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
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE MAINTAINS RPM AND /OR INCREASES RPM WHEN SHIFTING GEAR. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IDLE AIR BY-PASS CONTROL VALVE AND I HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR A WHILE BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. SUSPECT THE VALVE IS FAULTY OR IS INSTALLED IN SUCH A WAY THAT HEAT IS AFFECTING ITS PERFORMANCE. MY BROTHER DISCONNECTED IT WHEN THE CAR WAS "AC…
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VEHICLE MAINTAINS RPM AND /OR INCREASES RPM WHEN SHIFTING GEAR. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IDLE AIR BY-PASS CONTROL VALVE AND I HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR A WHILE BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. SUSPECT THE VALVE IS FAULTY OR IS INSTALLED IN SUCH A WAY THAT HEAT IS AFFECTING ITS PERFORMANCE. MY BROTHER DISCONNECTED IT WHEN THE CAR WAS "ACTING UP" AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT CONTINUE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS CAN BE A DANGER WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACES IN WINTER AND DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. NOT TO MENTION THAT IT'S HARD ON YOUR ENGINE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #740245
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
Electrical System
THE FIRST INCIDENT WITH THE MERCURY COUGAR WAS ON THE DATE LISTED. NOM SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #737258
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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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 THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #874739
Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2000
Electrical SystemVisibility
LIGHTS FLICKER, THEN LOSES ELECTRICAL POWER. ALTERNATOR, 2 BATTERIES, WIPER MOTOR, SENSOR, WINDSHIELD (STRESS CRACK FROM BOTTOM) REPLACED. REQUESTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FROM BOB SITE LINCOLN MERCURY SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE MERCURY FACTORY ZONE MANAGER BE CONTACTED, AND TO HAVE THE ZONE MANAGER CONTACT ME. EACH REQUEST WAS D…
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LIGHTS FLICKER, THEN LOSES ELECTRICAL POWER. ALTERNATOR, 2 BATTERIES, WIPER MOTOR, SENSOR, WINDSHIELD (STRESS CRACK FROM BOTTOM) REPLACED. REQUESTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FROM BOB SITE LINCOLN MERCURY SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE MERCURY FACTORY ZONE MANAGER BE CONTACTED, AND TO HAVE THE ZONE MANAGER CONTACT ME. EACH REQUEST WAS DENIED. I CONTACTED MERCURY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT ONLY THE DEALERSHIP COULD CONTACT THE FACTORY ZONE MANAGERS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #735961
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2000
Air BagsCrash
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #734987
Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2000
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED. VEHICLE BACK AT DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #873336
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
DEFECTIVE OIL PUMP CAUSED SMOKE TO COME OUT OF ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #734575
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2000
Electrical SystemStructure
FIRST NOTICED THAT HATCHBACK INDICATOR TONE WOULD NOT GO OFF. THEN WHEN KEY IS PUT IN IGNITION IT WON'T TURN SOMETIMES. WHEN CLUTCH IS ENGAGED RPMS WILL GO AS HIGH AS 4000. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.
NHTSA ODI #734496
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE CANNOT ACCELERATE PAST 50 MPH EVEN WITH FOOT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. NLM
NHTSA ODI #555073
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2000
Air BagsUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury
AIRBAGS CAME OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. HAD PREVIOUSLY VISITED DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES ABOUT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. *AK
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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