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
What owners actually said
211 reports
32,000 miles · Jun 11, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE FIRST TIME THE CAR STALLED IT WAS IN JANUARY 2003. IT DID IT AGAIN ON JUNE 8, 2003. IT APPEARED TO BE FINE, BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY, ON THE WAY TO WORK IT WAS HAVING TROUBLE. DID NOT USE CAR UNTIL TRANSPORT TO DEALERSHIP IN PORT JEFERSON, NY ON JUNE 11, 2003. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. LOOKING THROUGH PAST COMPLAINTS IT …
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THE FIRST TIME THE CAR STALLED IT WAS IN JANUARY 2003. IT DID IT AGAIN ON JUNE 8, 2003. IT APPEARED TO BE FINE, BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY, ON THE WAY TO WORK IT WAS HAVING TROUBLE. DID NOT USE CAR UNTIL TRANSPORT TO DEALERSHIP IN PORT JEFERSON, NY ON JUNE 11, 2003. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. LOOKING THROUGH PAST COMPLAINTS IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE MANUFACTURER INTENDS TO DO ABOUT THIS. I HOPE THAT THIS WILL NOT BE ANOTHER FORD PINTO SITUATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10021438
44,000 miles · May 28, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSED BY FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE.
NHTSA ODI #10021676
82,150 miles · May 19, 2003
EquipmentFuel System, Gasoline
ON OCCASION, THE CAR HAS LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE CONTROL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED THE CONDITIONS RESULTING IN POWER LOSS AS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. THIS PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10018915
44,298 miles · Apr 29, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL: FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016674
9,828 miles · Apr 22, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
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 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
NHTSA ODI #10016334
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE WRONG ROTORS WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED ROTORS WERE CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10015857
17,000 miles · Apr 14, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10015804
88,000 miles · Apr 3, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL PUMP FAILS TO PRODUCE SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO RUN ENGINE. FIRST REPLACEMENT AT 54010 MILES. PUMP HAS FAILED AGAIN AT 88000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10013875
10,000 miles · Mar 13, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR THAT ONCE WARMED UP ACCELERATES 3000 TO 3500 RPM AND WILL NOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL I COME TO A DEAD STOP. I HAD IT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I CALLED THE FORD/MERCURY SERVICE HOT LINE TO SEE IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. WHEN I CALLED ABOUT THIS I THOUGHT THAT…
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I HAVE A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR THAT ONCE WARMED UP ACCELERATES 3000 TO 3500 RPM AND WILL NOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL I COME TO A DEAD STOP. I HAD IT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I CALLED THE FORD/MERCURY SERVICE HOT LINE TO SEE IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. WHEN I CALLED ABOUT THIS I THOUGHT THAT A MERCURY REP. WOULD GET A HOLD OF THE CAR DEALERSHIP WERE I GOT THE CAR (JOHNSON FORD LINCOLN/ MERCURY IN PITTSFIELD, MA) AND THEN GET A HOLD OF ME. I CALLED IN JAN. THATS NOT WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN I CALLED I FOUND OUT THAT JOHNSON FORD TOLD THEM, THEY DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. THAT'S AN OUT RIGHT LIE. DOM KELLOG HEAD OF JOHNSON SERVICE DROVE IT AND EXPERIENCED IT AND ON ANOTHER TIME ONE OF THE MECHANICS RIDING WITH ME ALSO EXPERIENCED IT. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS. I CAN'T LET ANYBODY DRIVE MY CAR, I AM AFRAID THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE HANDLE IT AN GET SERIOUSLY HURT. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL I GET KILLED OR SOME ONE ELSE BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU OR I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. I AM GOING TO PUT DOWN AN ESTIMATE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHICH WAS ABOUT 10000 MILE MARK THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 23000 MILES ON IT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10010375
Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2003
Steering
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A STEERING PROBLEM.*JB *TS
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.
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 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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2000 Mercury Cougar Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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