1989 Mercury Cougar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

81Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

4Recall campaigns

View recall details →

6Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1989 Mercury Cougar

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 81 owner complaints · 4 recall campaigns · 6 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Vehicle Speed Control: 21 reports
Seat Belts: 17 reports
Electrical System: 12 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 10 reports
Engine And Engine Cooling: 9 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Cougar years →

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

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control

21 Seat Belts

17 Electrical System

12 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

10 Engine And Engine Cooling

All reported categories

2 Fuel System, Gasoline

1 Latches/locks/linkages

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: 6 of 81 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.

Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 17 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports9 fire reports7 injury reports

Structure complaints

1 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2001

Structure

WHILE DRIVING VINYL PART OF ROOF MADE A CRACKING NOISE, AND VINYL PART LIFTED OFF, LEAVING METAL PART OF HOOD. VINYL WAS HANGING OVER CAR,.THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY IT WOULD FALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #877855

Recall campaigns

96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition

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.

89V080000 · Suspension:rear:springs

May 19, 1989

IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES COULD EXPERIENCE HIGH MILEAGE FATIGUE CRACKS AND EVENTUAL FRACTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE AT THEAFFECTED WHEEL WITH AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON CONTROL OF THE CAR, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE KNUCKLES THAT HAVE THE AFFECTED LOT CODES.

89V081000 · Service Brakes, Air:disc:caliper

May 19, 1989

DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CALIPER OF THE INBOARD FRONT WHEEL AND THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, THERE MAY BE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FOLLOWING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE A REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCETHAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL ACORN TYPE FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT NUTS TO ELIMINATE STABILIZER BAR TO BRAKE CALIPER CONTACT.

88V165000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Oct 18, 1988

PLASTIC ROLLOVER VALVE MOUNTING PLATE MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEALED TO THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL OR VAPOR COULD LEAK, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLEFIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANK.

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