Illustration2002 COUGAR EXHIBITS "ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS". YOUR WEBSITE SHOWS A EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS AS OUR MECHANIC SAYS WE NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP. FORD DENIES THE CAR IS COVERED. *TR
2002 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
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
140–25K
1025–50K
2150–75K
1775–100K
13100–150K
4150K+
79 reports with mileage · 16 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 41 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 →
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports
Fuel System, Other complaints
4 reportsENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING AND STALLING LEADING TO NEAR MISSES IN TRAFFIC ,AT STOP LIGHTS & WHILE TURNING A CORNER. FORD AND THEIR DEALERS CLAIM THAT THEIR RECALL # 04V421000 HAS EXPIRED AND DOES NOT APPLY. *TR
THE PLASTIC TUBE THAT RUNS FROM "VMV" VALVE THROUGH TH ESTEEL LINE TO THE FUEL TANK (WHICH HOUSES THE GAS EMISSIONS) IS RUPTURED. ACCORDING TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER (LINCOLN-MERCURY) THAT AFTER THE TUBE IS REPLACED, IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT WILL RUB AGAINST THE OXYGEN S…
Read full complaint
THE PLASTIC TUBE THAT RUNS FROM "VMV" VALVE THROUGH TH ESTEEL LINE TO THE FUEL TANK (WHICH HOUSES THE GAS EMISSIONS) IS RUPTURED. ACCORDING TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER (LINCOLN-MERCURY) THAT AFTER THE TUBE IS REPLACED, IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT WILL RUB AGAINST THE OXYGEN SENSOR PLUG WHICH GETS VERY HOT.
WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING FUEL GAUGE FAILED. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL THE VEHICLE HAD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
104V421000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.