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1997 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 →
76Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
137
1994109
199562
199676
19971
1998454
1999211
2000
Compare all Cougar years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
30Power Train
10Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9Fuel System, Gasoline
8Suspension
6
All reported categories
Electrical System
4Tires
4Seat Belts
3Unknown Or Other
3Visibility
3Equipment
2Service Brakes, Air
2Steering
2Structure
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Air Bags
1Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1Seats
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

26 reports with mileage · 50 unknown

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 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2000
Seat Belts

SEATBELT BUCKLE FAILED. IS BROKEN. I'M A BIT UPSET!!*AK

NHTSA ODI #722937

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1998
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #542405

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1998
Seat Belts

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTORS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THOSE THE KIND OF SEAT BELTS CAME WITH THE CAR. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH REAR SHOULDER HARNESSES DO NOT LOCK AND THAT THEY CAN BE …

Read full complaint

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTORS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THOSE THE KIND OF SEAT BELTS CAME WITH THE CAR. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH REAR SHOULDER HARNESSES DO NOT LOCK AND THAT THEY CAN BE PULLED IN AND OUT WITH EASE, THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLIES ALSO FAILED TO LOCK. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #826626

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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