IllustrationODOMETER JUST STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW CORRECT MILEAGE.*AK *SLC
1992 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 →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: 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 reportsTHIS ENGINE TYPE HAS HAD A HISTORY OF THIS REPORTED PROBLEM (HEAD GASKET FAILURE). I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL MECHANICS, AND THEY HAVE ALL REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING, ARE DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MO. CO., BUT THEY HAVE PROVIDED NO ANSWERS/ASSISTANCE, EVEN KNOWING OF THIS MAJOR DEFE…
Read full complaint
THIS ENGINE TYPE HAS HAD A HISTORY OF THIS REPORTED PROBLEM (HEAD GASKET FAILURE). I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL MECHANICS, AND THEY HAVE ALL REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING, ARE DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MO. CO., BUT THEY HAVE PROVIDED NO ANSWERS/ASSISTANCE, EVEN KNOWING OF THIS MAJOR DEFECT WITH THIS ENGINE TYPE. THIS FAILURE IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT, AND I WANT IT TO BE ON RECORD WITH EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX AT THEIR COST. FORD NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ENGINE DEFECT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, AND I EXPECT THAT I WILL BE FILING SUIT WITH THEM UNLESS THEY WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS. IF YOU AN SUGGEST ANY FURTHER ACTION I CAN TAKE, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT STEVE.TOSTIGE@FRITZ.COM. *AK
HEAD GASKETS LEAKAGE WATER INTO CYLINDER, CAUSING PROBLEMS TO ENGINE PROFORMANCE-STALLING, DECREASED EXCELERATION, ETC. *AK
HEADLIGHTS WILL FAIL AS CONSUMER IS DRIVING , SAME DEFECT AS IN RECALL 99V275000. BUT, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON, THEY COULD GO OUT FOR A COUPLE SECONDS JUST LIKE MENTIONED IN RECALL 99 V 275 000/HEADLIGHTS. *AK
AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. I AM FORCED TO PULL BACK ON THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER AND DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS.*AK
HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN, AND POSSIBLY CAUSED DAMAGE TO ENGINE.*AK *SLC
WHILE TRAVELING GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
GAS PEDAL STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING GAS PEDAL STUCK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Official recalls
399V275000 · 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
4EA99005 · 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