Mercury Cougar Complaints

1,886 consumer complaints on file.

#10080868July 12, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOR THE LAST 18 MONTH THE HEAD LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS HAVE FLICKERED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 4 OR 5 TIMES. TWICE BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED AND THE DEALER ALWAY TOLD ME THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED OUT FIND. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND NOW THE ALTERNATOR HAS FAILED TWICE IN 30 DAYS. THIS WAS MY THIRD AND LAST MERCURY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080742July 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING, MY CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL START FAILING. LIGHTS WILL DIM, RPM AND SPEED GAGES RESET AND THE CAR STALLS. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AGAIN AND HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP. VEHICLE HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. THE FAILURE IS IN THE ALTERNATOR TO THE CAR AND POSSIBLY THE BATTERY AS WELL WHICH HAS ONLY EVER BEEN THE ORIGINAL FORD BATTERIES. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY BATTERY REPLACED 3 TIMES AND MY ALTERNATOR 3 TIMES. THIS HAS ALL OCCURRED WITHIN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS. AFTER READING INFORMATION FROM OTHER MERCURY COUGAR OWNERS ON THE WEBSITE WWW.FASTCOUGAR.ORG, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR'S ALTERNATOR AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080674July 9, 2004
AIR BAGS
MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR AND A SPLIT SECOND LATER THE PASSANGER AIRBAG PREMATURLY DEPLOYED. IT WAS THE AIRBAG IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR HER HEARING IN HER RIGHT EAR BECAUSE SHE IS HAVING PROBLEMS. I CALLED THE FORD/MERCURY MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHICH I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO EITHER. I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT AND WOULD NOT WANT TO HEAR OR SEE ANYONE ELSE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS. I AM JUST GRATEFUL THAT I GAVE MY DAUGHTER A RIDE TO SCHOOL THAT MORNING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10081630July 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED THE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. AS RESULT, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED A COLLISION, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080707July 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
NO WARNING, DRIVING TO WORK UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WHEN STEAM AND COOLANT (WHICH COULD BE SMELLED) CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, LIMITING MY VISION. I HAD TO STOP AND LOW COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED HOME. TOOK CAR TO A CORNER MECHANIC WHO INFORMED US THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND IT WOULD COST US $1,200. WE WERE SKEPTICAL BECAUSE ON OTHER VEHICLES WE HAVE, THIS PART IS CAST SO IT DOESN'T BREAK. WE THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC THAT WE HAVE USED BEFORE AND HE ALSO SAID THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN. HE THEN HAD TO ORDER A NEW FORD PART THAT COST US $589.17 PLUS LABOR OF $249.60 AND WRECKER RUN OF $38.40, FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $923.12. UPON CHECKING WITH FORD.COM, WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS AND UPON SPEAKING WITH SOMEONE OVER THE PHONE WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM, SERVICE BULLETIN 97M91" THAT WOULD HAVE REPLACED THIS DEFECTIVE PART AT NO COST TO US, IF THE PART WOULD HAVE BROKEN IN THE MONTH OF MAY, INSTEAD OF JUNE 19, WHEN IT OCCURRED. WE WERE NEVER AWARE OF SUCH A PROGRAM AND ARE EXTREMELY DISTRESSED THAT SUCH A REPUTABLE COMPANY AS FORD WOULD NOT MAKE THIS AN UNLIMITED WARRANTY KNOWING THAT THE PART WILL FAIL AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS MADE OF ALUMINUM WHICH IS DEPENDABLE. WHY WAS THIS NOT USED DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE AUTOMOBILE? SURELY, THE COST THEN WOULD HAVE BEEN MINIMAL TO FORD. COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE REASON WHY IT WAS NOT MADE A VOLUNTARY RECALL? WE WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS PART, CONSIDERING WE WERE ONLY 3 WEEKS OUT OF "97M91."*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080541July 7, 2004
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE BATTERY SEEMED LOW ON THE CAR, INDICATED BY INTERIOR LIGHTS NOT BEING VERY ILLUMINATED, BUT THEN DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND WINDOWS ROLLED UP VERY SLOWLY. I CHARGED THE BATTERY FOR MANY HOURS AND IT TOOK A CHARGE, SO I COULD GET TO THE MERCURY DEALER. IT DIED WHEN I GOT THERE AND THEY WERE CLOSED, SO I HAD TO JUMP IT AND MOVE TO A SAFE LOCATION TO LEAVE OVERNIGHT. THIS HAD HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE IN THE PAST 2 1/2 YEARS, SO I NEW IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AGAIN! THAT'S THREE ALTERNATORS IN 2 1/2 YEARS. THIS TIME I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND AM EXPECTED TO PAY $550 FOR A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT CLEARLY WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THE DEALER CAN NOT TELL ME WHY THIS IS OCCURING, AND FORD "CUSTOMER SERVICE" COULD CARE LESS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT MANY COUGAR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM CONTINUALLY. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE MOTOR FOR THE SUNROOF.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080432July 6, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FOR NO REASON AT ALL ANTIFREEZE STARTED LEAKING FROM THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IN MY 1997 COUGAR WITH A 4.6L MOTOR. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON SOME PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS. FOUND ALL INFO I COULD AND COPIED IT FOR THE LOCAL MERCURY DEALER TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. DROPPED IT OFF FOR SERVICE, ONLY TO GET A CALL THAT MY VIN WAS NOT ONE THAT WAS AWARDED THE EXTENDED 7 YEAR WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE LENGTH OF TIME WE OWNED THIS COUGAR FIT THE TIME CRITERIA. IM REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD THAT THEY ARE NOT COVERING ALL OF THEIR PLASTIC JUNK MANIFOLDS. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR COMPLAINTS, BUT THE MAN SAID I AM SORRY I CAN NOT HELP YOU, BUT I WILL TYPE YOUR INFO IN OUR DATABASE. SO I AM NO SPENDING $900.00 TO REPAIR A CAR WITH 82K MILES ON IT FOR SOMETHING I WOULD NOT HAVE EXPECTED TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH. TO PROVE THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, THEY NOW REPLACE THE ORIGINAL MANIFOLD WITH A NEW PART NUMBER, AND DESIGN. THEY ADMIT IT WAS A BAD DEAL, BUT STILL WILL NOT HELP ME. I TOLD THEM THAT WHILE THEY WERE TYPING MY COMPLAINT, ALSO TYPE THAT THIS IS MY LAST FORD, AND ALSO MY FAMILIES LAST FORD. IT'S A SAD TESTAMENT FOR THE USA WORKERS. HENRY FORD WOULD NOT BE PLEASED. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080433July 6, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY
GAS GAUGE HAS ERRATIC OPERATION (SOMETIMES STICKS ON E OR F AND NEVER ACCURATE). CAR HAS HESITATION. DEALER INDICATED IT WAS THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE. FORD/MERCURY ISSUED RECALL IN MAY 2004 ON FUEL DELIVERY MODULE FOR THIS REASON. MY CAR WAS NOT IN THE RECALL AND FORD WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED (APPROX $480 REPAIR). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076168July 6, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MAKING NOISES SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PARTS. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079179July 2, 2004
TIRES
ON TRIP TO OHIO ONE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE SECOND BECAME DEFORMED WHICH WOULD HAVE SHORTLY BLOWN EXCEPT IT WAS ON THE FRONT AND EXIBITED A DEFINITE WOBBLY . THE TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES ON THEM.MADE IN CANADA BY NATIONAL MODEL XT 6000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079184July 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED 3 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS. EACH TIME REQUIRING THE BEARING TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079205July 2, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING, MY 1999 MERCURY COUGAR WILL SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, TO REVERSE, WITHOUT EVER RELEASING THE LOCK. ALL IT TAKES IS SLIGHT PRESSURE ON THE GEAR SHIFT TO CHANGE GEARS UNINTENTIONALLY. THE DEALER I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR FROM 2 WEEKS AGO, AND FORD TELL ME THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE GEARS TO MOVE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITH NO EFFORT. THE DEALER SAID NO HARM IS DONE. YOU ARE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 60 MILES AN HOUR WHEN YOU BUMP THE GEAR SHIFT, AND LOSE ALL ACCELERATION UNTIL YOU MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE. I CAN SEE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THERE. AND, CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS MY 16 YEAR OLD'S CAR, I SEE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. IT ALSO WOULD SHIFT FROM 2ND ALL THE WAY TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT RELEASING THE LOCK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080252July 1, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TWO YEARS AGO THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER NHTSA # 96V071000. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONE YEAR LATER THE RECALLED COMPONENT FAILED AND THIS TIME AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONCE AGAIN THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078947June 28, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2001 MERCURY COUGAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH AND A HALF. TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY AND 3 TIMES IDLE. CAR WAS COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF WITHOUT RESTARTING AND 2 COMPUTER CHIPS WERE REPLACED DUE TO FORD PUTTING IN A BAD CHIP. CAR IS NOW STALLING WHEN GOING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR STOPPED AND HAS BEEN IN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP 3 TIMES WITHIN A 3 WEEK PERIOD SO THE CAR IS NOW STALLING ONCE A WEEK. BRAND NEW WIRES, THROTTLE BODY, IDLE CENSOR WAS REPLACED AND IT'S STILL STALLING. SPENT A SMALL FORTUNE ON RENTAL CARS, TOW TRUCKS AND REPAIRS. FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. WILL NEVER EVER BUY AN AMERICAN CAR AGAIN!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079499June 18, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078379June 17, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
THE FRONT BUMPER IS SO LOW IT DRAGS OUT OF DRIVEWAYS, SHOPPING CENTER PARKING BLOCKS AND SO ON. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE WHOLE FENDER HAS TORN OFF ON BOTH SIDES OF CAR. THE FULL FENDER AND LOWER SECTION WHERE FOG LIGHTS WOULD GO IS TORN OFF TOO. INCIDENT DATE WAS LAST TIME, THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078282June 15, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND ENGINE COULD NOT BE STARTED. IT HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS: FUEL PUMP FAILURE. COST: $500. TWO WEEKS LATER I FOUND OUT THAT MERCURY HAD A RECALL ON FUEL PUMPS, HOWEVER MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I SUPPOSE IT'S JUST A BIG COINCIDENCE THAT MY CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS AND THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE RECALL. MERCURY TO THIS DATE HAS NOT REIMBURSED ME THE $500. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075386June 14, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
#1 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD IN LATE APRIL 2004 REGARD THE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 COUGAR LOOSING POWER ON INCLINE FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO. AFTER I PAID TO HAVE A NEW FUEL PUMP I RECIEVED THE LETTER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE NEW FUEL PUMP WOULD BE OUT LATE MAY 2004, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM AS OF DATE. *AK #2 EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY CAR FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES OR MORE, ONCE I TURN OFF THE CAR, IF I TRY TO START IT WITHIN 5 TO 10 MINUTES IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. FORD DEALERSHIP REPAIR CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075980June 9, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V194000 CONCERNING THROTTLE CABLE: WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN CONSUMER STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE ENGINE REVVED. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE, EVEN WHEN THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES. THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL. BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074972June 8, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THERE IS A PIN IN MY PASSENGER DOOR THAT FALLS OUT EVERY FEW MONTHS OR SO. (ABOUT 3-5 TIMES SINCE IT FIRST HAPPENED) WE JUST HOLD THE DOOR UP AND HAMMER THE PIN BACK INTO PLACE WHEN IT HAPPENS AND IT STAYS FOR A FEW MONTHS. WE'VE TRIED A FEW DIFFERENT KINDS OF CLIPS TO HOLD IT IN PLACE TO NO AVAIL. THE DOOR FALLS 1/2 WAY OFF AND JUST HANGS THERE. IT HASN'T HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING...JUST WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND A PASSENGER OPENS THE DOOR. THE CAR WAS ALSO SOLD TO ME WITH A BAD BEARING ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE...NOT SURE IF THAT'S NORMAL EITHER AROUND 40,000 MILES. ALSO, MY FUEL PUMP BURNED OUT AROUND 46,000 MILES...NOT SURE IF THAT'S NORMAL FOR A CAR OR NOT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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