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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.

About this comparison →
82Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
1998454
1999211
200082
200195
2002
Compare all Cougar years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
18Electrical System
12Engine And Engine Cooling
11Power Train
10Visibility
7
All reported categories
Air Bags
6Fuel/propulsion System
6Structure
5Tires
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Suspension
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Equipment
2Exterior Lighting
2Fuel System, Other
2Wheels
2Engine
1Service Brakes
1Steering
1Unknown Or Other
1

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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36,900 miles · Jun 19, 2003
Electrical System

JUST OVER 36,000 MILES, THE ALTERNATOR COMPLETELY FAILED LEAVING MYSELF AND A PASSENGER STRANDED MORE THAN 50 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS ALL REFUSED TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS MATTER FORCING ME TO PAY TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. FURTHERMORE, I WAS INFORMED B…

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JUST OVER 36,000 MILES, THE ALTERNATOR COMPLETELY FAILED LEAVING MYSELF AND A PASSENGER STRANDED MORE THAN 50 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS ALL REFUSED TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS MATTER FORCING ME TO PAY TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. FURTHERMORE, I WAS INFORMED BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT A REASONABLE TIME ESTIMATE ON AN ALTERNATOR IS 100,000 MILES. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023353

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2002
Electrical System

THE INSTRUMENTATION PANEL LOSES IT'S LUMINOSITY WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. THIS CAUSES VITAL INSTRUMENTATION SUCH AS THE ODOMETER, TACHOMETER, ENGINE TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GUAGES TO BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. I CONTACTED THE FORD CORPORATION AND THEY STATED THAT THIS DEFECT WAS NORMAL, AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS INHERENT WI…

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THE INSTRUMENTATION PANEL LOSES IT'S LUMINOSITY WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. THIS CAUSES VITAL INSTRUMENTATION SUCH AS THE ODOMETER, TACHOMETER, ENGINE TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GUAGES TO BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. I CONTACTED THE FORD CORPORATION AND THEY STATED THAT THIS DEFECT WAS NORMAL, AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS INHERENT WITHIN ALL COUGARS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #759016

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.