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2001 Mercury Cougar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

51 reports with mileage · 31 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports6 fire reports5 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

12 reports
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177,810 miles · Apr 14, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel/propulsion SystemFire

BATTERY LIGHT IS ON AND HAS FOR AWHILE. LIGHTS KEEP BLOWING FUSES. AND TODAY I HAD TO RIP OUT A HEADLIGHT OR THE CAR WOULD HAVE SET ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11321151

173,000 miles · Apr 14, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

WELL HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS IS DRY ROTTED LIKE CRAZY THE CAR LOOSES POWER WHILE EXCELERATING WHEN BELOW 3/4 OF A TANK BRAKE FLUID/CLUTCH FLUID IS LEAKING DON'T KNOW WHY AND THE BATTERY LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ODI #11321150

129,000 miles · Feb 22, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FLICKERED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FLICKERED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ODI #10956249

156,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Electrical System

KEY STICKS IN IGNITION SWITCH. SOMETIMES HALFWAY IN OR OUT. AFRAID TO DRIVE AS IT WILL PROBABLY MAKE CAR UNABLE TO START OR TAKE OUT IGNITION KEY. I AM ALSO WONDERING IF THIS COULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, SUCH AS SHUTTING ITSELF OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593220

90,000 miles · Nov 14, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS AND OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS AND OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V421000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN BACK FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES LED TO AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE, WHICH DRAINED THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF WAS JAMMED AND WOULD NOT LONGER OPEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10435572

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2011
Electrical SystemFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT A PIECE OF THE METAL BATTERY CONNECTOR HAD MELTED. THE METAL CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE S…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT A PIECE OF THE METAL BATTERY CONNECTOR HAD MELTED. THE METAL CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING HER TO LOSE ALL POWER SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V031000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS BURNING AND SMOKING. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THE SECOND TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10384744

73,000 miles · Sep 22, 2008
Electrical SystemFire

I AM NOT SURE WHO TO CONTACT WITH THIS, BUT I HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND I AM STILL A LITTLE UPSET ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. I OWNED A MERCURY COUGAR 2DR COUPE 2001. ONE NIGHT I WAS ALERTED BY A NEIGHBOR THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. MY FATHER STARTED PUTTING WATER ON THE CAR, AND I USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT…

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I AM NOT SURE WHO TO CONTACT WITH THIS, BUT I HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND I AM STILL A LITTLE UPSET ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. I OWNED A MERCURY COUGAR 2DR COUPE 2001. ONE NIGHT I WAS ALERTED BY A NEIGHBOR THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. MY FATHER STARTED PUTTING WATER ON THE CAR, AND I USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAD A CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE COME OUT AND CHECK THE VEHICLE. THEY ALREADY SENT ME A CHECK FOR WHAT THEY SAY THE VEHICLE WAS WORTH, AND I AM JUST NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. I KNOW THAT FORD HAD ISSUES WITH CARS CATCHING ON FIRE. I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THE INSURANCE COMPANY CAN CUT ME A CHECK FOR THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINE A CAUSE, WITH ONLY PICTURES. MY CAR STILL SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY 2 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS SITTING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ROUGHLY 8 HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I JUST HATE THE FACT THAT I AM HAVING TO TAKE A CAR I SPENT 13,000$ FOR, AND NOW I GET TO BUY SOMETHING WORTH 6,700$. I WAS SEARCHING ONLINE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VEHICLE FIRES, AND ALSO SAW WHERE IT SHOULD BE REPORTED AND THAT WHY I DECIDED TO WRITE THIS. THANK YOU, SETH GOODOWENS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243138

49,191 miles · Sep 22, 2004
Electrical System

2001 COUGAR STALLS AND LOOSES POWER AND WONT RESTART UNTIL THE NEXT DAY ONLY TO STALL AGAIN AT ANY SPEED. HAS BEEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP 7 TIMES AND 2 INDEPENDENT GARAGES. DEALERSHIP & GARAGE CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. WAS ALMOST HIT TWICE FROM BEHIND STALLING ON HIGHWAY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093042

50,000 miles · Jul 22, 2004
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED BY POPPING THE CLUTCH. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIRING AROUND THE STARTER BURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10083467

49,700 miles · Jun 28, 2004
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

2001 MERCURY COUGAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH AND A HALF. TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY AND 3 TIMES IDLE. CAR WAS COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF WITHOUT RESTARTING AND 2 COMPUTER CHIPS WERE REPLACED DUE TO FORD PUTTING IN A BAD CHIP. CAR IS NOW STALLING WHEN GOING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR STOPPED AND HAS BEEN IN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP 3 TIMES W…

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2001 MERCURY COUGAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH AND A HALF. TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY AND 3 TIMES IDLE. CAR WAS COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF WITHOUT RESTARTING AND 2 COMPUTER CHIPS WERE REPLACED DUE TO FORD PUTTING IN A BAD CHIP. CAR IS NOW STALLING WHEN GOING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR STOPPED AND HAS BEEN IN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP 3 TIMES WITHIN A 3 WEEK PERIOD SO THE CAR IS NOW STALLING ONCE A WEEK. BRAND NEW WIRES, THROTTLE BODY, IDLE CENSOR WAS REPLACED AND IT'S STILL STALLING. SPENT A SMALL FORTUNE ON RENTAL CARS, TOW TRUCKS AND REPAIRS. FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. WILL NEVER EVER BUY AN AMERICAN CAR AGAIN!

NHTSA ODI #10078947

Official recalls

1

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.

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.