RoadVitals

1985 Mercury Cougar

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jan 12, 2001
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 11, 1985
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Mercury Cougar, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and interior & seats categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 17 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical646.2%
  • Driver assistance215.4%
  • Interior & seats17.7%
  • Seat belts17.7%
  • Tires & wheels17.7%
  • Engine17.7%
  • Body & structure17.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

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.gov
85V025000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Mar 11, 1985
3,508 units potentially affected
The defect: BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY HAVE IMPROPERLY ANODIZED INTERNAL SURFACES CAUSING ACCELERATED WEAR OF A PISTON SEAL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ONE PORTION OF THE SPLIT BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD BECOME INEFFECTIVE RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER WOULD BE WARNED BY INCREASED PEDAL TRAVEL AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT.
The remedy: MASTER CYLINDERS BUILT ON JANUARY 9, 1985 WILL BE REPLACED.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA86010ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEATBACK FAILURE

Opened Mar 26, 1986
Closed Jul 28, 1989

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.===

SEATSLed to recall 86V082000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 10
Driver assistanceElectricalTires & wheels
Filed Jan 12, 2001

GOODYEAR TIRES (P215/70R15) FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
558917
Electrical
Filed Dec 21, 2000

WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. *AK

NHTSA ID
876891
Incident
Jun 20, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS. WHEN CONSUMER REACHES TO 60 MPH VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN, AND THE CONSUMER HAS TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
836914
Incident
Apr 5, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 8, 1997

DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WOULD SURGE & ACCELERATE; WOULD HAVE FOOT ON BRAKES AT TIME TO SLOW DOWN. AFTER DRIVING A WHILE WOULD PULL OFF ROAD & TURN VEHICLE OFF & THEN RESTART; NO SIGN OF SURGING/ACCELERATING; PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. TOOK TO DEALER & COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
814303
Electrical
Filed Oct 8, 1996

BASICALLY THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, WHEN SWITCH WAS REMOVED BY OWNER THE SWITCH WAS CHARGED AND BURNED. ALSO SOME WIRING WAS BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID
803324
Incident
Oct 8, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 2, 1996

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK

NHTSA ID
983972
Incident
Feb 12, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 29, 1996

WHEN SHE PUT THE KEY INTO IGNITION, THE CAR STRETED TO GET FILLED WITH SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983688
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 1996
Fire reported1 injury reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, ENGINE COMPARTMNET FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983619
Incident
Oct 12, 1994

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

01157

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

01156

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

0015

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS

99222

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT

99196

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT

99152

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercury Cougar by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002953052.7
2001823053.2
20002115054.4
19994549155.6
1998101—
1997760140.3
1996622148.7
19951090142.9
19941370142.8
19931953255.7
1992923457.8
1991733261.0
1990863564.9
1989814670.7
1988551560.2
1987331360.4
1986132156.4
1985Viewing101149.7
1984171254.6
1983232—
1982241—
1981011—
1980222—
1979030—
1978221—
1977040—
1976010—
1975020—
1974020—
1973200—
1972010—
1971010—
1970010—
1969040—
1968010—
1967020—
1962100—

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.