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

Unknown Or Other complaints

12 reports

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78,000 miles · Feb 7, 2010

Unknown Or OtherCrash

MERCURY COUGAR SUNROOF COMES OFF TRACK AND REPAIR COST 1200 DOLLARS WHAT A RIP OFF *TW

NHTSA ODI #10307162

70,000 miles · Apr 27, 2006

Unknown Or OtherVisibility

SUNROOF IS STUCK OPEN. WENT TO CLOSE IT AND ONLY ONE SIDE GOES DOWN. NEEDS A WHOLE NEW SUNROOF. WATER LEAKS IN WHEN IT RAINS. DAMAGING THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10156357

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2003

Unknown Or Other

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I PURCHASED THE 2000 COUGAR NEW, WITH THIS CAME LEATHER SEATS. WELL ABOUT 1YEAR AFTER OWNING THIS CAR THE DRIVERS SEAT STARTED TO WEAR ON THE SIDE . NOT ANY PLACE YOUR BODY TOUCHES. THE DEALERSHIP DID A TOUCH UP AND PAINTED THE LEATHER.ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER IT WAS A MESS AGAIN. WITH LOTS OF COMPLAINING AND PHONE CALLS AND MAJOR FUSSING I WAS ABLE TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE LEATHER ON THE SEAT.(I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COURTESY CALL) WELL THIS COURTESY CALL LASTED ME 14 MONTHS AND ITS STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN. NOW THEY ARE SAYING TOO BAD. THE SERVICE DIRECTOR(TIM HEBRON) AND THE FORD REP(.FRANK TETEL )WONT EVEN LOOK AT IT, AND ARE TELLING ME THATS TOO BAD. MY CAR ONLY HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGED KEPT. SO WHATS THE LONGEVITY OF LEATHER?

NHTSA ODI #10046799

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2001

Unknown Or Other

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ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS STAYS ON, ALTHOUGH NO DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS. SUSPECT DEALERSHIP OF FALSIFYING REPAIR. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS LEAKING GAS CAP, ALTHOUGH THE INVOICE DID NOT HAVE A NEW GAS CAP ON THE REPAIR INVOICE. ACQUAINTANCE IN BODY SHOP INFORMED ME THAT SERVICE WORKERS MERELY DISCONNECT BATTERY POST FOR A MINUTE TO RESET THE COMPUTER AND THEN ENGINE LIGHT STAYS OFF FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. THAT IS EXACTLY THE SITUATION THAT HAPPEN TO ME. THE ENGINE LIGHT RETURNED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER BEING "REPAIRED" BY THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #755182

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2001

Unknown Or Other

I HAVE SPILLED COFFEE TWICE WHILE TURNING RIGHT...CUPHOLDER DOES NOT HOLD...HOT COFFEE ON LAP WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #743914

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2001

Unknown Or Other

THE CUP HOLDER IN THE COUGAR'S CENTER CONSOLE SPILLS ON EVERY OCCASION. IT HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF TIMES, AND IS A SAFETY RISK. I CAN'T THINK OF HOW MANY TIMES I'VE NEARLY GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF MY MALFUNCTIONING CUP HOLDER TIPPING OVER AND SPILLING MY DRINK ALL OVER THE CAR, AND ALL OVER MY LAP. IT SEEMS L…

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NHTSA ODI #743912

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001

Unknown Or Other

I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS, AND RAN OVER A CURB BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THIS CUP HOLDER. IT HAS SPILLED 3 DRINKS INTO MY LAP SO FAR. THEY CHANGED THEM HALFWAY THROUGH THE MODEL YEAR. I THINK THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED AND REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #743766

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001

Unknown Or Other

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THE CUP HOLDER WILL SPILL ANY DRINK ON ANY RIGHT HAND TURN IN EXCESS OF 20 MPH. I HAVE GOTTEN IN MANY "CLOSE CALL" ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS, AND DO NOT WANT TO JEOPARDIZE MY SAFETY ANY FURTHER FOR A SPILLED DRINK OR COFFEE. I AM CONSTANTLY CLEANING MY SEATS AND REPLACING MY PANTS. I KNOW OF MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE MID-2000 FORD HAS BEEN USING A DIFFENRENT STYLE CONSOLE WITH A FUNCTIONAL BUILT-IN CUP HOLDER SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT HELP OUT THOSES OWNERS WHO HAVE THE OLDER STYLE CONSOLE WITH THE NON-FUNCTIONAL CUP HOLDER. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #743755

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2001

Air BagsUnknown Or Other

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD STAY ON INTERMITTENTLY IN COLD WEATHER UNTIL IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. *AK THE AIR BAG PROBLEM WAS BEING INVESTIGATED. THE CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #880396

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2000

Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THEN ENGINE BLEW OUT. PRIOR TO ENGINE STALLING CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO VALVA LINE TO GET OIL CHANGED. ONCE ENGINE BLEWOUT, IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THAT SHOP WAS AT FAULT. SO MANUFACTURER HAD AN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK OVER VEHICLE. CONCULSION WAS TH…

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NHTSA ODI #874739

Official recalls

04V421000 · 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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.