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1993 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: 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

Exterior Lighting complaints

24 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2000
Exterior LightingCrash

HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLASHING, AND BLINKING, AFTER A FEW MILES OF DRIVING. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD, THIS FLASHING ATTRACTED A DEER ONTO THE ROAD, WHICH CAUSED SOME BODY DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE FOGLIGHTS, SO IT DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL 99V275000, BUT WAS ACT…

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HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLASHING, AND BLINKING, AFTER A FEW MILES OF DRIVING. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD, THIS FLASHING ATTRACTED A DEER ONTO THE ROAD, WHICH CAUSED SOME BODY DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE FOGLIGHTS, SO IT DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL 99V275000, BUT WAS ACTING JUST THE SAME. THE REPAIR SHOP CHANGED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH, AND THE FLASHING ENDED. I WAS TOLD THE HEADLAMP SWITCH HAD A SHORT IN IT.

NHTSA ODI #737100

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2000
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS START TO FLICKER, FLASH ON AND OFF, WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE RISES ABOVE ABOUT 90 DEGREES. THESE SYMPTOMS ARE QUITE SIMILAR TO THOSE DESCRIBED BY RECALL 99V275000, BUT MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE FOG LIGHTS, SO IT DOES NOT QUALIFY. THIS ESPECIALLY HAPPENS, WHEN I AM USING MY BRIGHTS (HIGH BEAMS).*AK

NHTSA ODI #731646

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #724126

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2000
Exterior Lighting

COVER OVER THE HEADLIGHTS HAS TURNED YELLOW. CONSUMER HAS TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS TO SEE AT NIGHT. CONSUMER FEELS THAT HE HAAS LOST AT LEAST 30% PERCENT OF LIGHTING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854755

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2000
Exterior Lighting

THE PLASTIC HEAD LIGHT COVERS HAVE YELLOWED TO THE EXTENT THAT CONSUMER HAS LOST AT LEAST 30% OF LIGHTING, DEALER CONTACTED BUT SAYS THEIRS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.*ET

NHTSA ODI #783639

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 1999
Exterior Lighting

NHTSA RECALL #99V-275 000/HEADLIGHTS: VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS PREECEDED BY FLICKING/BLICKING. DEALER NOTICED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL. ASKING NHTSA TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853652

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1999
Exterior Lighting

THE INTENSITY OF THE MOUNTED BRAKES LIGHTS WAS SO HIGH THAT THEY MELTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC AND BURNED OUT THE WIRE, CAUSING SMOKE TO COME FORM THE REAR WINDOW. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838014

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 1998
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT LENSES FROSTED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PART UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WA S OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

NHTSA ODI #831650

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1998
Exterior Lighting

WIRING HARNESS THAT HOLDS THE BULB ON THE MOUNTED REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS MELTING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822874

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1998
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822226

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

2

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