NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
20 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Nov 21, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
GREASE ON THREADS AND SELF ADJUSTING STAR GETS FULL OF BRAKE DUST, SEIZES UP AND REFUSES TO TURN, SELF ADJUSTING ARM BREAKS TEETH OFF STAR, REAR BRAKE DONT ADJUST CAUSING CAR TO STOP WITH FRONT BRAKES WHICH OVERHEAT, BRAKE FLUID TURNS TO GAS BY BOILING AND NEVER RETURNS TO LIQUID SO THE FRONT BRAKES RUB AND THE BRAKES OVERHEAT,…
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GREASE ON THREADS AND SELF ADJUSTING STAR GETS FULL OF BRAKE DUST, SEIZES UP AND REFUSES TO TURN, SELF ADJUSTING ARM BREAKS TEETH OFF STAR, REAR BRAKE DONT ADJUST CAUSING CAR TO STOP WITH FRONT BRAKES WHICH OVERHEAT, BRAKE FLUID TURNS TO GAS BY BOILING AND NEVER RETURNS TO LIQUID SO THE FRONT BRAKES RUB AND THE BRAKES OVERHEAT, REAR BRAKES CHANGED YET PROBLEM CONTINUES. NLM
NHTSA ODI #557528
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
THE COUGAR HEAD GASKETS BLOWN AND THE EXTENDED WARRENTY WAS EXHAUSTED 1 MONTH PRIOR THE DEALERSHIP WOULDNT STAND BEHINDE THE PROBLEM SO I INVESTEGATED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT NUMEROUS COUGARS WITH 3.8 ENGINES HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM THE BRAKE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONTINIOUS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS COUGAR NEW AS OF TODAY I HAVE REPL…
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THE COUGAR HEAD GASKETS BLOWN AND THE EXTENDED WARRENTY WAS EXHAUSTED 1 MONTH PRIOR THE DEALERSHIP WOULDNT STAND BEHINDE THE PROBLEM SO I INVESTEGATED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT NUMEROUS COUGARS WITH 3.8 ENGINES HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM THE BRAKE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONTINIOUS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS COUGAR NEW AS OF TODAY I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS CALIPERS AND PADS FOR THE 3 RD TIME I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND ONCE AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP DENYS ANY SUCH PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND HEAD GASKETS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #721015
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKE'S WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, PCV VALVE WENT OUT, AND TRANSMISSION OVERFLOWED WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO GET ONTO TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. CONSUMER HAD THE ENGINE REBUILT, AND TWO WATER PUMPS WERE REPLACED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. *AK
NHTSA ODI #851180
Mileage unknown · May 11, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ABS/ FRONT BRAKE WEARING EXCESSIVELY. ROTORS REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND BRAKE PADS HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 10,OOO MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA, AND BELIEVES THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #837784
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES SQUEAK AND WHEN APPLYING FOOT TO THE PEDAL, IT SHAKES AND SHIMMIES. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED DEFECTIVE ROTORS, AND REPLACED THEM THREE TIMES IN THREE YEARS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #828664
Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
VEHICLE SKIDS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 35 TO 40 MPH. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS DURING ANY TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITION.
NHTSA ODI #819907
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER HAS HAD SIX SETS OF ROTORS ON VEHICLE IN 3 YEARS . THE ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #818109
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER STATES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #814671
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING, UPON BRAKING, EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING IN STEERING WHEEL DUE TO ROTOR WARPING, INTIALLY DEALER TURNED ROTORS, BUT WITHIN 3 MONTHS ROTORS WARPED AGAIN, DEALER HAS REPLACED ROTORS AGAIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #810860
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
RESURFACED WARPED DISC BRAKE ROTORS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #514807
Official recalls
3Oct 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.
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.
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 ↗
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