOT MY STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY MADE THIS LOUD POPPING NOISE AND LOCKED TO THE LEFT AND SENT ME INTO A 360 DEGREE SPIN INTO A CROWDED PARKING LOT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT NOW SITS UNABLE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT WHEELS ARE LOCKED TO THE LEFT WITH NO EXPLANATION OF WHY IT HAPPENED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081457July 30, 2004
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH FRONT/REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NATIONAL, XT6000, SIZE 21570R15, DOT#DHM37777018. *AK A SECOND TIRE WAS REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE DEFORMITIES THAT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE ALONG WITH OTHER DIFFICULTIES. (TIRE MAKE/NATIONAL XT6000X) *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083809July 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND RADIATOR LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082812July 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AFTER RUNNING FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES IN A ROW ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART FOR THIRTY OR FOURTY MINUTES. BRAKES LOSE CONTROL IN RAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083702July 28, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TEN MINUTES AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES REPLACED AND WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A WOMAN. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083627July 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH AT ONE TIME WAS ON RECALL. NO NOTIFICATION WAS EVER RECEIVED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THEY DID NOT HAVE TO HONOR THE RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082642July 26, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, EQUIPMENT
HAD CATASTROPHIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE WHILE ON VACATION. FOMOCO HAS A RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT (97M91) BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE RELIEF. AS I UNDERSTAND THE RECALL OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM, FORD WILL ONLY REPLACE WHEN IT FAILS, BUT IT MUST FAIL IN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME. THIS WAS A SILENT RECALL AS FORD NEVER PUBLICIZED IT. I HAD ATTEMPTED A PREVENTATIVE REPLACEMENT AS I WAS AWARE OF THE INHERENT PROBLEM -- AGAIN MY LOCAL MERCURY DEALER (KING - GAITHERSBURG, MD) WOULD ONLY REPLACE WHEN THE MANIFOLD FAILED. WELL IT DID WHILE I WAS ON VACATION HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME. AS THIS WAS A KNOWN MANUFACTOR'S PROBLEM FROM THE DATE OF INSTALLATION, REPLACE MUST BE DONE WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST COMES TO FORD'S KNOWLEDGE. INSTEAD, WHEN ISSUING THE RECALL (MARCH 1999) FORD CHOSE TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE CONSUMER BRINGS IT TO THE DEALERSHIP'S ATTENTION. ONLY THEN WOULD THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL EXISTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083467July 22, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED BY POPPING THE CLUTCH. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIRING AROUND THE STARTER BURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082373July 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 MERCURY COUGAR FAILED ON 7/13/2004. THE COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE SPARK PLUG SOCKET AND GROUNDED THE NUMBER 2 SPARK PLUG, LEAKED COOLANT OVER ENGINE. LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED WITH UNDRIVEABLE CAR. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY AN ASE MECHANIC REVEALED A FATIGUE CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR THE CROSS-OVER TUBE. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. IT WILL COST OVER $900 TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE OLD PART WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER REPAIRS ARE AFFECTED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082224July 19, 2004
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUN ROOF BROKEN ON MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR 1) THERE WAS NO WARNING LEADING UP TO IT BREAKING. 2) I WAS OPENING THE SUN ROOF AND THEN A LOUD "POP" NOISE AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. FORD USED PLASTIC RAILS FOR THE SUN ROOF AND THEY CAN'T SUPPORT IT. THEY LATER CORRECTED THE NEWER MODEL COUGARS WITH METAL RAILS BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY ALMOST $1,000 TO LET THEM FIX IT. 3) IT IS STILL BROKEN. I PAYED MORE FOR THE SUN ROOF IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083353July 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S INTAKE MANIFOLD. *MR ONE WEEK BEFORE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE BACK UP AND BRAKE LIGHTS, THE FAN BELT, AND THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AFTER ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081251July 17, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
I HAVE A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN SERVICE FAITHFULLY BY A DEALERSHIP. BUT RECENTLY IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN 3 ALTERNATORS PUT ON MY CAR ALL RESULTING FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSOLE LIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM, THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES AND EVENTUALLY IT STAYS LIGHTED AND THE GAUGES ZERO OUT AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN STARTING WITH THE RADIO AND EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE CAR DIES. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO ME WITHIN THE PAST MONTH ALL WHILE DRIVING IN LOT'S OF TRAFFIC. THE LAST TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A PARKING LOT. I'VE SEEN THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER COUGAR OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR AS MINE THAT ARE CONTINUOUSLY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER. WHY? A BRAND NEW CAR SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AND TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IS DEFINITELY HORRIFYING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS JUST PUT THE 4TH ALTERNATOR ON AND SAYS THEY HAD TO REWIRE A HARNESS BUT DIDN'T SAY TO WHAT OR FOR WHAT. IT'S COSTING ME $700 AND HOW AM I TO BELIEVE THAT IT WON'T BREAK DOWN AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW COME FORD DOESN'T ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE ALTERNATOR/BATTERY/WIRING PROBLEM. A BRAND NEW CAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BREAK DOWN BEFORE IT'S PAID FOR. I'M DEFINITELY NOT BUYING ANOTHER MERCURY PRODUCT AGAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073831July 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075868July 14, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE STALLING AND FUEL PUMP. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT FORD REIMBURSE THE COST OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Mercury Cougar