Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1984 Mercury Cougar, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 12 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Apr 1996 | 4 | 6 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 7 |
| Jun 1997 | 1 | 8 |
| Feb 1998 | 1 | 9 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 10 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 11 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 12 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 13 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 14 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 15 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 16 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 17 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
SUMMARY:THE SPRING UNDER INVESTIGATION CAUSES THE LATCHING PAWL TOENGAGE THE TEETH OF THE RATCHET WHEREBY THE PARKING BRAKE IS RETAINEDIN THE APPLIED POSITION.IF THE SPRING FAILS, THE PEDAL FOLLOWS THEOPERATORS FOOT BACK UP INTO THE RELEASED POSITION.FORD STATES THAT IT ISSUED THE BULLETIN IN ORDER TO INFORM DEALERSTHAT THE SPRING WAS NEWLY AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE PART.PREVIOUSLY,IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL ASSEMBLY INORDER TO OBTAIN A NEW SPRING.SINCE THE FAILURE OF THE SPRING WILL NOT CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TOSUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY RELEASE AND SINCE THERE IS ADEQUATE WARNINGOF THE FAILURE, NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND WAS FOUND.===
SEATBACK FAILURE
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1987 MODELSWILL BE PRODUCED WITH A LONGER M10 BOLT AND A NUT TO INCREASE AND MAIN-TAIN CLAMPING FORCE. BOLTS WERE FORMERLY SELF TAPPING. REPORTS LISTEDABOVE SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THE BOLT BROKE. NONE REFER SIMPLY TOSEAT BACK COLLAPSE ALONE.STATUS:FORD REPLY TO ODI IR DATED 2/2/87.FORD RECALLED 195,7321984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986 (86V-082). ANALYZING REPONSE,MONITORING CANADIAN PROGRESS. RESPONSE TO 4/6/87 LETTER TO FORDRECEIVED 7/15/87. WILL PROBABLY CLOSE AFTER CANADA COMPLETES THEIRACTIONS.===
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
WHILE RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION LEFT TIRE MARKS ON THE DRIVEWAY. *TC
VEHICLE STALLED AT ANY SPEED. HAS STALLED 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED 4 WEEKS AGO. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID THAT TFI MODULE AND IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THESE COMPONENTS CAUSED ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK
THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TEMPERAMENTAL AND THE VEHICLE IS STALLING. *SLC
VERY RECENTLY I FOUND THAT THE NHTSA HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING PROBLEMS WITH MANY FORD VEHICLES FROM THE 80'S, DUE TO STALLING PROBLEMS. I OWNED A 1984 MERCURY COUGAR FOR 2 YEARS AND PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS VEHICHLE WITH NO SUCCESS. I KEPT ALL MY RECEIPTS KNOWING THAT SOME DAY THE PROBLEM WOULD COME OUT. I WISH TO BE PART OF THESE COMPLAINTS AGAINST FORD AND HOPES OF GETTING MONEY BACK DUE TO FORDS MISTAKE WHEN ASSEMBLING THE VEHICLES. THE MERCURY COUGAR STARTED STALLING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, BUT GOT WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. DATES INVOLVED REPAIRS WERE FROM JANUARY OF 1989 UP TO APRIL OF 1990. FINALLY IN AUGUST OF 1990 I TRADED THE VEHICLE IN, AFTER MANY SITUATIONS OF ALMOST BAD ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE VEHICLE STALLING WHEN STOPPING OR JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE VEHICHLE WOULD JUST SHUT OFF AND IT WOULD TAKE NUMOROUS TRIES TO GET IT STARTED OR I WOULD HAVE TO GET IT TOWED. THE STRESS AND CONCERN OF MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN WAS MORE THAN I COULD HANDLE. I FEEL FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN ALL THERE MISTAKES. NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS, TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST LIVES DUE TO THIS ENORMOUS COMPANY. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN EMERGENCY STOPPING SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK UP. ALSO, A BUMPING AND GRINDING NOISE OCCURS IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
SEAT BELT BUCKLE HOUSING CRACKED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE RACK AND PINION FAILED (WORN OUT), CAUSING POOR STEERING ABILITY, RESULTING IN REPAIR. *YC
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE GIVES NO PRIOR WARNING AND CUTS COMPLETELY OFF. WHEN TRYING TO START BACK UP THE BATTERY LIGHT/ ENGINECHECK LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. CONTACTED DEALER . *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC
TIRES
INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 95 | 3 | 0 | 52.7 |
| 2001 | 82 | 3 | 0 | 53.2 |
| 2000 | 211 | 5 | 0 | 54.4 |
| 1999 | 454 | 9 | 1 | 55.6 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1997 | 76 | 0 | 1 | 40.3 |
| 1996 | 62 | 2 | 1 | 48.7 |
| 1995 | 109 | 0 | 1 | 42.9 |
| 1994 | 137 | 0 | 1 | 42.8 |
| 1993 | 195 | 3 | 2 | 55.7 |
| 1992 | 92 | 3 | 4 | 57.8 |
| 1991 | 73 | 3 | 2 | 61.0 |
| 1990 | 86 | 3 | 5 | 64.9 |
| 1989 | 81 | 4 | 6 | 70.7 |
| 1988 | 55 | 1 | 5 | 60.2 |
| 1987 | 33 | 1 | 3 | 60.4 |
| 1986 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 56.4 |
| 1985 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 49.7 |
| 1984Viewing | 17 | 1 | 2 | 54.6 |
| 1983 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1982 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.