IllustrationRISING RPMS WHEN CLUTCH ENGAGED - ROSE TO APPROX 7KRPM AND ENGINE DIED 3X'S WITHIN 1 MILE. NOTE, DID NOT RISE WHILE IN GEAR PRESSING GAS ONLY ROSE MORE.
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
What owners actually said
211 reportsWHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING , THE ENGINE WILL MAINTAIN RPM AND/OR INCREASE RPM BY AS MUCH AS 1500 RPM FOR SEVERAL SECONDS OR UNTIL THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED IN GEAR. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHILE DRIVING (SHIFTING GEAR) OR COMING TO A STOP WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT. IF I HIT THE THROTTLE TO TRY AND BRING THE RPM DOWN IT WIL…
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WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING , THE ENGINE WILL MAINTAIN RPM AND/OR INCREASE RPM BY AS MUCH AS 1500 RPM FOR SEVERAL SECONDS OR UNTIL THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED IN GEAR. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHILE DRIVING (SHIFTING GEAR) OR COMING TO A STOP WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT. IF I HIT THE THROTTLE TO TRY AND BRING THE RPM DOWN IT WILL HANG AT THE HIGHER RPM.
RPMS REMAIN HIGH WHEN CLUTCH IS ENGAGED; RPMS TAKE FAR TOO LONG TO REACH A NORMAL IDLE SPEED. *AK
ACCELERATOR STAYS AT 3500 RPM WITHOUT CONSUMER'S FOOT ON THE PEDAL.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING E WHEN VEHICLE STALLED IN FRONT OF A SEMI-RACTOR TRAILER. ALSO, STEERING HAD LOCKED UP. HAD NO WARNING PRIOR TO STALLING. FINALLY TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & LEFT IT THERE. LIGHTS GO DIM AND CAR WANTS TO DIE/ DOESN'T WANT TO GO INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN STARTING OFF, AND SAME THING IS HAPPENING WHEN TRYING T…
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING E WHEN VEHICLE STALLED IN FRONT OF A SEMI-RACTOR TRAILER. ALSO, STEERING HAD LOCKED UP. HAD NO WARNING PRIOR TO STALLING. FINALLY TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & LEFT IT THERE. LIGHTS GO DIM AND CAR WANTS TO DIE/ DOESN'T WANT TO GO INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN STARTING OFF, AND SAME THING IS HAPPENING WHEN TRYING TO SIFT INTO FIFTH GEAR/PASSENGER'S TAIL LIGHT IS COMING LOOSE/INTERIOR LIGHTS COMING ON. *AK
WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR OR WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH, CONSUMER NOTICED HIGH RPMS. ALSO, RPMS HUNG FOR A LONG PERIOD BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL IDLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER RECALL 99V194000 DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE 1999 VEHICLES, BUT COURGAR 2000 MODELS WERE NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE PRO…
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WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR OR WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH, CONSUMER NOTICED HIGH RPMS. ALSO, RPMS HUNG FOR A LONG PERIOD BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL IDLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER RECALL 99V194000 DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE 1999 VEHICLES, BUT COURGAR 2000 MODELS WERE NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALSO, DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP, UPON IMPACT. *AK
THE RIGHT SIDEWALLS ON BOTH TIRES FAILED PREMATURELY. YH
THE HORN REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF FORCE TO OPERATE. YH
AT 2600 MILES ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND KEY IN IGNITION SWITCH WASN'T WORKING. *AK
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.