← New search

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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

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

What owners actually said

82 reports
79,888 miles · Oct 30, 2009
EquipmentFuel System, OtherService Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE QUITTING IN INTERSECTION AND CAR LOSING ALL POWER ENTERING GARAGE. VIBRATION AND PULLING TO RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EGR VALVE REPLACED TWICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290402

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…

Read full complaint

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 …

Read full complaint

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

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…

Read full complaint

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

102,000 miles · May 9, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AND/OR WHEN DRIVING FORWARD, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE MUST BE RESTARTED AND OPERATES NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT OCCURRENCE. NO WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FA…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AND/OR WHEN DRIVING FORWARD, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE MUST BE RESTARTED AND OPERATES NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT OCCURRENCE. NO WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, BUT THE CONTACT HAD THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED TWO YEARS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE MADE UNDER THE RECALL, SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE NEW REPAIRS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #10227130

75,000 miles · Jul 30, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND EVENTUALLY FAILED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE ANYTHING ABNORMAL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING ONCE THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHE NOTICED RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING. AFTER REST…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND EVENTUALLY FAILED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE ANYTHING ABNORMAL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING ONCE THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHE NOTICED RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MIDAS FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WAS INFORMED AGAIN THAT HER VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING WHICH ALLOWED RADIATOR FLUID TO MIX WITH THE OIL.

NHTSA ODI #10197835

78,000 miles · Jul 23, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A SMELL IN THE CAR AFTER AGGRESSIVE DRIVING, AND THE TSB # IS 00252 AND NHTSA IS 616819. WHAT IS CAUSING THIS SMELL, IT JUST STARTED. ALSO WHAT IS NHTSA # 10004066 TSB # 17174. HESITATION I KNOW, WHAT IS MAKING IT HESITATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10197180

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2007
EquipmentFuel System, GasolinePower Train

AFTER ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 COUGAR I WISH I WOULD HAVE MADE A BETTER CHOICE IN WHAT VEHICLE I BOUGHT. THE ONE RECALL THAT THEY HAD ON THE FUEL PUMP I HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED, BUT I AM NOT SURE THEY REALLY FIXED IT BECAUSE IT STILL HESITATED WHEN I ACCELERATING . THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON THE DASH WENT ON IN THE WINT…

Read full complaint

AFTER ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 COUGAR I WISH I WOULD HAVE MADE A BETTER CHOICE IN WHAT VEHICLE I BOUGHT. THE ONE RECALL THAT THEY HAD ON THE FUEL PUMP I HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED, BUT I AM NOT SURE THEY REALLY FIXED IT BECAUSE IT STILL HESITATED WHEN I ACCELERATING . THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON THE DASH WENT ON IN THE WINTER TIME WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE CAR. AFTER I DRIVING A BIT THE LIGHT WILL JUST TURN OFF. SO HOW THE AM I SUPPOSE TO KNOW WHEN THERE REALLY WAS A COOLANT PROBLEM IF THE LIGHT JUST WENT ON. THEN, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 94,000 MILES WITH NO SIGNS OF IT GOING OUT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED, LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I TRIED DIFFERENT GEARS AND NOTHING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO BRING THE CAR HOME AND COST $300.00. I HAD TO FIND A PLACE TO BRING THE CAR TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 3 DAYS TO HAVE IT DONE, AND TURNED OUT TAKING 2 WEEKS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PUT THE CORRECT TRANSMISSION IN THE BOX. THEY SENT TWO WRONG TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE FORD FINALLY GOT THE CORRECT TRANSMISSION FOR THE CAR TO THE SHOP. THIS COST ME $3,235.00. TRANSMISSIONS FAILING AT 94,000 MILES WAS RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING ALL PROPER MAINTENANCE WAS DONE WHEN IT WAS NEEDED. THERE WERE STILL OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, BUT I COULD NOT FIT ALL THE WORDS ON THIS FORM. I DID NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING WAS DONE AT ALL, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM FORD WAS TERRIBLE. THE NEXT VEHICLE I BUY MOST DEFINITELY WILL NOT BE A FORD AND PROBABLY NOT AN AMERICAN VEHICLE EITHER. WORD OF MOUTH IS VERY POWERFULLY AND PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO ABOUT COUGAR PROBLEMS WILL NEVER BE BUYING A FORD. IF ONLY FORD WOULD CARE A LITTLE AND NOT BE AFRAID TO SPEND SOME MONEY TO MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS A LITTLE MORE PLEASED WITH THEIR PURCHASE THEN MAYBE PEOPLE WOULDN'T LOOK DOWN SO MUCH ON FORD PRODUCTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10190620

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 …

Read full complaint

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…

Read full complaint

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

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.