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
What owners actually said
454 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001
Unknown Or Other
CUP HOLDER CONTINUALLY SPILLS DRINK DURING REGULAR LH OR RH TURN. HAS NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (THROUGH LUNGING TO CATCH SPILLED DRINK AND LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE) HAS ALSO DAMAGED SEATING FABRIC. CURRENTLY DRIVE WITH ONLY ONE HAND ON WHEEL WHILE COMPLETING A TURN IN ORDER TO SUPPORT DRINK. THIS …
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CUP HOLDER CONTINUALLY SPILLS DRINK DURING REGULAR LH OR RH TURN. HAS NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (THROUGH LUNGING TO CATCH SPILLED DRINK AND LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE) HAS ALSO DAMAGED SEATING FABRIC. CURRENTLY DRIVE WITH ONLY ONE HAND ON WHEEL WHILE COMPLETING A TURN IN ORDER TO SUPPORT DRINK. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. MOST OTHER OWNERS OF SAME TYPE CAR ARE IN AGREEMENT ON THIS FACT. FORD HAS CHANGED DESIGN IN CURRENT 2001 MODEL TO ADDRESS PROBLEM - PROBLEM ACKNOWLEDGED INTERNALLY. PREVIOUS YEARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL.
NHTSA ODI #743775
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001
Unknown Or Other
THE CUPHOLDER HAD A 12 OZ CUP OF COFFEE IN IT ON MY WAY TO PROM. THE COFFEE SPILLED ON MY RENTED TUX. SINCE THEN, IT IS ESTIMATED I HAVE SPILLED SOME TYPE OF BEVERAGE 100 TIMES. THE CUP HOLDER IS EXTREMELY FLIMSY AND WEAK. ANY RIGHT HAND TURN RESULTS IN A SPILLED DRINK IN MY LAP. I'M QUITE SICK OF IT. FORD REPLACED THE CUP…
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THE CUPHOLDER HAD A 12 OZ CUP OF COFFEE IN IT ON MY WAY TO PROM. THE COFFEE SPILLED ON MY RENTED TUX. SINCE THEN, IT IS ESTIMATED I HAVE SPILLED SOME TYPE OF BEVERAGE 100 TIMES. THE CUP HOLDER IS EXTREMELY FLIMSY AND WEAK. ANY RIGHT HAND TURN RESULTS IN A SPILLED DRINK IN MY LAP. I'M QUITE SICK OF IT. FORD REPLACED THE CUPHOLDERS IN 2000 BECUASE OF SO MANY COMPLAINTS. THEY WANT $200 DOLLARS TO PUT A NEW CUPHOLDER IN MY CAR. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE BURNS THEMSELVES AND CAUSES AN ACCIDENT AND KILLS SOMEONE.
NHTSA ODI #743756
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2001
Exterior Lighting
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL HEADLIGHTS GO DIM, THEN, THEY WILL BRIGHTEN BACK UP ONCE FOOT IS OFF GAS PEDAL.
NHTSA ODI #885331
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2001
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineSeats
PASSENGER'S SEAT WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE UNLESS SEAT IS POSITIONED ALL WAY TO THE BACK CLOSELY TO REAR SEAT . *AK CONSUMER STATES THE SEAT IF UNLOCKED AND MOVED FOWARD WILL ONLY RELOCK WHEN PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR, THEN SEAT CAN BE ADJUSTED AND LOCKED FROM ANY POSITION, THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU CAN NOT LOCK THE SEAT IF…
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PASSENGER'S SEAT WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE UNLESS SEAT IS POSITIONED ALL WAY TO THE BACK CLOSELY TO REAR SEAT . *AK CONSUMER STATES THE SEAT IF UNLOCKED AND MOVED FOWARD WILL ONLY RELOCK WHEN PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR, THEN SEAT CAN BE ADJUSTED AND LOCKED FROM ANY POSITION, THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU CAN NOT LOCK THE SEAT IF ANYTHING IS PLACED BEHIND THE SEAT, IN TRYING TO LOCK THE SEAT CONSUMER STATES SHE HAS THE CRUSH HER GRANDCHILD'S FEET IN THE CAR SEAT, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A STRONG TO LIGHT GASOLINE ODOR, ALSO GAS PEDAL WILL STICK IN UP POSITION AND NEED STRONG PUSH TO RELEASE, DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICCALYLOCK AND UNLOCK AT ANY TIME, THE LOCKS WERE FINALLY REPLACED AND CONSUMER WAS GIVEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, CONSUMER STATES RADIO GOES OUT AND THE DISPLAY DISAPPEARS WHEN IT IS HOT.*JB
NHTSA ODI #885241
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING. FRICTION MATERIAL DETACHED FROM BACKING. ROTORS RUINED. NO METHOD FOR WARNING PROVIDED BY MERCURY AS DONE BY OTHER MANUFACTURERS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #743592
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2001
Electrical System
ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 8 TIMES. AFTER DEALER FIXED PROBLEM, AN HOUR LATER, LIGHT WAS BACK ON. OTHER LIGHTS ON DASH COME ON AS WELL. DEALER JUST RESET SYSTEM, NOT ABLE TO REPAIR IT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #884657
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #884428
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2001
Wheels
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT DESIGN OF WHEEL. UNDER ICY/SLUSHY CONDITIONS, CONSUMER'S WHEEL LOCKED UP/(FROZE AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO SLIDE. *AK WHEN THE WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE TIRE DID NOT ROTATE RESULTING IN WEARING OF TIRE. *YH
NHTSA ODI #884136
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE THREW ROD AT 40K . NO OTHER PREVIOUS PROBLEMS ENGINE MAINTAINED EVERY 3000 MI. *AK
NHTSA ODI #742331
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2001
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A STARTING PROBLEM, IT WOULD CRANK EXCESSIVELY BEFORE STARTING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BUT THAT ONLY TEMPORARILY SOLVED THE PROBLEM AS IT RETURNED SHORTLY AFTER REPLACING THE PUMP. NLM
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
1999 Mercury Cougar Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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