Home / Mercury Cougar / 1988 ← New search 1988 Mercury Cougar Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Illustration Same car. Limited comparison data There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison → Overview Common problems Recalls Investigations What to inspect Owner reports
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 All reported categories 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: 2 of 55 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.
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Seat Belts. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports → Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports → Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports → NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports6 fire reports6 injury reports
Steering complaints 2 reports Clear category filter Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 1999
Steering Crash Injury
WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY COUGAR SHE MADE A 5-10 MPH LEFT HAND TURN THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD SNAPPED AND MY WIFE LOST ALL STEERING. SHE SIDE SWIPED ONE CAR AND HIT HEAD ON WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS WHEN THIS HAPPENED . NOW MY WIFE IS GETTING SUED FOR 15000 DOLLARS BY ONE OF THE OTHER DRI…
Read full complaint WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY COUGAR SHE MADE A 5-10 MPH LEFT HAND TURN THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD SNAPPED AND MY WIFE LOST ALL STEERING. SHE SIDE SWIPED ONE CAR AND HIT HEAD ON WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS WHEN THIS HAPPENED . NOW MY WIFE IS GETTING SUED FOR 15000 DOLLARS BY ONE OF THE OTHER DRIVERS . I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN FIX MY STILL BROKEN CAR OR AM I AT FAULT FOR THE ACCIDENT? THANK YOU FOR A REPLY GREATFULLY RAYMOND ROSE
NHTSA ODI #702480
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 1995
Electrical System Equipment Exterior Lighting
BATTERY FAILED. *SKD
NHTSA ODI #485060
Official recalls 1 Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
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 5 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
EA90009 · Throttle Sticking Opened Feb 8, 1990 · Closed Feb 28, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE90001 · Throttle Sticking Opened Oct 4, 1989 · Closed Feb 2, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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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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