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1990 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 →
86Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

5Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
33
198755
198881
198986
199073
199192
1992195
1993
Compare all Cougar years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
19Vehicle Speed Control
18Seat Belts
15Engine And Engine Cooling
9Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
5Latches/locks/linkages
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Steering
4Visibility
4Power Train
2Structure
2Engine
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Seats
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: 4 of 86 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports9 fire reports4 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

9 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REPLACED ACCUMULATOR ON THE ABS ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING 40+ MILES PER HOUR. FOLLOWING THIS PERFORMED ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND HYDRALIC AND PUMP ASSEMBLY LEAKING RENDERING THE CAR UNROADWORTHY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ADVISED THE ABS FAILURE IS A REPORTABLE SAFETY CO…

Read full complaint

REPLACED ACCUMULATOR ON THE ABS ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING 40+ MILES PER HOUR. FOLLOWING THIS PERFORMED ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND HYDRALIC AND PUMP ASSEMBLY LEAKING RENDERING THE CAR UNROADWORTHY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ADVISED THE ABS FAILURE IS A REPORTABLE SAFETY CONCERN AND MAY BE A BASIS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COST FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722951

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2000
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF BEING PLACED IN SERVICE. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND UNBALANCED RESULTING IN UNEVEN AND EXCESSIVE PREMATURE WEAR TO THE FRONT BRAKE PADS.CALIPER RETAINING PINS HAVE INADE

NHTSA ODI #719203

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WAS DRIVING AND THE ROTORS FELL OFF DUE TO ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT. TOOK TO DEALER AND HE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808402

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED. CONSUMER PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALR INSPECTED VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835777

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE COMSUMER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT HAD ANY BRAKES ON VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP AND MECHANIC SAID: THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ABS WHICH DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #815339

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

DRIVER ENTERED VEHICLE, PUT ON LAP/SHOULDER BELT, PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE POSITION, SUDDENLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF, TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES, WHICH DID NOT WORK, DRIVER STEERED VEHICLE TOWARDS A WALL, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #800933

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1996
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SURGES, DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #506915

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLES ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED 2 TIMES WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TT

NHTSA ODI #963405

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKE SHOES CRACKED, CAUSING SHOES TO SLIDE DOWN AND PUSH CYLINDER OUT OF PLACE/BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #482618

Official recalls

3

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.

91V076000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

May 6, 1991

THE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. THIS CAUSES CHANGED WIPER PATTERNS, OR THE WIPERS MAY JAM IF TWO OF THE THREE NUTS COME OFF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CHANGES IN THE WIPER PATTERN OR JAMMING OF THE WIPERSWOULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILTY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Remedy: APPLY TORQUE RETENTION MATERIAL TO WIPER MOTOR STUDS AND NUTS AND RETORQUE.

90V026000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Feb 12, 1990

BATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CABLE PROTECTIVE COVERING AND INSULATION COULD WEAR THROUGH AND CAUSE A DIRECT SHORT TO GROUND, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING OF THE CABLE INSULATION AND POSSIBLY A UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE BATTERY TO STARTER CABLE WITH CORRECT LENGTH CABLE.

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

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

EA93033 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing

Opened Dec 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1994

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

There is no summary currently available

PE93075 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing

Opened Aug 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1993

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

There is no summary currently available

EA90034 · Hood Latches Fail

Opened Jun 26, 1990 · Closed Feb 25, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE90073 · Hood Latches Fail

Opened Apr 11, 1990 · Closed Jun 26, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available