crashtest

1990 / Mercury

1990 Mercury Cougar

Safety ratings

1990 Mercury Cougar 2-DR.

Not ratedOverall
Not ratedFrontal crash
Not ratedSide crash
Not ratedSide pole
Not ratedRollover
Frontal, driver: 4★Frontal, passenger: 5★Rollover risk: 0.0%
  • Lane departure warningNo
  • Forward collision warningNo
  • Electronic stability controlNo

Crash test videos & photos

No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITIONCampaign 96V071000 · 25/04/1996

    THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

    Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

    Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLESCampaign 90V026000 · 12/02/1990

    BATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY.

    Risk: CABLE PROTECTIVE COVERING AND INSULATION COULD WEAR THROUGH AND CAUSE A DIRECT SHORT TO GROUND, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING OF THE CABLE INSULATION AND POSSIBLY A UNDERHOOD FIRE.

    Fix: REPLACE BATTERY TO STARTER CABLE WITH CORRECT LENGTH CABLE.

  • VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTORCampaign 91V076000 · 06/05/1991

    THE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. THIS CAUSES CHANGED WIPER PATTERNS, OR THE WIPERS MAY JAM IF TWO OF THE THREE NUTS COME OFF.

    Risk: CHANGES IN THE WIPER PATTERN OR JAMMING OF THE WIPERSWOULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILTY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

    Fix: APPLY TORQUE RETENTION MATERIAL TO WIPER MOTOR STUDS AND NUTS AND RETORQUE.

Owner complaints

87
Complaints
9
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Most-reported areas

  • VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL18
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18
  • SEAT BELTS15
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING9
  • SERVICE BRAKES9
  • HYDRAULIC9
  • LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES5
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING5
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

  • 12/15/1997· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

    EA90-034; CONSUMER STATES WHEN TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 60 TO 65 MPH THE HOOD LATCH GAVE WAY, ALLOWING THE HOOD TO FLY UP, SMASHING INTO THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER CAUSE OF PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED AS A FAULTY LATCH. *AK *SLC

  • 12/15/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. *AK

  • 12/11/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    BATTERY MALFUNCTIONED 4 TIMES. *AK

  • 12/10/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    BATTERY FAILURE. *AK

  • 12/05/1996· STRUCTURE

    DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR HINGES ARE COMING A LOOSE AND DOORS DO NOT CLOSE RIGHTLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

  • 11/05/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

  • 11/01/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING WATER AND ANIT-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE MOTOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO HEAT. SLC

  • 10/30/1996· SEAT BELTS

    DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT JAMS IN THE MOTOR, CAUSING THE BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK

  • 10/30/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STAYED IN ACTIVE POSITION. TT *SLC

  • 10/28/1996· VISIBILITY

    PROBLEMS WITH WINDOW.

  • 10/27/1997· SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE

    GETTING INTO VEHICLE, NO LEVER TO CLOSE FROM INSIDE. DROPPED OFF HINGES THAT WERE WORN & OUT OF ALIGNMENT. AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT ACTIVATE DUE TO DOOR NOT BEING ABLE TO CLOSE. HAVE TO HOLD IT CLOSE. AT DEALERSHIP NOW. *AK

  • 10/25/1995· SEAT BELTS

    FRONT MOTORBELTS FAILED. *DSH

  • 10/24/1996· STEERING

    THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE. IT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. *AK

  • 10/21/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    RECALL 96V071000; BEFORE THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED THE VEHICLE STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. NOW, AFTER THE WORK HAD BEEN PERFORMED THE VEHICLE STALLS BEFORE STARTING PROPERLY. *AK

  • 10/20/2000· SEAT BELTS

    DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRAC/ IT COMPLETELY FAILED/ WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION, CAUSING LOSS OF SHOULDER RESTRAINT AND PROTECTION. POSSIBLY CAUSED BY FAILURE OF MOTOR OR BELTS.*AK

  • 10/20/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    REPORTING A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET ON A 3.8L ENGINE, WHICH WAS REPAIRED BY A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AT CONSUMER'S COST. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS & REPORT ON THIS BLOWN HEAD GASKETS FOR 3.8L ENGINE. WE ARE CALLING FOR HELP. *AK

  • 10/19/1999· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

    WHILE DRIVING THE HOOD LATCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY OPEN, AND MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. (EA90034). *AK

  • 10/12/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    NO SUMMARY

  • 10/12/1995· SEAT BELTS

    PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT BELT RETRACTORS DO NOT LOCK UP WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. TT

  • 09/30/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL PROBLEM. (3RD VEHICLE ON 503665/601565)

  • 09/25/2001· VISIBILITY

    PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS CANNOT REMAIN ON TRACK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON WINDOWS COMING OFF TRACK, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY HAVE FIXED OTHER COUGAR WITH THIS PROBLEM, CONSUMER STATED SHE WILL BE DRIVING AND THE WINDOWS WILL JUST FALL DOWN AT TIMES, WINDOWS WILL JUST COMPLETELY GO DOWN IN THE DOOR, CONSUMER HAS TO PAY SOMEONE TO TAKE THE DOOR APART TO GET THE WINDOWS OUT.*JB

  • 09/25/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING DAMAGE TO BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION.

  • 09/22/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    WAS DRIVING AND THE ROTORS FELL OFF DUE TO ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT. TOOK TO DEALER AND HE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK

  • 09/19/2017· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    AFTER STARTING VEHICLE FLICKERING ON OFF OF DASH LIGHTS,PANEL COMPLETELY OUT AND NOW WILL NOT COME BACK ON,CREATING AN ISSUE DRIVING,UNABLE TO SEE SPEED,MILAGE GAS USAGE,WHEN CHECKING UNDER HOOD I WAS GIVEN AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK,THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING,IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF MOTOR

  • 09/18/2017· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

    HEAVY TRAFFIC ON STATE HIGHWAY ENGINE OVERHEATING ALARM ACTIVATED,INCIDENT HAS OCCURED TWICE,IN TRAFFIC,EVERYTHING HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND I HAD TO PULL OFF OF HIGHWAY, OTHER COMPLAINT DASH PANEL LIGHTS OUT WITH DEFINITELY ELECTRICAL ISSUE,ALMOST WILL NOT START,THIS OCCURED WHILE DRIVING AND NOW EILL NOT COME BACK ON AT ALL

  • 09/12/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

    VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, FRIEND DROVE BY, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE, NOTIFIED FRIEND, CALLED FIRE DEPT WHO PUT FLAMES OUT. *AK

  • 09/08/2000· SEAT BELTS

    ALSO THE FIRST YEAR I OWNED THE CAR, THE PAINT ON THE FRONT BUMPER STARTED COMING OFF, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOTOR WAS REPLACED.

  • 09/07/1995· SEAT BELTS

    THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES BROKE . TT

  • 09/05/1996· STEERINGFire

    THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. THERE IS A RECALL.*AK *SLC

  • 09/03/1997· STEERING

    VEHICLE LOST STEERING AND WAS PULLED TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING COLLISION.

  • 08/22/1997· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    THE PLASTIC LENSES IN THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE DETERIORATED TO A CLOUDY LIGHT YELLOW CONDITION. THE LIGHT HAS GRADUALLY LESSONED TO THE POINT THAT AT NIGHT, HIGH BEAMS ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD. *AK

  • 08/15/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

    DRIVER ENTERED VEHICLE, PUT ON LAP/SHOULDER BELT, PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE POSITION, SUDDENLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF, TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES, WHICH DID NOT WORK, DRIVER STEERED VEHICLE TOWARDS A WALL, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

  • 08/13/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE COMSUMER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT HAD ANY BRAKES ON VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP AND MECHANIC SAID: THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ABS WHICH DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER. *AK

  • 08/12/1998· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE LENSES ON HEADLIGHTS ARE BADLY DISCOLORED, WHICH CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT SELL THE LENSES UNLESS THE CONSUMER WOULD BUY THE WHOLE LIGHTING KIT; COSTING APPROXIMATELY 355.00 DOLLARS. *AK *SLC

  • 08/10/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 65MPH THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR BY ITSELF AND WOULD NOT COME UP, NO ACCIDENTS OCCURRED. CONTINUING A COUPLE OF MILES FURTHER, THE VEHICLE TOTALLY STOPPED. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

  • 08/02/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. *AK

  • 07/31/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SURGES, DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

  • 07/29/1997· STEERINGCrash

    WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 2O MPH THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IT WAS A FAULTY STEERING RACK. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

  • 07/24/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

    GAS PEDAL STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE/ACCIDENT. *AW

  • 07/23/1998· VISIBILITY

    WINDOWS HAVE CAME OUT OF THE TRACK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

  • 07/19/2018· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    SEAT BELT DOESN'T STAY LOCKED AND LATCH BROKE, AUTOMATIC HEAD LIGHTS DON'T WORK THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DON'T WORK AND AS SOON AS IS GETS SO HOT IT VAPER LOCKS A LOT

  • 07/01/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    TWO YEARS AGO THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER NHTSA # 96V071000. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONE YEAR LATER THE RECALLED COMPONENT FAILED AND THIS TIME AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONCE AGAIN THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NM

  • 06/20/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    THE INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE. FIRST TIME AT 65MPH. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SUSPECTED AS PROBLEM SO IT WAS DISCONNECTED. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ON 5/7/99. SPEED 30MPH. IN BOTH CASES, THE ACCLERATOR SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR & THE VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE.*AK

  • 06/16/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

    ENGINE FIRE. MJS

  • 05/25/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

    WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL OR NEAR FULL, A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IS PRESENT. APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS ODI ID-807696 EXCEPT WE DON'T SEE ANY FUEL LEAKAGE. WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE WITH THIS?

  • 05/20/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    REPLACED ACCUMULATOR ON THE ABS ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING 40+ MILES PER HOUR. FOLLOWING THIS PERFORMED ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND HYDRALIC AND PUMP ASSEMBLY LEAKING RENDERING THE CAR UNROADWORTHY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ADVISED THE ABS FAILURE IS A REPORTABLE SAFETY CONCERN AND MAY BE A BASIS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COST FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK

  • 05/17/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    IGNITION WENT BAD. FORD NO LONGER MAKES THE PART. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

  • 05/14/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

    VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, CAUSING INJURIES, INCLUDING A BROKEN NOSE, ABRASIONS, A JAMMED RIGHT SHOULDER AND A BROKEN RIGHT ARM.

  • 05/06/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    THE VEHICLE'S CAMSHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED . *YH

  • 05/01/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    GASKETS DETERIORATED ON ONE PORTION WHERE THE HEAD AND GASKET MEET. REPLACED HEAD GASKETS AND BOLTS ON BOTH SIDES. *AK