Mercury Cougar Complaints

1,886 consumer complaints on file.

#10183370February 23, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
FORD HEADLIGHTS: CLOUDY LENSES: FORD MADE AUTOS HAVE PLASTIC LENSES/HEADLIGHTS THAT CLOUD UP OVER TIME, WITHIN 5 YEARS TO 10 YEARS, THAT LIMIT EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. I PERSONALLY HAVE HIT CURBS AND NARROWLY MISSED PEDESTRIANS ETC DUE TO INABILITY TO SEE THEM AT NIGHT DUE TO LOW HEADLIGHT BRIGHTNESS. THE FORD/MERCURY DEALER INFORMS ME THAT TO REPLACE THE FOGGED LENSES, I WILL HAVE TO PAY HIM $350.00 PER HEADLIGHT FOR A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY. LENSES ARE NOT SOLD SEPARATELY, HE SAYS. CANNOT BE CLEANED, HE SAYS. WHY, WHY, WHY DO YOU LET FORD GET BY WITH SELLING CARS THAT HAVE THESE DEFECTIVE, PRONE TO FAILURE HEADLIGHT LENSES? PEOPLE CAN'T SEE WHERE THEY ARE GOING AT NIGHT! DOESN'T THAT CONCERN YOU? LOOK THROUGH ANY PARKING LOT, SEE THE FORD PRODUCTS WITH DARKENED, RUINED LENSES. THESE ARE ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN TO 1000'S OF DRIVERS WHO CAN'T AFFORD $350 PER HEADLIGHT EVERY 5 YEARS OR SO! FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND/OR OFFER REASONABLE COST REPLACEMENTS. $350 PER LENS IS NOT REASONABLE! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183725February 20, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE CONSUMER'S 1992 MERCURY COUGAR WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. *CC EVENTUALLY THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF MORE THAN THEY REMAINED ON. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A RECALL WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM HE WAS HAVING WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE'S VIN AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THE CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE PART HIMSELF. THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH WAS A MOTORCRAFT, E6EB-11654-AA.*NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182560February 14, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE @ 30 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED OUT AND I ALMOST CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER NOR BRAKE. FORD HAS A RECALL ON THE 1999 MERCURY COUGAR REPLACEMENT PROGRAM 04N02 BUT FORD SAYS MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM. PLEASE HELP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10181377February 1, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I BOUGHT A 199 FORD MERCURY COUGAR AND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON DEC. 8TH, 2006 WHEN I TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES THEY STARTED MOVING ON THEIR OWN AND THE MOVEMENT WAS BRAKING UP AND DOWN I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND WRECKED AND I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM A CAR LOT. THIS CAR CONSTANTLY WHEN COLD DOES THIS AND IT ALSO SQUEAKS LIKE THERE IS TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE WHOLE CAR, THE BRAKES ARE STILL HAVING THAT SHUTTERING PROBLEM. CAN THIS BE FIXED?-I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR... IT HAS SINCE DONE THE SAME THINGS WITH THE BRAKING AGAIN AND IT SCARES ME BUT IT ONLY DOES IT WHEN IT IS COLD OUT ... *NM UPDATED
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10180942January 28, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I ALSO OWN A 99 COUGAR AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES, BUT I LOVE THE WAY THE CAR DRIVES WHEN IT WORKS CORRECTLY. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND IT'S ALSO ON ITS 5TH WINDOW MOTOR, WHICH STILL DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. I HAVE REPLACED ALMOST EVERY SENSOR POSSIBLE, TOO. OF COURSE WHEN I HAVE QUESTIONED MERCURY ON THESE ISSUES, THEY CLAIM THAT IT'S NOT A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE COUGARS. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHERS ON THE TIRE ISSUES, BUT LUCKILY MINE HAS NOT HAD ANY ISSUES WITH TIRES. THE NEWEST ISSUE WITH MINE IS THE HEADLAMPS. I WAS IN SOME HEAVY RAIN WATER IN THE BEGINNING OF OCT. 2006 AND THEY LEAKED AND HAD PUDDLES INSIDE OF THEM. I TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED BY MERCURY AND I HAVE NOT HAD MY CAR BACK FOR 3.5 MONTHS! IN TALKING WITH FORD I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAVE NOT MADE ANY HEADLAMPS FOR THE 99 COUGAR SINCE JAN. 2006 AND THEY ARE ON A NATION WIDE BACKORDER. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I AM HOPING THAT FORD WILL MAKE THINGS RIGHT FOR NOT STOCKING HEADLAMPS AND PUTTING ME WITHOUT A CAR FOR THE PAST 3.5 MONTHS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179246January 20, 2007
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF BROKE LOOSE. IS STUCK NOW BUT COULD POTENTIALLY RELEASE FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AFFECTING MANY MANY VEHICLES. REFER TO WWW.COUGARSUNROOF.COM. LIST OF OVER 1000 COMPLAINTS THERE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS GETS SOMEONE KILLED. I HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN FIRE PROTECTION AND SAFETY ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY FROM OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY'S WORLD RENOWNED PROGRAM AND THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178278January 10, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
LIGHTS PERIODICALLY STOPPED WORKING ELIMINATING VISIBILITY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177947January 5, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NUMEROUS TIMES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176844December 22, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT HER 1992 MERCURY COUGAR'S HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OFF AND ON. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE COULD BE SITTING, PARKED OR DRIVING, AND LIGHTS ALWAYS TURN OF BUT IF SHE TURNS THE SWITCH OFF AND ON THE LIGHTS TURN ON AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THIS STARTED HAPPENING BACK IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LAST YEAR. THE CONTACT SAID THAT SHE DID FIND THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH WAS ISSUED 10/08/99 FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS: SWITCH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174136November 23, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING POORLY AND SUDDENLY SAME DAY, REVERSE WILL NOT ENGAGE, ALSO NO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR WORKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173843November 20, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I OWN A 2002 MERCURY COUGAR VIN[XXX]. IN 2/06 MY CAR BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. OVER A FEW WEEK'S TIME, THE PROBLEM WORSENED TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD HESITATE, THEN SURGE AHEAD, AND COULDN'T BE CONTROLLED. ON 3/7/06, I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 IN S. FLA., AND MY CAR HESITATED AND SURGED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE SURGING CAUSED A NEAR MISS WITH THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE CAR SPUTTERED AND I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. ON THE SHOULDER, THE CAR BACKFIRED, THEN SHUT OFF. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, WAITED 15 MINUTES, THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. THE ENGINE RAN, SO I CONTINUED ON MY WAY. WITHIN 15 MINUTES, THE HESITATION AND SURGING STARTED AGAIN. AT THIS POINT, I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME. ALONG THE WAY, THE CAR SHUT OFF 3 MORE TIMES. ONCE HOME, I CONTACTED MY DEALER, MAROONE LINCOLN MERCURY IN N. PALM BEACH, FLA. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. I THEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHO MADE NOTE OF MY COMPLAINT AND TOLD ME OF A SAFETY BULLETIN FOR THE 2002 MERCURY COUGAR FUEL DELIVERY MODULE. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD MY CAR WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER THE SAFETY CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. I CONTACTED A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WYNN PERFORMANCE IN BELLE GLADE, FLA. FOR THEIR DIAGNOSIS. WYNN PERFORMANCE VERIFIED THAT MY CAR WAS HESITATING AND SURGING AND THAT A SAFETY BULLETIN EXISTED FOR MY CAR'S MODEL YEAR. WYNN PERFORMANCE OBTAINED A GENUINE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUEL DELIVERY MODULE AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE UNIT. THE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT THAT THE OLD MODULE AND THE NEW UNIT HAD SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN DESIGN. I TESTED THE CAR AND WAS SATISFIED THAT IT WORKED CORRECTLY. TO THIS DAY, MY CAR DOES NOT SURGE OR HESITATE. REPLACING THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, BUT I INCURRED MORE THAN $400 IN OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR THE SAFETY UPGRADE. I AM UPSET THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND MAROONE LINCOLN MERCURY DISREGARDED MY SAFETY AND IGNORED THEIR BULLETIN. *NM *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170664October 12, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE AT ALL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NEARLY GET REAR-ENDED WHILE BRAKING FROM TRAVELING 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #01V032000 PERTAINING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. SECONDLY, THE ENGINE HESITATED WHILE WARMING UP, ACCOMPANIED BY A ROUGH IDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A MECHANIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169626September 29, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR ON SEPTEMBER 25 ,2006. WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN &THEY COLLIDED. SHE HIT HIM WITH HER FRONT END & THEN PROCEEDED TO SWERVE HEAD ON INTO A TELEPHONE POLE . SO THIS MAKES TWO FRONT END COLLISIONS & THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. IN FACT SHE HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT IN SEPT 2003 WHERE A CAR WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND HIT HER,BUT THAT WAS A SIDE IMPACT & AGAIN THIS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SO THIS HAS BEEN THREE INCIDENTS THAT THIS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY & THIS PAST ONE ON MONDAY WAS FRONT END COLLISION & MY DAUGHTER HAS DAMAGE TO HER CHEST & RIB CAGE , WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE AIR BAGS WORKED PROPERLY! *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10168839September 21, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
WENT OUT TO GO TO WORK ONE MORNING AND CAR WOULD NOT START, ALL SYSTEMS COMPLETELY DEAD, JUMPED CAR OFF NEXT DAY AND BARELY MADE IT TO GARAGE, REPLACED BATTERY 11/04, PROBLEMS EVER SINCE WITH BATTERY LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHING AS WELL AS ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHING BRIGHT TO DIM DAY OR NIGHT, WAS TOLD 11/04 NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR, STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN A NEW ALTERNATOR AND DO NOT PLAN TO AT THIS POINT, RECEIVED THE RECALL ON BATTERY CABLE AND REROUTING AND HAD THAT DONE, IF THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH V-6 2000 MERCURY COUGARS THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY, IF DRIVING AT NIGHT AND CAR COMPLETELY STALLS, ALL LIGHTS AND CONTROLS ARE INOPERABLE WHICH WILL CAUSE ACCIDENT TO SELF AND/OR OTHERS, THIS IS A SCARY THOUGHT FOR A SINGLE FEMALE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND IN AREAS WHERE CELL PHONE DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE A SIGNAL, FORD SHOULD FIX THIS BATTERY/ALTERNATOR PROBLEM ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT AND SUES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167166August 31, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
I WAS DRIVING HOME GOING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD AND MY HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING. I ALMOST WRECKED,AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I ENDED UP DRIVING IT HOME WITH NOTHING BUT PARKING LIGHTS ON WHICH WAS A GOOD HALF HOUR JOURNEY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167108August 30, 2006
SEATS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE AND MOVED AROUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165531August 15, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON DRY CITY STREETS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164588August 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
1999 MERCURY COUGAR SEAT BACK FAILURE DURING REAR-END COLLISION. COUGAR STALLED ON BUSY FREEWAY ENDING IN REAR TOTALED CAR COLLISION. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WENT COMPLETELY DOWN AND UPON SEATS IN THE BACKSEAT. THIS WAS TWO DEFECTS. INJURIES WERE NECK AND BACK PAINS, THREE BUMPS TO THE HEAD RESULTING IN TWO BLACK EYES. MY ADVICE TO ALL 1999 COUGAR OWNERS-GET RID OF THE CAR, BY WAY OF JUNKYARD-THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND ONE WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10164297August 3, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY AND THE HEAD LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING CONSISTENTLY. FIRST I TOOK IT TO TWO LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS WHO FOUND NO CHARGING PROBLEMS. THE SECOND SHOP PROVIDED ME WITH A RECALL AND RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER(WITH THE RECALL PAPER WORK) AND THEY FIRST REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR (WHICH DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM) THEN REPLACED A CONNECTOR (WHICH DIDN'T FIX MY PROBLEM). WHEN I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE BATTERY CABLE TO THE ALTERNATOR WHICH IS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A $1,900.00 WIRING HARNESS TO DO THAT. HE RECOMMENDED THAT I TRADE MY CAR IN. SO I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A "CONSUMER REPORTS" USED CAR BUYING GUIDE TO LOOK FOR A RELIABLE USED CAR AND I FOUND A SECTION IN THE BACK FOR "RECALLS". UNDER THE '99-00 MERCURY COUGAR SECTION IT REFERENCES THIS RECALL AND SAYS "IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BATTERY CABLE". I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD AND PLAN TO CALL THE ATTORNEY GENERALS CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION NEXT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164145August 1, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I PURCHASED A USED 200 MERCURY COUGAR IN 12/2005. THE FUEL HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY FESTUS FORD AS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AS PART OF RECALL #04V421000. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE 1-866-436-7332 TO ASK IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT FORD COULD DO TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AND MY REQUEST WAS REJECTED. IT'S APPARENT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE COUGAR FUEL PUMPS. I REPORT TO FORD THAT I THOUGHT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE THIS IS CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND/OR SURGE. THEY DID NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED AT ALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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