IllustrationLIGHT SWITCH FAILURE, LOST HEADLIGHTS, RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM DIDN'T COVER MY CAR. WHY?*AK
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 reportsTHERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM (NHTSA 99V275/FORD NO. 99S30) BUT WHEN CONTACTED THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS VEHICLE SPECIFIC AND MINE WASN'T COVERED ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM HAD ONLY OCCURRED IN MODELS EQUIPPED WITH FOG LAMPS. I SPENT THE LAST FIVE MILES ON M…
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THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM (NHTSA 99V275/FORD NO. 99S30) BUT WHEN CONTACTED THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS VEHICLE SPECIFIC AND MINE WASN'T COVERED ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM HAD ONLY OCCURRED IN MODELS EQUIPPED WITH FOG LAMPS. I SPENT THE LAST FIVE MILES ON MY WAY HOME LAST NIGHT WITH MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AND CAN TESTIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY ON MODELS WITH FOG LAMPS. THE REP. AT THE FORD MOTOR CO. AS MUCH AS ADMITTED THAT ALL THE COUGARS IN THAT YR. AND MODEL ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME HEADLAMP SWITCH, BUT HE "COULD NOT HELP ME" BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T LISTED. IF I HADN'T SEEN THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS OR MY CAR WASN'T WELL MAINTAINED, I WOULD JUST REPAIR IT, BUT WHEN THEY ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM ON CERTIAN CARS, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME SWITCH, I FEEL I'M GETTING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OFF. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED DURING NORMAL USE-VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED. REPORTED DUE TO UNDERSTANDING OF EPIDEMIC OF COMMON OCCURANCES. *AK
THE FRONT DISC BRAKES HAVE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING VIOLENT VIBRATIONS WHILE BRAKING. NLM
THE 3RD TIME THE GASKET'S YES THATS RIGH BOTH OF THEM HAVE BLOWN AND HOW ODD AT 40K/80K/121K/ GEE THATS 40K FOR EACH HEAD GASKET FORD FIXED FIRST ONE THEN SAID SORRY YOUR UP S*CREEK WITH THE 2ND ONE... AND NOW THE 3RD TIME WHAT NEXT????*AK
HEAD GASKETS BLEW A LEAK DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION AT RAHWAY , NJ VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION
HEAD GASKETS BLEW A LEAK DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION AT RAHWAY, NJ INSPECTION STATION. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734305
HEAD GASKET BLEW ON MY COUGAR. UPSET THAT THIS IS A WIDESPOREAD ISSUE AND THAT FORD FAILS TO WARRANTY THIS CLEAR DEFECT. THE DEFECT RATE FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM IS MIND BOGGLING. THE FACT THAT FORD HAS 'CHRREY PICKED' WHICH YEARS / VEHICLES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY IS ABSURD. THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE 3.8L ENGINE AND THUS …
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HEAD GASKET BLEW ON MY COUGAR. UPSET THAT THIS IS A WIDESPOREAD ISSUE AND THAT FORD FAILS TO WARRANTY THIS CLEAR DEFECT. THE DEFECT RATE FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM IS MIND BOGGLING. THE FACT THAT FORD HAS 'CHRREY PICKED' WHICH YEARS / VEHICLES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY IS ABSURD. THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE 3.8L ENGINE AND THUS ALL SUCH ENGINES SHOULD BE COVERED!*AK
HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-275, CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *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