Mercury Cougar Complaints (1999)

454 consumer complaints on file.

#10022848July 10, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE, TOOK THE KEY OUT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND AT THAT MOMENT, THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026972July 8, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRUNK COMING UNLATCHED FROM THE INSIDE. *MR THE HORN WAS ALSO INOPERATIVE, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THERE WAS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE BLOWER/FAN. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR COST OF THE BLOWER. *SCC THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021808July 3, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. CHAPMAN FORD FIXED ONE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, BUT THE SYSTEM MAY STILL BE FAILING. *AK THE VEHICLE CONTAINED A ROTTEN EGG SMELL. *CB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023225June 17, 2003
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
POWER RACK AND PINION LEAKAGE OCCURRED AND RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WARRANTY 3 YRS. OR 36,000 MI. HAD EXPIRED ACCORDING TO DEALER. $800.00 AND 15 MONTHS LATER A "CLUNKING" NOISE IS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL DURING PARKING MANEUVERS. APPARENTLY, THEY ONLY WARRANTY THE PART FOR 12 MONTHS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023104June 15, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAD DEPLOYS IN A PARKED CAR CAUSING INJURY AND DAMAGE WORTH $3,500 AND FORD REFUSES TO PAY FOR IT. ON 31ST MAY 2003, WE WENT TO THE LIBRARY TO DROP OFF OUR BOOKS. WE PARKED OUR CAR, AND I GOT DOWN TO DROP THE BOOKS. MY WIFE, WHO WAS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TURNED AROUND TO PICK MORE OF THE BOOKS FROM THE BACK SEAT AND HER SIDE AIR BAG BLEW OUT. SHE BROUGHT HER HAND FORWARD TO COVER HER FACE AND WAS HIT BY THE BLOWN AIR BAG. AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. THE CAR IS A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT AND WE HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. PER, FIRE DEPARTMENT CAPTAIN, THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS CASE BEFORE. LUCKILY, THE SMOKE WAS JUST THE AIR BAG POWDER. SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AIR BAG COVER HIT THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH CRACKED THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD. THE FORCE OF DEPLOYMENT ALSO POPPED OUT AIR VENT AND THE DASHBOARD. WHEN WE CALLED UP FORD, THEY ASKED US TO CLAIM IT THROUGH OUR INSURANCE. BUT WHEN WE TOLD THEM THAT IT DID NOT MAKE SENSE THEY TOLD US SEND THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER WHERE THEY CAN RUN DIAGNOSTICS. CURRENT MILEAGE IS AROUND 64,000. FORD SAYS THAT ONE OF THE MODULES WAS FAULTY AND ALSO THIS MODULE HAS WARRANTY OF 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. BUT THIS WAS NOT MENTIONED IN ANY OF THEIR SERVICE MANUALS. ALSO NOBODY POINTED THIS OUT WHEN THE CAR HAD THE FORD RECOMMENDED 60,000-MILE MAINTENANCE AND CHECK WE ALSO MADE REPEATED CALLS TO FORD, TO GIVE US IN WRITING THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DUE TO FAULTY UNIT. BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO SO. PROGRESSIVE, OUR INSURANCE AGENT HAS SAID THEY CANNOT COVER IT AND THAT WE HAVE TO TALK TO FORD (THEY DID SAY THAT IF THIS INCIDENT CAUSED A COLLISION, THEY WOULD HAVE PAID FOR IT). FORD SAYS THIS IS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW DO WE COME TO KNOW WHICH PART IS GOING TO COST US IN FUTURE BECAUSE IT HAS RUN OUT OF WARRANTY, IF NOBODY POINTS OUT THE PROBLEM DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10022331June 4, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
WHEN FILLING UP THE GAS NOZZLE GAS KEEPS SHUTTING OFF, AND ITS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT NOZZLE IN AND OUT OF NECK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022335June 4, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING
THERE IS A RECALL ON THE GAS TANK AS BEING LOOSE. THIS IS CAUSING THE NOZZLE NOT TO GO IN SMOOTHLY, AND THE PUMP KEEPS SHUTTING OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019146May 22, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
IMRC (INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER CONTROL) UNIT SEEMS TO HAVE USED INSUFFICIENT CABLE STRENGTH. FAULTY DESIGN CAUSED THE CABLE TO FRAY INSIDE THE UNIT EVENTUALLY BREAKING. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018946May 19, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 99 MERCURY COUGAR, ORIGINAL OWNER. MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE FRONT BRAKES AND FOUND THE SENSOR WAS MISSING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE TO ONE OF THE TECH'S, HE SAID ALL 4 WHEELS SHOULD HAVE A SENSOR. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR THERE TODAY THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THE TECH COMPARED IT TO ANOTHER COUGAR AND FOUND NO SENSOR ON THE RIGHT FRONT. IF A COUGAR HAS ABS THERE WILL NOT BE ANY SENSORS, SO WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WAS COMPARING IT TO. NO BRAKES WEAR EVEN. THE ONLY WAY I WILL BE HAPPY IF SOMEONE SENDS ME A PICTURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN A TRUCK AND CAR TECH. FOR 30 YEARS AND HE SAID ALL FOUR WHEELS SHOULD HAVE A SENSOR. WHO ARE THEY KIDDING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018764May 15, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE DISC'S ARE NOTHING BUT A TOTAL PROBLEM. REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 30000 MILES. THE FRONT AT 38000 MILES. NOW THE FRONTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 52000 MILES. IT IS ABOUT TIME FOR FORD TO BUILD A RELIABLE CAR OR JUST QUIT MAKING CARS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019965May 15, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE ENGINE PISTON LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018236May 6, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 01 V 230 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017104May 6, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND A HALF A TANK OF FUEL OR BELOW, THE ENGINE MISFIRES AND ALMOST STALLS OUT, THIS PRESENTS A HAZARD WHEN MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING. THE FUEL SYSTEM HAS BEEN CHECKED AND SEEMS TO BE OPERATING FINE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016632April 28, 2003
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
I OWN A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN JANUARY OF 2003 WITH 32,000 MILES ON THE CAR. TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR THE ALTERNATOR DIED, WHICH IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. BUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS AFTER THAT, MY POWER SUNROOF BROKE, WHICH IS ALSO A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE IT COST ME OVER $1200.00 WITH LABOR TO FIX. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY COUGAR OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SUNROOF BREAK BECAUSE THE 1999 AND 2000 COUGARS WERE MADE WITH PLASTIC RAILS THAT EASILY BREAK. THE 2001 AND 2002 COUGARS WERE MADE WITH METAL RAILS AND WORK FINE. THE PARTS THAT YOU ORDER NOW FOR THE 1999 AND 2000 COUGARS ARE METAL, SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY WASN'T THIS A RECALL, AND WHY SHOULD WE ALL HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND BREAKS ONLY BECAUSE IT IS POORLY MANUFACTURED? WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY I WOULD HAVE TO PUT INTO FIXING THE STOCK PARTS, SUCH AS THE ALTERNATOR, SUN ROOF, AND FUEL PUMP, AND REAR HATCH DOOR, WHICH ARE ALSO VERY COMMON PROBLEMS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014440April 16, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR 2.5L DURATEC V6 (VIN L) CURRENTLY WITH 55,000 MILES. AT 49,135 MILES, I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT ITS REGULAR INTERVAL (3,000 MI) AT MIDAS SERVICE. AT CLOSE TO 52,000 MILES, UPON EXITING A SWEEPING RIGHT-HAND OFF-RAMP, THE 'OIL' LAMP FLICKERED ON AND OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A LIGHT 'TICKING' NOISE THAT GREW INTO 'KNOCKING.' THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, INDEPENDENCE FORD, CHARGED $60 TO TELL ME SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH OF TESTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER, [XXX], IF HE OR FORD WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS CONCERNING OIL STARVATION DUE TO 'CRANK WHIP' OR PRESSURE LOSS DURING RIGHT-HAND CORNERING. HE BEGAN LISTING EXISTING KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH COUGARS. BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, I SUGGESTED HE WAS READING THE LIST OF TSB'S TO ME. HE BECAME EVASIVE AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES. I HAD SPENT SEVERAL HOURS RESEARCHING THE OIL STARVATION PROBLEM KNOWN TO EXIST WITH THE DURATEC ENGINES, INCLUDING CHANGES FORD MADE IN 1999 AND IN 2003 TO REDUCE THE OCCURRENCE OF BEARING FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF CRANK WHIP AND POOR OIL CIRCULATION. I READ OF OWNERS WITH FAILURES AS LOW AS 3,000 AND 11,000 MILES. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH FORD AND MERCURY VIA MAIL EXPLAINING THE SYMPTOMS AND PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED RESPONSE. IN THE MEANTIME, MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY AS HAVING DAMAGED CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. I MUST NOW ABSORB THE EXPENSE OF ENGINE FAILURE AT LESS THAN 55,000 MILES. FORD HAS MADE PRODUCTION CHANGES TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE BUT REFUSES TO OFFER REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT FOR EXISTING OWNERS OF THE FAULTY ENGINES. A MARKET HAS DEVELOPED, INCLUDING REVISED OIL PANS INCORPORATING BAFFLES, TO OFFER POSSIBLE REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. I SINCERELY APPRECIATE ANYTHING NHTSA CAN DO TO HELP OWNERS LIKE MYSELF WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF THIS FAULTY DESIGN. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015838April 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE MADE A VERY LOUD RATTLE AND THEN STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE BLEW DUE TO DEFECTIVE PISTONS AND RODS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011578March 13, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEAD LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE TOO DIM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009965March 5, 2003
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
THE SUN ROOF DID NOT WORK PROPERLY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009065February 28, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY, IT HESITATED AND SURGED WHEN ACCELERATED TO PASS OTHER VEHICLE'S, AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008984February 21, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS STATED IN RECALL #01V230000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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