IllustrationFUEL: FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *JB
2000 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
2425–50K
2950–75K
1975–100K
15100–150K
3150K+
99 reports with mileage · 112 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 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports10 fire reports11 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
38 reportsEVERY YEAR APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME, THE FUEL PUMP IN MY 2000 COUGAR GOES OUT. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO FORD CORP. EVERY TIME. ON JUNE 14, 2001 I MAILED A LETTER TO THEM STATING THE CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP IN THE COUGAR. THE FIRST TIME WASMARCH 25, 2001 - WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HOME FORM CHURCH, MY CAR STOPPE…
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EVERY YEAR APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME, THE FUEL PUMP IN MY 2000 COUGAR GOES OUT. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO FORD CORP. EVERY TIME. ON JUNE 14, 2001 I MAILED A LETTER TO THEM STATING THE CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP IN THE COUGAR. THE FIRST TIME WASMARCH 25, 2001 - WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HOME FORM CHURCH, MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO WINNER LINCOLN-MERCURY, THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND RETURNED IT TO ME ON MARCH 29, 2001. 2ND TIME ON APRIL 26, 2002 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY CAR JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO WINNER LINCOLN-MERCURY AGAIN. WINNER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN AND RETURNED THE CAR TO ME ON APRIL 29, 2002, APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AFTER THE FIRST FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, WINNER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN. 3RD TIME ON APRIL 21, 2003 THE CAR STOPPED ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. I HAD IT TOWED TO RYAN LINCOLN MERCURY WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR FROM THE LAST ONE REPLACED...... *NLM
FUEL PUMP FAILS TO PRODUCE SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO RUN ENGINE. FIRST REPLACEMENT AT 54010 MILES. PUMP HAS FAILED AGAIN AT 88000 MILES.
WHEN DRIVING APPROX 50 MPH IN 4TH GEAR, CAR STARTED TO BUCK AND CHUG, SLOWED DOWN TO 25, AND STOPPED AT STOPLIGHT, CAR CHUGGED ONCE AND KILLED/STALLED. COULD NOT START, AFTER 30 MIN CAR STARTED BUT STALLED AFTER MOVING 10 FEET, SEEMED AS IF CAR WASN'T GETTING FUEL. DEALERSHIP AND FIRST DIAGNOSTIC TEST BLAMED FUEL PUMP AND THEY…
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WHEN DRIVING APPROX 50 MPH IN 4TH GEAR, CAR STARTED TO BUCK AND CHUG, SLOWED DOWN TO 25, AND STOPPED AT STOPLIGHT, CAR CHUGGED ONCE AND KILLED/STALLED. COULD NOT START, AFTER 30 MIN CAR STARTED BUT STALLED AFTER MOVING 10 FEET, SEEMED AS IF CAR WASN'T GETTING FUEL. DEALERSHIP AND FIRST DIAGNOSTIC TEST BLAMED FUEL PUMP AND THEY KINDLY REPLACED FUEL PUMP FOR $100 DEDUCTIBLE (CAR 5000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY). YESTERDAY, 4 DAYS LATER, DRIVING 70 MPH W/CRUISE CONTROL ON, CHUGGING/BUCKINH REOCCURED, AND THEN CAR MPH STARTED DROPPING FAST, DOWNSHIFTED INTO 4TH, PRESSED GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. PULLED OVER (CAR NEVER KILLED) AND PUT CAR IN 1ST GEAR AND TOOK OFF, 5 MILES LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN (4 TIMES TOTAL). CALLED DEALERSHIP, BLAMED BAD GAS OR WATER IN THE TANK FREEZING IN COLD WEATHER, BOTH OCCURANCES HAPPENED AT 1/4 TANK OF GAS, ADDED "HEAT" TO REMOVE ANY WATER, AND WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT TIME I AM AT 1/4 TANK. PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM WATER/GAS RELATED PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.*AK
VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. AT TIMES, VEHICLE WILL JERK / STALL. VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
CONSUMER HAD THREE FUEL PUMPS REPLACED WITHIN THE YEAR BECAUSE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
FUEL TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . THIS IS 3RD TIME DUE TO FAULTY SEAL WHICH CAUSES FUEL LEAKAGE . *AK *JB
Official recalls
304V421000 · 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.
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.
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.