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1996 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 →
62Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

2Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
195
1993137
1994109
199562
199676
19971
1998454
1999
Compare all Cougar years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
21Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6Structure
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Visibility
5
All reported categories
Power Train
4Tires
4Electrical System
3Fuel System, Gasoline
3Latches/locks/linkages
3Seat Belts
3Suspension
3Unknown Or Other
3Steering
2Air Bags
1Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1

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: 19 of 62 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 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports
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114,000 miles · Jul 20, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR AND THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. WHEN SHE CLOSED THE DOORS THEY COULD BE PUSHED OPEN WITH LITTLE EFFORT. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR AND THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. WHEN SHE CLOSED THE DOORS THEY COULD BE PUSHED OPEN WITH LITTLE EFFORT. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V070000, LATCHES, LOCKS, LINKAGES, AND DOOR LATCH WAS, ISSUED FOR HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED OF THE 10 YEAR EXPIRATION PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 114,000.

NHTSA ODI #10344201

146,000 miles · Mar 29, 2005
Latches/locks/linkages

DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTIONED. THEREFORE, THE DOOR DIDN'T CLOSE FULLY, AND COULD FLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE ENTIRE LATCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10117043

58,000 miles · Jan 24, 2005
Latches/locks/linkages

96 V 070 000/STRUCTURE DOOR ASSEMBLY LATCHES AND LOCKS: ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER DOOR FLEW OPEN BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER MADE SOME REPAIRS AT NO COST. THE CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN IF THE PROBLEM WILL RECUR. *JB *AK

NHTSA ODI #10108701

Official recalls

2

96V070000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Apr 22, 1996

WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.

96V007000 · Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner

Jan 16, 1996

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE BLOWER COULD (1) STICK ON "HIGH;" (2) OPERATE ERRATICALLY WITH BLOWER OUTPUT VARYING BETWEEN NO BLOWER AND MAXIMUM BLOWER; OR (3) NOT OPERATE AT ALL DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BLOWER MALFUNCTIONS LIMITING OR STOPPING OUTPUT CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEMI-AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULES WITH MODULES CONTAINING REVISED SOFTWARE.

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

1

EA01001 · Blower Switch/resistor Or Wiring Harness

Opened Jan 5, 2001 · Closed Jul 31, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

Electrical System

There is no summary currently available