IllustrationHEADLIGHT SWITCH IS VERY HOT, AND HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER SAID CONSUMER NEEDED TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH OVERHEATED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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 reportsRECALL 99 V275 000/HEADLIGHTS: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AND COMING BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 99V275 DUE TO VIN. *AK *YH
ENGINE HEAD GASKET WENT BAD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND OIL TO LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
HEAD LIGHT IS SWITCHING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO VIN #. YH
LOTS OF PROMBLEMS
THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION SO THAT A DRIVER WILL NOT BE PROTECTED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.
NO SUMMARY
THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING IS GOING BAD CAUSING THE WHEEL TO ALMOST FALL OFF. NLM
LEAKING GASOLINE UNDER PASSENGER DOOR UNDER THE REAR.CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
EA99005, WHILE IN USE, THE HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF WHICH MAY AFFECT VISIBILITY AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO SAME PROBLEM ON 1991 MERCURY COUGAR VIN# [XXX], WHICH HAPPENED ON APR. 26, 1999, AT 69,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 1993 COUGARS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS, BUT NOT FOR 1991 AND 19…
Read full complaint
EA99005, WHILE IN USE, THE HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF WHICH MAY AFFECT VISIBILITY AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO SAME PROBLEM ON 1991 MERCURY COUGAR VIN# [XXX], WHICH HAPPENED ON APR. 26, 1999, AT 69,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 1993 COUGARS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS, BUT NOT FOR 1991 AND 1992 WHICH HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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