IllustrationTHIS TYPE OF CAR HAS A HORRIBLE TENDANCY TO BLOW HEAD-GASKETS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL YET.
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 →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
00–25K
625–50K
850–75K
775–100K
4100–150K
1150K+
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
What owners actually said
76 reportsWHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED ANTI FREEZE FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ANTIFREEZE FUMES WERE AFFECTING THE CONSUMER'S BREATHING. *AK A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD, PLUG WIRES AND A BAD EXHAUST HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MAF SENSOR WAS CLEANED AND THE WAS ANTIFREEZE REPLACED. *TT *JB
THE CONSUMER EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED COOLANT HAD LEAKED DUE TO A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK *JB *NM
LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE WHEN VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE. *MR THE VEHICLE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY GRINDING TO A HALT. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE LEFT WHEEL RIM WITH EXTENSIVE GRINDING DAMAGE AND WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. *SCC *JB
1997 COUGAR XR7, 4.6LITER ENGINE. CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOD ALLOWS COOLING FLUID TO ESCAPE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR OVER THREE YEARS BUT HAS NEVER BEEN LOCATED UNTIL LATELY WHEN FLUID LOSS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY/*AK
LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ON VEHICLE BROKE AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE.*MR THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL RIM SHOWED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC SWITCH THE TWO LEFT TIRES FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T WOBBLE OR HAVE ANY VIBRATION AFTER THE FACT. THE CONSUMER HAD GREASED FITTINGS INSTALLE…
Read full complaint
LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ON VEHICLE BROKE AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE.*MR THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL RIM SHOWED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC SWITCH THE TWO LEFT TIRES FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T WOBBLE OR HAVE ANY VIBRATION AFTER THE FACT. THE CONSUMER HAD GREASED FITTINGS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED NO GREASE WOULD BE NEEDED FOR 100,00 MILES. *PH
ON 7/29/2003 WHILE FUELING T GAS WAS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. OWNER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THREE HOLES IN THE FUEL LINE. OWNER STATED THAT DRIVESHAFT WAS RUBBING ON THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSED THE HOLES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH THE VEHICLE INTAKE PLASTIC MANIFOLD OVER HEATED WITH NO WARNING AND THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. *TT
LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT SEPARATED. PH
WE HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. ONE OF WHICH IS THE BRAKES. ANOTHER IS THE COOLING SYSTEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE MANIFOLD BUT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WLLL NOT REPLACE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO DO SO. IN ADDITION THE ENGINE HAD A PROBLEM WHICH NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT.
Official recalls
0No 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
1EA01001 · 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