IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE ENGINE PISTON LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW. *NLM
1999 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
90–25K
2725–50K
3750–75K
2675–100K
23100–150K
7150K+
129 reports with mileage · 325 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports3 fire reports21 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
67 reportsI OWN A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR 2.5L DURATEC V6 (VIN L) CURRENTLY WITH 55,000 MILES. AT 49,135 MILES, I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT ITS REGULAR INTERVAL (3,000 MI) AT MIDAS SERVICE. AT CLOSE TO 52,000 MILES, UPON EXITING A SWEEPING RIGHT-HAND OFF-RAMP, THE 'OIL' LAMP FLICKERED ON AND OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE ENG…
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I OWN A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR 2.5L DURATEC V6 (VIN L) CURRENTLY WITH 55,000 MILES. AT 49,135 MILES, I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT ITS REGULAR INTERVAL (3,000 MI) AT MIDAS SERVICE. AT CLOSE TO 52,000 MILES, UPON EXITING A SWEEPING RIGHT-HAND OFF-RAMP, THE 'OIL' LAMP FLICKERED ON AND OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A LIGHT 'TICKING' NOISE THAT GREW INTO 'KNOCKING.' THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, INDEPENDENCE FORD, CHARGED $60 TO TELL ME SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH OF TESTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER, [XXX], IF HE OR FORD WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS CONCERNING OIL STARVATION DUE TO 'CRANK WHIP' OR PRESSURE LOSS DURING RIGHT-HAND CORNERING. HE BEGAN LISTING EXISTING KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH COUGARS. BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, I SUGGESTED HE WAS READING THE LIST OF TSB'S TO ME. HE BECAME EVASIVE AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES. I HAD SPENT SEVERAL HOURS RESEARCHING THE OIL STARVATION PROBLEM KNOWN TO EXIST WITH THE DURATEC ENGINES, INCLUDING CHANGES FORD MADE IN 1999 AND IN 2003 TO REDUCE THE OCCURRENCE OF BEARING FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF CRANK WHIP AND POOR OIL CIRCULATION. I READ OF OWNERS WITH FAILURES AS LOW AS 3,000 AND 11,000 MILES. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH FORD AND MERCURY VIA MAIL EXPLAINING THE SYMPTOMS AND PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED RESPONSE. IN THE MEANTIME, MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY AS HAVING DAMAGED CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. I MUST NOW ABSORB THE EXPENSE OF ENGINE FAILURE AT LESS THAN 55,000 MILES. FORD HAS MADE PRODUCTION CHANGES TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE BUT REFUSES TO OFFER REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT FOR EXISTING OWNERS OF THE FAULTY ENGINES. A MARKET HAS DEVELOPED, INCLUDING REVISED OIL PANS INCORPORATING BAFFLES, TO OFFER POSSIBLE REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. I SINCERELY APPRECIATE ANYTHING NHTSA CAN DO TO HELP OWNERS LIKE MYSELF WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF THIS FAULTY DESIGN. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREE
THE ENGINE MADE A VERY LOUD RATTLE AND THEN STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE BLEW DUE TO DEFECTIVE PISTONS AND RODS. *JB
OIL PAN GASKETS SHOULD HAVE A LONGER LIFE. THIS CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO TIME OF OWNERSHIP NOT MILES DRIVEN REPAIRS COST $371. CAR RECEIVES REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND GOOD CARE. IF THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING WIDESPREAD I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL OR BE OFFERED EXTENDED WARRANTY PROTECTION. DT
01 V 031 000/BATTERY CABLE ROUTING: VEHICLE HAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH STALLING. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ,AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER NOTICED A BLUE WIRE HANGING FROM THE VEHICLES FRONT. *JG
THE FAN MOTOR BLOWER DOESN'T WORK RESULTING IN ONE OF THE RESISTORS BURNING, THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE POTENTIAL OF A FIRE. NLM
THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED & BROKE, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CAR'S ENGINE. CAR LOST POWER & STALLED ON A STATE HIGHWAY. ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT REPORTS FROM (2) REPAIR SHOPS, PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN WAS INDICATED, RESULTING IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE - HEADS & VALVES.*AK
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I THAUGH IT WOULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, IT WAS NOT.THE CAR WOULD JUMP AND ACCELERATE WHEN STOPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOPPED TRAFFIC WHEN I WOULD PRESS ON THE GAS LIGHTLY. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD BE $2000. TO FIX. I DID NOT EXTEND MY FORD WARRANTY. THEY SAID THERE WAS A HIDDEN WARRANTY WITH THE ENGIN…
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ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I THAUGH IT WOULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, IT WAS NOT.THE CAR WOULD JUMP AND ACCELERATE WHEN STOPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOPPED TRAFFIC WHEN I WOULD PRESS ON THE GAS LIGHTLY. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD BE $2000. TO FIX. I DID NOT EXTEND MY FORD WARRANTY. THEY SAID THERE WAS A HIDDEN WARRANTY WITH THE ENGIN AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $500. HE ASLO SAID I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANYTHING I DID, THE ENGINE WAS COMING APART, THAT WOULD BE THE MANUFATURER'S FAULT. I WISH I WOULD HAVE NOT BAUGHT THIS COUGAR, ITS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND RECALLS. I HAVE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP SO MANY TIME I'VE LOST COUNT.*AK
ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. AT FIRST IT STARTS IN RAINY OR COLD WEATHER. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND STATED DIAGNOSICS SHOWED OXYGEN SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM, PART HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED YET. *AK
Official recalls
704V421000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Aug 30, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION OF THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) CAN REDUCE, AND EVENTUALLY BLOCK, THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. OVER TIME, THE FILTER MAY BECOME SUFFICIENTLY BLOCKED TO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: THIS ACTION IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE SAFETY ACT. ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FDM WITH A NEW DESIGN AT NO CHARGE IF THE OWNER REPORTS THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS ANY OF THE IDENTIFIED SYMPTOMS. THE FREE REPLACEMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, WITH NO MILEAGE LIMIT. THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
01V230000 · Electrical System
Jul 9, 2001
ON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLANTS, THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR AND, DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE OPEN CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT COULD MELT THE CONNECTOR HOUSING MATERIAL CREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
01V031000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables
Feb 6, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L V6 ENGINES. THE BATTERY CABLE WAS MISROUTED AND ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE ALTERNATOR CABLE WAS UNDER-TORQUED. IF MISROUTED, THE CABLE COULD CONTACT THE POWER STEERING LINE AND THE INSULATION COULD WEAR, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SHORT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE, STALLING, OR A NO-START CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERY CABLE TO THE ALTERNATOR FOR DAMAGE AND, IF IT IS DAMAGED, WILL REPLACE THE CABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ROUTING OF THE CABLE WILL BE CORRECTED, AS NECESSARY, AND A ROUTING CLIP WILL BE ADDED. ALSO THE TORQUE ON THE ALTERNATOR ATTACHMENT OF THE CABLE WILL BE CHECKED AND, AS REQUIRED, WILL BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
01V032000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Feb 6, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH TERMINALS COULD OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE EITHER A LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED BRAKE LAMPS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW STOP LAMP EXTENSION HARNESS WITH BRONZE TERMINALS AT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CONNECTOR, AND ALSO INSPECT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FOR SIGNS OF OVERHEATING AND REPLACE, AS REQUIRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
00V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components
Mar 9, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.
99V226000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Aug 18, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DOOR LATCH MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A LATCH PAWL THAT HAS A COATING WHICH WILL SWELL IN HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS. THE LATCH PAWL MAY THEN STICK IN THE OPEN OR UNLATCHED POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED. IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN THE DOOR OPENING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED SIDE DOOR LATCH.
99V194000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Jul 20, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A BURR ON OR NEAR THE END OF THE CABLE SLEEVE INTERIOR. THIS BURR COULD FRAY THE CORE WIRE RESULTING IN THE ACCELERATOR NOT RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE STICKING, BINDING, OR CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPM.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED ACCELERATOR CABLE THAT HAS A FLARED CONDUIT SLEEVE END AND MOLDED ON END FITTING.
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