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1992 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: 10 of 92 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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

92 reports
92,000 miles · Sep 22, 2017
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, SOMETIMES WILL BLINK BACK ON AND SOMETIMES NOT. VERY DANGEROUS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MUST PULL OVER AND WAIT EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME TO CONTINUE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11024943

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2015
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD REMAIN STUCK AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT WOULD FAIL TO SECURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD REMAIN STUCK AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT WOULD FAIL TO SECURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10723296

89,000 miles · Oct 1, 2013
Electrical System

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING SHORTS AND SPARKS. EFFECTING TURN SIGNALS, BLOWER MOTOR AND OTHER ELC. FORD ADVISED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED WITH A 1996 RECALL FOR THE SWITCH AND THAT IT WAS SERVICED AND REPLACED. YEA - REPLACED WITH A FAULTY ONE! FORD REP. SAID THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I …

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FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING SHORTS AND SPARKS. EFFECTING TURN SIGNALS, BLOWER MOTOR AND OTHER ELC. FORD ADVISED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED WITH A 1996 RECALL FOR THE SWITCH AND THAT IT WAS SERVICED AND REPLACED. YEA - REPLACED WITH A FAULTY ONE! FORD REP. SAID THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS AT ALL! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546447

Mileage unknown · May 10, 2010
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET SPOKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10329769

139,000 miles · Jun 10, 2009
Exterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WILL SPORADICALLY FAIL AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED F…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WILL SPORADICALLY FAIL AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 139,000.

NHTSA ODI #10273325

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2007
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE CONSUMER'S 1992 MERCURY COUGAR WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. *CC EVENTUALLY THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF MORE THAN THEY REMAINED ON. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A RECALL WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM HE WAS HAVING WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE RECAL…

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THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE CONSUMER'S 1992 MERCURY COUGAR WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. *CC EVENTUALLY THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF MORE THAN THEY REMAINED ON. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A RECALL WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM HE WAS HAVING WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE'S VIN AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THE CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE PART HIMSELF. THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH WAS A MOTORCRAFT, E6EB-11654-AA.*NM

NHTSA ODI #10183725

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2006
Exterior Lighting

TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT HER 1992 MERCURY COUGAR'S HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OFF AND ON. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE COULD BE SITTING, PARKED OR DRIVING, AND LIGHTS ALWAYS TURN OF BUT IF SHE TURNS THE SWITCH OFF AND ON THE LIGHTS TURN ON AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THIS STARTED HAPPENING BACK IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. THE…

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TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT HER 1992 MERCURY COUGAR'S HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OFF AND ON. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE COULD BE SITTING, PARKED OR DRIVING, AND LIGHTS ALWAYS TURN OF BUT IF SHE TURNS THE SWITCH OFF AND ON THE LIGHTS TURN ON AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THIS STARTED HAPPENING BACK IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LAST YEAR. THE CONTACT SAID THAT SHE DID FIND THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH WAS ISSUED 10/08/99 FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS: SWITCH.

NHTSA ODI #10176844

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2006
Suspension

FRONT END SUSPENSION INCLUDING BALL JOINTS CAUSING FRONT END COLLAPSING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10147299

100,000 miles · Dec 7, 2004
Exterior Lighting

RECALL 99V275000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON /OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, AND/OR INTERMITTENTLY WOULD GO OFF AND COME BACK ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER FOUND THIS RECALL NUMBER ON NHTSA WEBSITE, CALLED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER T…

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RECALL 99V275000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON /OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, AND/OR INTERMITTENTLY WOULD GO OFF AND COME BACK ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER FOUND THIS RECALL NUMBER ON NHTSA WEBSITE, CALLED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10103221

42,000 miles · Jul 30, 2004
Tires

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH FRONT/REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NATIONAL, XT6000, SIZE 21570R15, DOT#DHM37777018. *AK A SECOND TIRE WAS REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE DEFORMITIES THAT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO WOB…

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WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH FRONT/REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NATIONAL, XT6000, SIZE 21570R15, DOT#DHM37777018. *AK A SECOND TIRE WAS REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE DEFORMITIES THAT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE ALONG WITH OTHER DIFFICULTIES. (TIRE MAKE/NATIONAL XT6000X) *SC

NHTSA ODI #10081457

Official recalls

3

99V275000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Oct 12, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.

97V159000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 22, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.

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.

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

4

EA99005 · Headlight Switch

Opened Jan 20, 1999 · Closed Dec 14, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN INTERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT CAN OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLING OPERATION.

RQ97011 · Fuel Line Jumper

Opened Sep 25, 1997 · Closed Nov 16, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE ALLEGED FUEL LINE FAILURES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL GEOGRAPHIC REGION AND IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED NATIONALLY

EA95030 · Rear Fuel Line Interference

Opened Oct 31, 1995 · Closed Sep 30, 1997

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

THE REAR FUEL TUBE BUNDLE MAY ABRADE AND FAIL IN THE VICINITY OF THE FUEL TANK.

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