IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF OR BECAME DIM. *NLM *TT
1993 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: 18 of 195 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 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
8 reportsLEFT HUB IS STARTING TO GO OUT..THE LOCK IS STUCK ON MY IGNITION SWITCH SO I CANN'T CRANK MY CAR..MOTOR MOUNT BROKE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF, CONSUMER HAD TO WIGGLE THE SWITCH TO MAKE THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON, AND SOMETIMES IT DID NOT WORK, LOST ALL LIGHTS, AND SMELLED WIRES BURNING. CONTACTED DEALER *AKTHE SWITCH WAS REPLACED BUT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MELTED WIRING…
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WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF, CONSUMER HAD TO WIGGLE THE SWITCH TO MAKE THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON, AND SOMETIMES IT DID NOT WORK, LOST ALL LIGHTS, AND SMELLED WIRES BURNING. CONTACTED DEALER *AKTHE SWITCH WAS REPLACED BUT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MELTED WIRING AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURED. NLM
THE HEAD GASKET ON A 1993 MERCURY COUGAR 3.8 LITER V6 FAILED AT 66999 MILES ON 8/20/97 PAST THE WARRENTY PERIOD. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE HEADS ALSO OCCURRED REQUIRING MACHINING AND REPAIR TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $1,548.65 WHICH INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: HEAD REPAIR, HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT, COOLANT REPLACE…
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THE HEAD GASKET ON A 1993 MERCURY COUGAR 3.8 LITER V6 FAILED AT 66999 MILES ON 8/20/97 PAST THE WARRENTY PERIOD. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE HEADS ALSO OCCURRED REQUIRING MACHINING AND REPAIR TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $1,548.65 WHICH INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: HEAD REPAIR, HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT, COOLANT REPLACEMENT, SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT, THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT, VARIOUS GASKET REPLACEMENT, DRIVE BELT REPLACEMENT, O2 SENSOR REPLACEMENT, AND OTHER MINOR REPAIRS. REPAIRS TOOK 7 DAYS TO COMPLETE. DEALER WOULD NOT COVER COST OF REPAIR UNDER WARRENTY. FORD WAS ALSO CONTACTED AT THAT TIME BUT SAID THERE WAS NOT A GENERIC PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS WILL BECOME INOPERABLE DUE TO THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OVERHEATING. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. DRIVING ON BACK COUNTRY ROAD--NO WARNING LIGHTS. JUST WENT OUT AND STARTED T…
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INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS WILL BECOME INOPERABLE DUE TO THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OVERHEATING. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. DRIVING ON BACK COUNTRY ROAD--NO WARNING LIGHTS. JUST WENT OUT AND STARTED THEN FLASHING. DIDN'T DO IT AGAIN FOR A MONTH.
DASHBOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM GOES CRAZY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THERE'S NO WAY TO TELL HOW FAST CAR IS TRAVELING. ALSO, OIL GAUGE WILL SHOW THAT VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHEN IT DID NOT OVERHEAT. *AK
WHILE PARKED, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ENGINE, CAUSED ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. TT
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
2EA99005 · 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