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1987 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 →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
17
198410
198513
198633
198755
198881
198986
1990
Compare all Cougar years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
13Seat Belts
11Engine And Engine Cooling
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Vehicle Speed Control
3
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
2Power Train
2Visibility
2Interior Lighting
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Unknown Or Other
1

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 33 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports8 fire reports2 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

THE WIRE PIPE MADE A LOUD NOISE. WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE MADE A POPPING NOISE. DEALER CONTACTED AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR. ALSO, TOOK THE HEATER CORE APART, AND THERE IS NOW NO HEAT IN THE VEHICLE, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828904

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR RUSTED.

NHTSA ODI #506870

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 1995
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

GAS PEDAL STUCK, BRAKES DID NOT STOP VEHICLE ENDED UP HITTING A TREE. TT

NHTSA ODI #973933

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1995
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. TT CONSUMER TRADED VEHICLE IN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE, DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS ONE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #972784

Official recalls

1

87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 4, 1987

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

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

3

EA95021 · Faulty Seat Belt Buckles

Opened Jul 31, 1995 · Closed Sep 30, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE95019 · Faulty Seatbelt Buckles

Opened Mar 27, 1995 · Closed Jul 31, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

There is no summary currently available

PE88097 · Floormat/accel Pedal Intrf

Opened Aug 31, 1988 · Closed Dec 2, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

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