IllustrationIGNITION MODULE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. NLM
1982 Mercury Cougar
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cougar years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reportsWHEN DRIVING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE . TT
Official recalls
383V050000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
May 4, 1983
SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH IMPROPERLY WELDED FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAPS. UNDER CERTAIN COLLISION CONDITIONS, THESE STRAPS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE FUEL TANK AND LEAKS COULD DEVELOP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK RETAINING STRAPS FOR TYPE OF WELDS AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
82V031000 · Fuel System, Other:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Apr 6, 1982
SOME OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED PROPANE FUEL SYSTEM FITTINGS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT; FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT, REPLACE, AND SEAL CERTAIN FUEL SYSTEM CONNECTIONS AT NO COST TO OWNER.
81V151000 · Equipment:other:labels
Dec 23, 1981
INCORRECT INFORMATION ON TIRE PLACARDS CONSTITUTES A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS". THE INFORMATION CONCERNING TIRE SIZES AND INFLATION PRESSURES IS APPLICABLE TO BOTH TWO AND FOUR DOOR SEDANS. THE STATEMENT COVERS FOUR DOOR BUT FAILS TO SPECIFY TWO DOOR SEDANS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REVISED PLACARDS WILL BE INSTALLED BY OWNERS, OR BY DEALERS WITHOUT CHARGE.
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
1PE89039 · Parking Brake Failure
Opened Feb 9, 1989 · Closed Jun 13, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake
SUMMARY:THE SPRING UNDER INVESTIGATION CAUSES THE LATCHING PAWL TOENGAGE THE TEETH OF THE RATCHET WHEREBY THE PARKING BRAKE IS RETAINEDIN THE APPLIED POSITION.IF THE SPRING FAILS, THE PEDAL FOLLOWS THEOPERATORS FOOT BACK UP INTO THE RELEASED POSITION.FORD STATES THAT IT ISSUED THE BULLETIN IN ORDER TO INFORM DEALERSTHAT THE SPRING WAS NEWLY AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE PART.PREVIOUSLY,IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL ASSEMBLY INORDER TO OBTAIN A NEW SPRING.SINCE THE FAILURE OF THE SPRING WILL NOT CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TOSUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY RELEASE AND SINCE THERE IS ADEQUATE WARNINGOF THE FAILURE, NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND WAS FOUND.===