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2002 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 →
95Owner 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

2002 Mercury Cougar

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 95 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: 41 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 11 reports
  • Power Train: 10 reports
  • Engine: 9 reports
  • Air Bags: 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
454
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
41Engine And Engine Cooling
11Power Train
10Engine
9Air Bags
7
All reported categories
Visibility
6Electrical System
4Fuel System, Other
4Fuel/propulsion System
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Seat Belts
3Steering
3Suspension
3Exterior Lighting
2Structure
2Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Seat Belts complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
66,600 miles · Aug 5, 2008
Seat Belts

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT OR AN OCCUPANT. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE DUE TO THE LATCH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAG…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT OR AN OCCUPANT. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE DUE TO THE LATCH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,600.

NHTSA ODI #10237070

71,000 miles · Dec 8, 2005
Seat Belts

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT BELT CLIPS WILL NOT CLIP. DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10144790

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH A VEHICLE AHEAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED AND ACCELERATED WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO HIT THE VEHICLE AHEAD. DURING THIS, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10024932

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.