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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

What owners actually said

33 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1995
Seat Belts

EA95-021 ACTIVE, SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON DRIVERS WILL NOT STAY LATCHED, WHILE DRIVING, IT COMES UNLATCHED. TT *SLC

NHTSA ODI #973973

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 18, 1995
Seat Belts

DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE BUTTON BROKE OFF, NOW THE SEATBELT IS INOPERATIVE. TT

NHTSA ODI #973523

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeat Belts

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FAILS TO FULLY ENGAGE INTO INDICATED GEARS. TT WHEN IN PARK, TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES IS IN REVERSE UNLESS SHOVED INTO BACK FULL FORCE, WHEN IN DRIVE THE INDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL, CONSUMER STATES THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. SHOULDER STRAP REFUSES …

Read full complaint

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FAILS TO FULLY ENGAGE INTO INDICATED GEARS. TT WHEN IN PARK, TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES IS IN REVERSE UNLESS SHOVED INTO BACK FULL FORCE, WHEN IN DRIVE THE INDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL, CONSUMER STATES THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. SHOULDER STRAP REFUSES TO ENGAGE AND PULLS TIGHT AGAINST THE BODY. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #973252

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 1995
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT TWISTS/RETRACTS, BECOMING JAMMED. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #488999

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

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 1995
Seat Belts

WHILE MAKING TURNS, STRAIGHT DRIVING OR ANY BODY MOVEMENT, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY COME UNLATCHED; DRIVER BECOMES UNRESTRAINED. TT *JB

NHTSA ODI #972493

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 1995
Seat Belts

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILS TO LATCH AND REMAIN LATCHED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ODI #972045

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1995
Electrical SystemFire

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE ALTERNATOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #971834

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 1995
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND IT FLEW OUT OF CONTROL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #971214

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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