IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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 reportsVEHICLE WILL STALL AND THEN LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING OR HESITATING. THEN JERK FORWARD WHILE IDLING. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN EITHER OF THESE FAILURES OCCUR. THE FUEL PUMP/MASSIVE FLOW SENSOR WERE REPLACED TWICE, BUT FAILURES RECURRED. *AK
RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V031000 CONCERNING BATTERY CABLE ROUTING. CONSUMER VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE HESITATION AND STALLING. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR TWICE, AND REPAIR SHOP ONCE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
THE FRONT BUMPER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE DRIVER PICKED UP THE BUMPER AND ATTACHMENTS AND PLACED THEM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. THE DRIVER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
CD PLAYER BURNED, THE CD UNEXPECTEDLY WAS PLAYING. SMOKE AND STRONG SMELL FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CD PLAYER RED ERROR, AND CD WAS UNABLE TO BE RETRIEVED. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.*AK
VEHICLE INTERIOR AND HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY BRIGHTEN AND DIM WHEN BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED. BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALER ON 11/26/04, ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED (100 DOLLARS SPENT). ALTERNATOR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED DUE TO COMPLETE FAILURE ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2001. NOW ON THIRD ALTERNATOR. ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 29, CAR BEGAN EXH…
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VEHICLE INTERIOR AND HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY BRIGHTEN AND DIM WHEN BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED. BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALER ON 11/26/04, ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED (100 DOLLARS SPENT). ALTERNATOR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED DUE TO COMPLETE FAILURE ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2001. NOW ON THIRD ALTERNATOR. ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 29, CAR BEGAN EXHIBITED THE SAME BRIGHTENING AND DIMMING EFFECTS. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRE BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NICE ENOUGH TO FIX IT FOR FREE. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCURY CORPORATE SEVERAL TIMES AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN ACTUALY HELP ME AND AND ALWAYS TOLD THAT I CAN'T SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THIS CAR I DONT EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.*AK
RECEIVED THE RECALL INFORMATION FOR THE FUEL PUMP, DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP PER MERCURY HOME OFFICE BECAUSE THEY SAID THE CAR TESTED FINE. IF ITS A RECALL, WHY ISN'T IT BEING REPLACED?*AK
RECENTLY, I TOOK MY 2000 COUGAR TO THE SHOP TO HAVE A LEAK CHECKED OUT. ALSO, I NOTICED WHEN I USED THE HEAT, I SMELLED A BURNED RUBBER SCENT. I LEARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEAL BROKE AND I NEEDED NEW GASKETS. IT COST $1,600. WHAT IS REALLY STRANGE IS THERE WAS A 1999 COUGAR AT THE SHOP TOO. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT BOT…
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RECENTLY, I TOOK MY 2000 COUGAR TO THE SHOP TO HAVE A LEAK CHECKED OUT. ALSO, I NOTICED WHEN I USED THE HEAT, I SMELLED A BURNED RUBBER SCENT. I LEARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEAL BROKE AND I NEEDED NEW GASKETS. IT COST $1,600. WHAT IS REALLY STRANGE IS THERE WAS A 1999 COUGAR AT THE SHOP TOO. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT BOTH OF OUR CARS HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON CERTAIN COUGARS?*AK
AIR BAGS DEPLOY OUT OF NO WHERE. CAUSED CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL... THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED BUT AIRBAG LIGHTS FLASH 6 TIMES WITH A 2 SECOND DELAY, AND THE THE DEALER CANT FIX IT. *AK
THERE IS A HEALTH ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THERE WERE PARTICLES COMING FROM THE FRONT AND WINDSHIELD VENTS. SOME WERE VERY SMALL, SOME PROBABLY TOO SMALL TO SEE, WHILE OTHER WERE LARGE, 1/2 X 1/4 . THE PARTICLES CONSISTED OF BLACK, ROUGH SURFACE, SHARP MATERIAL, PROBABLY COMING FROM …
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THERE IS A HEALTH ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THERE WERE PARTICLES COMING FROM THE FRONT AND WINDSHIELD VENTS. SOME WERE VERY SMALL, SOME PROBABLY TOO SMALL TO SEE, WHILE OTHER WERE LARGE, 1/2 X 1/4 . THE PARTICLES CONSISTED OF BLACK, ROUGH SURFACE, SHARP MATERIAL, PROBABLY COMING FROM THE AIR MIXING BOX. ALSO COMING OUT WERE PIECES OF FOAM RUBBER. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE FORD CARS, AND HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. FURTHER, FORD HAS DECIDED NOT TO HONOR A WARRANTY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, NOT TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC THAT THEY DO NOT CONSIDER PIECES OF THE AIR-CONDITIONER FALLING APART IMPORTANT, AND NOT TO CONSIDER IT A HEALTH ISSUE. THEY SAID THAT THE MATERIAL IS NOT TOXIC. WHILE THAT MAY BE TRUE, WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT SHARP PARTICLES ENTERING A PERSONS LUNGS IS DEFINITELY NOT GOOD FOR A ONES HEALTH! I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT SOMEONE AT FORD, INCLUDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TO ADDRESS THE WARRANTY AND HEALTH ISSUE, BUT IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME! IN MY LETTER TO THE COMPANY, I SENT BOTH PICTURES AND SAMPLES WHICH THEY DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT IT. I HAVE SOME DEFINITIVE PICTURES THAT I DONT THINK YOUR FORMAT WILL ACCEPT. IF YOU CONTACT ME WITH A DIRECT EMAIL, I WILL SEND YOU THE PICTURES. YOU ASKED HOW MANY INCIDENTS, DEATHS, INJURIES, ETC. I DONT KNOW. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT FORD HAS SAID THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE WITH MANY OF THEIR CARS. THANK YOU, WILLIAM KAHN TELEPHONE: (407) 647-1713 EMAIL: RENBAR@EARTHLINK.NET
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.