Mercury Cougar Complaints

1,886 consumer complaints on file.

#10016129April 17, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF OR BECAME DIM. *NLM *TT
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
#10015857April 15, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE WRONG ROTORS WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED ROTORS WERE CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014413April 15, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON. I HAD TO PLAY WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO FINALLY GET THEM BACK ON. AT FIRST THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NOT COME ON, BUT BARELY PULLED ON SWITCH AND THEY CAME ON. PULLED DASH APART AND NOTICED THE SWITCH BRACKET WAS MELTED A LITTLE AND A (BROWN AND GRAY?) WIRE WAS SCORCHED, MELTED, FRAYED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015804April 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
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
#10014166April 9, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 12 TIMES AT HIGH SPEEDS AND RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND TWICE HAS RESULTED IN LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014006April 5, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT RESPOND TO MODERATE TO EXTREME ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSION. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM IN FIRST OR 4TH GEAR OR THE SPEED. THE ENGINE IS SLOW TO RESPOND IN RPMS WHEN I ASK FOR IT, THEN GOES TO 2,000, THEN TO 3,000, BUT WITH NO CHANGE IN VEHICLE VELOCITY. THE CAR RESPONDS RELATIVELY WELL WITH LIGHT, INCREASING DEPRESSION TO THE PEDAL, BUT NOT TO ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE A DOWN SHIFT. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AFTER 8 MILES OR SO OF CITY DRIVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015106April 3, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10013875April 3, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILS TO PRODUCE SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO RUN ENGINE. FIRST REPLACEMENT AT 54010 MILES. PUMP HAS FAILED AGAIN AT 88000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10013863April 2, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET BLEW @ 114,000 MILES ON 93 MERCURY COUGAR 3.8 V-6 ENGINE. TWO REPAIR SHOPS HAVE STATED "EVERYBODY" IN VEHICLE REPAIR BUSINESS KNOWS THE 3.8 ENGINE HAS GASKET PROBLEM TO THE POINT THE GASKETS BLOW IN ONE OF TWO PLACES. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF CAR AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED. UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME 3.8 FORD ENGINES, BUT NOT THE '93 ENGINE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014811March 31, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEAD LIGHTS TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10013654March 29, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLEW A HEAD GASKET IN MY 1995 MERCURY COUGAR DUE TO A RECALL THAT WAS NOT PERFORMED BY BELL FORD ON MAY 23, 2002 WHEN THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THAT REASON ONLY. WHEN I CONTACTED BELL FORD AND MERCURY ON MARCH 27, 2003, NEITHER WILL PAY FOR THE WORK THAT NOW NEEDS TO BE DONE. I AM NOW LEFT WITHOUT A CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED AND A LARGE BILL TO PAY WHEN THIS COULD HAVE ALL BEEN AVOIDED IF THE RECALL WAS DONE WHEN MY CAR WAS BROUGHT IN. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011086March 26, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
MULTI- FUNCTIONAL SWITCH FOR (SIGNALS, BRIGHT LIGHTS, FLASHER AND WIPERS DEFECTIVE). *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010375March 13, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR THAT ONCE WARMED UP ACCELERATES 3000 TO 3500 RPM AND WILL NOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL I COME TO A DEAD STOP. I HAD IT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I CALLED THE FORD/MERCURY SERVICE HOT LINE TO SEE IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. WHEN I CALLED ABOUT THIS I THOUGHT THAT A MERCURY REP. WOULD GET A HOLD OF THE CAR DEALERSHIP WERE I GOT THE CAR (JOHNSON FORD LINCOLN/ MERCURY IN PITTSFIELD, MA) AND THEN GET A HOLD OF ME. I CALLED IN JAN. THATS NOT WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN I CALLED I FOUND OUT THAT JOHNSON FORD TOLD THEM, THEY DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. THAT'S AN OUT RIGHT LIE. DOM KELLOG HEAD OF JOHNSON SERVICE DROVE IT AND EXPERIENCED IT AND ON ANOTHER TIME ONE OF THE MECHANICS RIDING WITH ME ALSO EXPERIENCED IT. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS. I CAN'T LET ANYBODY DRIVE MY CAR, I AM AFRAID THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE HANDLE IT AN GET SERIOUSLY HURT. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL I GET KILLED OR SOME ONE ELSE BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU OR I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. I AM GOING TO PUT DOWN AN ESTIMATE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHICH WAS ABOUT 10000 MILE MARK THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 23000 MILES ON IT. *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
#10011108March 7, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008422March 5, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 1994 MERCURY COUGAR WITH 33,465 MILES AS OF MAR 4, 2002. AND THERE WAS A GENERAL RECALL ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM IN QUESTION WHICH INVOLVES THE POTENTIAL FOR A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET(S).AT THE TIME OF THE NOTICE THIS CONDITION WAS NOT EXPERIENCED AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. HOWEVER THIS CONDITION HAS NOW DEVELOPED AND IS CAUSING SEVERE ENGINE OVER HEATING. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL MERCURY DEALER AND THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE DIAGNOSIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED WITH THE REPAIR REQUIRING A COMPLETE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE TAKE DOWN AND REBUILD COSTING 1400. AS OF THIS WRITING MY EFFORTS TO HAVE FORD MOTOR CO TO AGREE TO PICK-UP AND/OR AT LEAST ASSIST WITH THE PAYMENT OF THESE RELATED REPAIR FEES HAS BEEN DENIED. AND I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR REVIEW AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER.*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

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