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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

Visibility complaints

7 reports
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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

124,000 miles · Jun 23, 2009
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. ON JUNE 20, 2009, A PIECE OF THE SUN ROOF FELL OFF TRACK AND CAUSED THE SUN ROOF TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE SUN ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. ON JUNE 20, 2009, A PIECE OF THE SUN ROOF FELL OFF TRACK AND CAUSED THE SUN ROOF TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE SUN ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI #10274773

61,000 miles · Oct 23, 2008
Visibility

WENT TO OPEN SUN ROOF DIDN'T WORK . I WENT TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST WAS TOLD OVER 1000.00 AND THIS A REALLY COMMON WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR EVEN WENT TO SALVAGE YARDS NO SUNROOFS THERE THEY EVEN SAID GOOD LUCK THAT FORD DID NOT MAKE THIS ANY GOOD THE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE SAME THING THEY CANT GET …

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WENT TO OPEN SUN ROOF DIDN'T WORK . I WENT TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST WAS TOLD OVER 1000.00 AND THIS A REALLY COMMON WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR EVEN WENT TO SALVAGE YARDS NO SUNROOFS THERE THEY EVEN SAID GOOD LUCK THAT FORD DID NOT MAKE THIS ANY GOOD THE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE SAME THING THEY CANT GET ONE IN FAST ENOUGH AND WHEN THEY DO ITS GONE THAT QUICK IF IT IS ANY GOOD MOST AREN'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246532

85,000 miles · May 7, 2007
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE SUNROOF, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SUNROOF OPENED AUTOMATICALLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE SUNROOF AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. HE REFERENCED A WEBSITE NAMED COUGARSUNROOF.COM THAT HAS VARIOUS COMPLAINTS …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE SUNROOF, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SUNROOF OPENED AUTOMATICALLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE SUNROOF AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. HE REFERENCED A WEBSITE NAMED COUGARSUNROOF.COM THAT HAS VARIOUS COMPLAINTS ON THE SUNROOF FOR THE MERCURY COUGAR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10190023

87,000 miles · May 3, 2007
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL SUN ROOF DETACHED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT A COMPLAINT WEBSITE WWW.COUGARSUNROOF.COM CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 800 COMPLAINTS FOR 1999-2002 COUGAR METAL SUN ROOF FAILURES IN A SIMILAR FASHION. SEVER…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL SUN ROOF DETACHED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT A COMPLAINT WEBSITE WWW.COUGARSUNROOF.COM CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 800 COMPLAINTS FOR 1999-2002 COUGAR METAL SUN ROOF FAILURES IN A SIMILAR FASHION. SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINTS STATED THAT THE METAL SUN ROOF ACTUALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10189699

26,500 miles · Oct 7, 2005
StructureVisibility

THE METAL SUNROOF ON MY 2001 MERCURY COUGAR BROKE FREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE DRIVING. FORD APPARENTLY USED PLASTIC PARTS IN THE ASSEMBLY WHICH HOLDS THE METAL SUNROOF TO THE CAR. THESE PARTS FAILED AFTER ONLY 26,500 MILES. IF THE DRIVER SIDE ASSEMBLY HAD ALSO BROKEN, THE METAL ROOF COULD HAVE FLOWN OFF THE CAR AND HIT A…

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THE METAL SUNROOF ON MY 2001 MERCURY COUGAR BROKE FREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE DRIVING. FORD APPARENTLY USED PLASTIC PARTS IN THE ASSEMBLY WHICH HOLDS THE METAL SUNROOF TO THE CAR. THESE PARTS FAILED AFTER ONLY 26,500 MILES. IF THE DRIVER SIDE ASSEMBLY HAD ALSO BROKEN, THE METAL ROOF COULD HAVE FLOWN OFF THE CAR AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. A COMPLAINT WEBSITE (WWW.COUGARSUNROOF.COM) CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 800 COMPLAINTS OF 1999-02 COUGAR METAL SUNROOF'S FAILING IN A SIMILAR FASHION. SEVERAL OF THESE COMPLAINTS NOTE THAT THE METAL SUNROOF ACTUALLY FLEW OFF THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. FORD CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS DEFECT, BUT NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR DIE IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THESE DEFECTIVE METAL SUNROOF'S BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10139073

25,000 miles · Apr 21, 2004
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC , WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10068630

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.