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1991 Mercury Cougar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 5 of 73 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports6 fire reports5 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

8 reports
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64,000 miles · Jan 14, 2009
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND IS PRECEDED BY FLICKERING AND/OR BLINKING WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHICH INCREASES MY RISK OF A CRASH. ALSO NOTE A BURNING SMELL FROM VENTS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MY VEHICLE IS A 1991 COUGAR AND I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. NOTED RECALL FOR SAME PR…

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HEADLIGHTS GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND IS PRECEDED BY FLICKERING AND/OR BLINKING WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHICH INCREASES MY RISK OF A CRASH. ALSO NOTE A BURNING SMELL FROM VENTS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MY VEHICLE IS A 1991 COUGAR AND I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. NOTED RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM ON 1992 AND 1993 MODELS NOT FOR 1991. CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY MODEL SINCE IT HAS THE SAME ISSUE AS 1992 AND 1993 COUGARS. WAS TOLD NO RECALL FOR THIS AND TO PAY TO GET IT FIX MYSELF. THEY WOULD REPORT PROBLEM TO PROPER DEPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255020

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2000
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO DIM , AND WENT TOTALLY OUT. PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF ROAD. THEY CAME BACK ON AFTER WAITING 10 MINUTES. DROVE ABOUT ANOTHER TEN MILES, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855817

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1998
Exterior Lighting

AFTER DRIVING FOR 25 MINUTES THE HEADLIGNTS START FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE BULBS AND FUSES ARE GOOD. I HAVE DESCOVERED THAT THE MERCURY SABLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD A RECALL FOR A FAILED HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS HEAT UP THE CIRCUIT OPENS. RECALL WAS MADE APRIL 15, 1998…

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AFTER DRIVING FOR 25 MINUTES THE HEADLIGNTS START FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE BULBS AND FUSES ARE GOOD. I HAVE DESCOVERED THAT THE MERCURY SABLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD A RECALL FOR A FAILED HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS HEAT UP THE CIRCUIT OPENS. RECALL WAS MADE APRIL 15, 1998 FOR SABLES MADE DEC. 1992 TO SEPT. 1993. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V009000. ALL VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEM AND RISK OF A CRASH SHOULD BE REPAIRED IN THE SAME MANNER.

NHTSA ODI #700484

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 1997
Exterior Lighting

DRIVING AT ANY VARIOUS SPEED HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AND ON, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO DRIVE SOMETIMES WITHOUT HEADLIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY,WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.DEALER HAS REPLACED HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES, BUT DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820061

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 1996
Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN HEADLIGHT TO FAIL.

NHTSA ODI #512544

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1996
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND THEN CAME BACK ON AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #986370

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 1996
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROX. 55MPH, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FRONT HEAD LAMP FAILURE, WHEN LIGHTS WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE REACHING DESTINATION. TT

NHTSA ODI #978108

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 1995
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, OtherInjury

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. REPLACED WINDOW MOTOR. TT

NHTSA ODI #969800

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.

91V048000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Mar 18, 1991

THE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF PARK IS NOT ENGAGED AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS OFF, AVEHICLE ROLL-AWAY COULD RESULT.

Remedy: REPLACE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

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

2

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