1991 Mercury Cougar

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

• 12/31/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ALTERNATOR FAILED TWICE.

• 12/29/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON A LEFT TURN 45 DEGREE CONTACT TO LEFT FRONT. *AK

• 12/28/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  INABILITY TO PUSH BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.

• 12/22/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE, KEY SWITCH PROB. RECALL REPAIR, HEATER BLOWS COLD, CAR DIED AFTER EXCEL. RESTARTED AND DROVE 50 FT. DIED AGAIN AND KNOW IN SHOP & BEEN TOLD GASKETS OR BUSTED HEAD. I LOVE THIS CAR AND HAVE TAKEN EXTRA CARE, ENGINE AND CAR KEEP SPOTLESS, CAR IS NEVER LEFT OUTSIDE. ALL TOOK PLACE WITHIN 1 MO. IS IT ALL TIED TOGETHER WITH ONE THING? *AK

• 12/19/1997· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DRIVING AT ANY VARIOUS SPEED HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AND ON, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO DRIVE SOMETIMES WITHOUT HEADLIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY,WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.DEALER HAS REPLACED HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES, BUT DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

• 12/12/1996· SEAT BELTS

  MOTORBELT FAILED.

• 12/11/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THROTTLE CONTROLS LOCK WHEN PASSING, CAN'T STOP VEHICLE UNTIL CONTROLS ARE TURNED OFF.

• 12/04/1996· SUSPENSION

  LOOSE AXLE NUT CAUSED REAR WHEEL TO COME LOOSE.

• 12/03/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH THE VEHICLE HAD AN OUTBURST OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER TRIED AND STOPPED VEHICLE, IT WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AND ALSO PARK, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT ON GOING. TO STOP VEHICLE CONSUMER HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND COASTED THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

• 11/23/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPING. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ROTORS ON FOUR OCCASIONS, SINCE NOVEMBER 96 UP TO THE PRESENT TIME. DEALER/MFR. NOTIFIED.*AK RECALL 92B11 - FRONT DISC ROUGNESS, BRAKE SHUDDER INFORMATION ATTACHED, ALSO THE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. *TT

• 11/10/1998· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  AFTER DRIVING FOR 25 MINUTES THE HEADLIGNTS START FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE BULBS AND FUSES ARE GOOD. I HAVE DESCOVERED THAT THE MERCURY SABLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD A RECALL FOR A FAILED HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS HEAT UP THE CIRCUIT OPENS. RECALL WAS MADE APRIL 15, 1998 FOR SABLES MADE DEC. 1992 TO SEPT. 1993. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V009000. ALL VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEM AND RISK OF A CRASH SHOULD BE REPAIRED IN THE SAME MANNER.

• 10/31/1995· SEAT BELTS

  BOTH DRIVER/PASS. SHOULDER HARNESS, EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT FAILURE, WHEN WON'T MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS DRIVER/PASS. TT

• 10/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE, RECALL ON OTHER MODELS HOWEVER COUGAR WAS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH SAME ENGINE AS RECALL MODELS, DENIED RECALL REPAIR (98M01). MJS

• 10/14/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EGR VALVE AND SENSOR FAILED. NLM

• 10/04/1999· STRUCTURE

  THE DOORS ON THIS CAR WANT CLOSE. THEY ARE TOO HEAVY AND HAVE BENT THE HINGES. THIS A DESIGN FAILURE.

• 09/07/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH IT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CONSUMER REMOVED FOOT FROM THE PEDAL AND IT STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND ACCELERATED TO 75 WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS BRAKING HARD. IT JUST KEPT LUNCHING FORWARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 09/05/2000· TIRES

  THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL. NLM

• 09/01/2005· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED CAR WAS REVVING WHEN STARTING IT UP. WHEN PUTTING IT IN DRIVE IN WENT DOWN SOMEWHAT. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF. THIS HAPPENED ON 8-31-05. BACK IN 1998 THE CONTACT WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SHE TOOK IT TO A DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED A CHIP THAT HAD BROKEN UNDER THE HOOD. SHE FELT THIS WAS SAME PROBLEM THAT SHE EXPERIENCED IN 1998. THE CONTACT WAS PLANNING TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A DEALER CLOSE TO HER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SHE WAS NOT GOING TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE SHE WAS AFRAID. SHE WILL HAVE IT TOWED.*AK UPDATED 11/2/2005 - *NM

• 08/20/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.

• 08/16/1996· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VIBRATION IS TO INCREASE SPEED .*JB

• 08/14/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINECrash

  AUTO WAS PARKED WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. TT

• 08/10/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. ALSO, PEDAL FELT HARD. *AK

• 08/03/1995· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT STUCK FORWARD. SPOOL SWITCH FAULTY. TT

• 07/25/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT. RECALL NUMBER 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) WAS FOUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 141,000.

• 07/25/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP,TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WICH HAPPENED WITHOUT A WARNING. *AK

• 07/13/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED 55 MPH, THROTTLE WENT INTO OPEN POSITION, HAVE PUT NEUTRAL AND TURN IGNITION OFF PULLED OFF HWY. *AK

• 07/12/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE FRONT ROTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ABOUT THREE TIMES. *AK

• 07/07/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 07/06/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MAKING NOISES SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PARTS. *SC *JB

• 07/03/1997· SEAT BELTS,TIRESCrash

  MADE A SUDDEN STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE SKIDDED 100 FEET, HIT A CURVE, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED. OCCUPANT HAD AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON, DRIVER WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER, LANDING ON THE OCCUPANT. *AK

• 07/02/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  PARKED CAR AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK CONSUMER STATESVEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER IT WAS ON FIRE NEAR STEERING WHEEL AREA.*JB

• 07/01/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND THEN CAME BACK ON AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

• 06/28/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE WAS ACTING SLUGGISH AND WHITE MOKE CAME FORM TAILPIPE. VEHICLE WAS GOING 35MPH AND OVERHEATED, CAUSING DRIVER TO PULL OVER. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT CONTINUING TO DRIVE WILL CAUSE HEAD TO WARP. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *TT

• 06/22/1999· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK VERY SLOW, MAKE A HUMMING NOISE AND STOP WORKING. NLM

• 06/22/1999· POWER TRAIN

  SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER AT ALL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SPEEDOMETER HAS BROKEN. IN APRIL OF 92, SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE CURRENT PROBLEM. *AK

• 06/21/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 200 YDS, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, STOPPED & CHECKED UNDER HOOD, FEW MINUTES LATER FLAMES WERE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. *AK

• 06/15/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  PASSING AN 18 WHEELER AT 75 MPH COMING TO A CURVE AND TRIED TO STOP BUT DISC BRAKES HAD LOCKED UP. TT

• 06/12/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHEN EVER THROTTLE IS PUSHED, SYSTEM MAY STICK RESULTING IN FULL THROTTLE. PLEASE DESCCRIBE DETAILS. TT

• 05/24/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY STIFF. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 489324) *SKD

• 05/20/1996· WHEELS

  RIGHT REAR WHEEL IS RUBBING FUEL LINE, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK

• 05/15/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 05/15/1996· SUSPENSION

  SWAY BAR LINKAGE CREATES ROUGH RIDE. *DSH

• 05/13/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE ALTENATOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

• 05/10/1996· SEAT BELTS

  THE DRIVERS AND FRONT PASSENGERS SEATBELTS NO LONGER OPERATE CORRECTLY ON THE TRACK. THE SEATBELT MAY NOT ALWAYS RETRACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

• 05/01/1995· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  HOOD LATCH FAILED TWICE. *SKD

• 04/29/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,SEAT BELTS

  THE HEAD GASKET WENT BAD EVEN AFTER ROUTINE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND ONLY 80,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND SEVERAL MECHANICS THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON. I WAS FORTUNATE BECAUSE THE HEADS AND BLOCK WERE NOT CRACKED UNLIKE THE MAJORITY OF THE ONES THAT ARE SERVICED. IT SEEMS THAT IF THE 3.8 LITER HAS THIS PROBLEM THEN MAYBE THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR QUALITY PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS WHEN HAVING THIS FIXED, THE STEERING PUMP FRONT GASKET USUALLY BREAKS WHEN THE BELT IS REMOVED, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THIS ENGINE I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS OR ANY FORD VEHICLES WITH A 3.8 LITER ENGINE. ALSO WHY DON'T THE SEAT BELTS LOCK? *AK

• 04/26/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD GAKSET NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AT 60,000 MILES. THE FORD DEALER "SHAVED" THE GASKET. THE HEAD GASKET IS NOW SHOT AT 98,000 MILES. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD VIA THE INTERNET AND PHONE BUT HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS. FORD HAS ADMITTED TO A DEFECT IN THIS SAME ENGINE IN THE 1994-95 TAURUSES, SABLES, CONTINENTALS, COUGARS, THUNDERBIRDS, MUSTANGS AND WINDSTARS AND OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT AND/OR MONEY TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE (SEE APRIL 26, 2000 EDITION OF DETROIT NEWS AUTO SECTION - WWW.DETNEWS.COM). *AK

• 04/26/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

• 04/24/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF HOME, OWNER HEARD EXPLOSION SOUND; CAME OUT TO CHECK; VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED WITH FLAMES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, UNDERDASH/UNDERHOOD. *AK

• 04/21/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE THROTTLE LINKAGE BROKE IN OPEN POSITION, CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION AND OVERRIDING THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK