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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
82Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2001 Mercury Cougar

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 82 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 18 reports
  • Electrical System: 12 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 11 reports
  • Power Train: 10 reports
  • Visibility: 7 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

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, mileage exposure 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

Wheels complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Wheels

BLISTERS ON THE SIDEWALLS OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A BENT WHEEL, THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS DUE THE SHORT SIDEWALL HEIGHT ALONG WITH THE WHEEL DESIGN THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. DURING THE VEHICLE'S NEXT OIL CHANGE, THE CONSUMER WAS AGAIN INFORMED THE VEHICLE HAD TWO MORE BENT WHE…

Read full complaint

BLISTERS ON THE SIDEWALLS OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A BENT WHEEL, THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS DUE THE SHORT SIDEWALL HEIGHT ALONG WITH THE WHEEL DESIGN THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. DURING THE VEHICLE'S NEXT OIL CHANGE, THE CONSUMER WAS AGAIN INFORMED THE VEHICLE HAD TWO MORE BENT WHEELS. *JB *NM

NHTSA ODI #10055478

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2004
TiresWheels

CONSUMER NOTICED BLISTERS ON SIDEWALL OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. DEALERSHIP ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE BENT DUE TO SHORT SIDEWALL HEIGHT. *LA THE VIBRATIONS FROM THE TIRES AND WHEEL CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. *SC THE DEALERSHIP FELT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE MAGNESIUM/ALUMINUM WHEELS AND THE…

Read full complaint

CONSUMER NOTICED BLISTERS ON SIDEWALL OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. DEALERSHIP ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE BENT DUE TO SHORT SIDEWALL HEIGHT. *LA THE VIBRATIONS FROM THE TIRES AND WHEEL CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. *SC THE DEALERSHIP FELT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE MAGNESIUM/ALUMINUM WHEELS AND THE LOW PROFILE TIRES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10057298

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.