Structure. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports9 fire reports22 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

52 reports

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Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE MAKING TURNS AND HESITATES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #870141

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2000

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

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SINCE 12-15-99 I HAD COUGAR IN SERVICE 3 TIMES FOR WATER LEAK/ 2 TIMES SHIFT LOCK ,LOCKED DOWN BECAUSE OF BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT REAR BRAKE ELCO NOISE WHEN BACKING UP/ CAR HESITATING AT 50+ MILES AN HOUR /PULLING TO RIGHT WHEN PASSING AND GIVING THE CAR MORE ACCELERATION/CAR IDLING REAL HIGH AND WANTING TO TAKE OFF WHEN YOU FIRST RELEASE THE BRAKE/ THE WINDOWS NOT GOING UP AND DOWN / THE BATTERY EXPLODED/ THE SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE AT GATEWAY THE NOISE IS STILL IN THE REAR WHEELS . THERE IS MORE WHERE THIS CAME FROM THE COUGAR WILL FALL APART/ THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION IS A PROBLEM . *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P/215/S0R1 )

NHTSA ODI #730429

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2000

Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspension

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REPEATED STALLING, MISSING & LOSS OF POWER APPEARS MOSTLY WHEN IT'S VERY HOT OUT & CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN A LOT. ROUGH IDLE EVEN UNDER NO LOAD IN NEUTRAL. NO INDICATORS LIGHT EXCEPT DURING STALL WHICH HAPPENS EVEN WITH CLUTCH DEPRESSED. MISSING IS MOST NOTICEABLE DURING ACCELERATION OR STEADY HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN WITH CRUISE ON. CAR SOMETIMES SHAKES AT HIGH SPEED (70MPH). MULTIPLE ALIGNMENTS NEVER SHOW SAME RESULTS. DEALER CAN NEVER DUPLICATE, SAYS I AM DUMPING CLUTCH TO STALL & LOSS OF POWER IS DUE TO A/C. THEY ALSO CLAIM EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR IS DUE TO MY DRIVING HABITS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ODI #726297

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2000

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

WHEN CONSUMER STEERED TO THE LEFT VEHICLE PULLED MORE THAN INTENDED. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE & FOUND NOTHING WRONG.*AK THE STEERING PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY BAD FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT WAS FOUND. THE HEATER FAILED TOO. *YH

NHTSA ODI #865763

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY TIME VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #864736

Mileage unknown · May 26, 2000

Engine And Engine CoolingInterior LightingSteering

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING 70MPH, EXITED OFF THE FREEWAY AND BEGAN TO BRAKE WHEN ENGINE CUT OFF. ALSO, INSTRUMENT LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN. ENGINE TURNED BACK ON, AND WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862630

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CONTINUALLY STALLING AND EXPERIENCES ROUGH IDLE, NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #551248

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE STALLS OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. YH

NHTSA ODI #551037

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2000

Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts

BRAKES FAILED AND REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH, AFTER REPAIR ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO LACK OF BRAKING ABILITY, DURING COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND THE SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #550204

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE EXPERIENCING STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65-70 MPH. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854206

Official recalls

00V350000 · Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly

Oct 30, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE BI-FUEL SYSTEM. IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET.

00V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Mar 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.

99V060000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Mar 17, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WHICH UTILIZE A PARK/LOCK SOLENOID. IT IS POSSIBLE TO ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO THE LOCK POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT THE SHIFT LEVER AND TRANSMISSION BEING IN PARK. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT HAVE UNITS WITH IGNITION KEYS REMOVABLE IN GEAR POSITIONS OTHER THAN PARK, WILL HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP06004 · Instrument Panel Cover Warpage

Opened Oct 23, 2006 · Closed Apr 10, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure; Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:fan/motor

THE AGENCY HAS DENIED A PETITION REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPAGE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THE NOTICE OF DENIAL WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER, VOLUME 72, NUMBER 67, ON MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2007, PAGES 17605 AND 17606.SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Structure

Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:fan/motor

EA01001 · Blower Switch/resistor Or Wiring Harness

Opened Jan 5, 2001 · Closed Jul 31, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

Electrical System

There is no summary currently available