Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
33
Latest Jul 27, 2023
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.
11
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Apr 18, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Mercury Cougar. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 33 · page 1 of 2
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 27, 2023
Crash reportedFire reported2 injuries reported
Brake pads constantly keeps running out on front driver, passenger front brakes are still good but rotor keeps running out unevenly, no brake fluid leaks but needs refill every 3rd about 3/4 of a pints bottle, making a left turn it accelerated by itself brakes didn't react, instead of causing in a big accident, pulled the steering wheel, went through a fence and a brick wall stopped my car, checked all fuses replaced fuses if needed, confirmed fuses AMP Ganges with the vehicle own owners manual, dashboard backlights keeps going on and off on it's own, automatic transmission after complete stop it sets it self at neutral , a few taps on the gas pedal then it goes to 1st shift, only has 129,000 miles, 1987 Mercury Cougar LS 5.0l windsor engine, 20th Anniversary Edition
NHTSA ID
11534721
Incident
Feb 1, 2023
Visibility
Filed Aug 2, 2001
WINDSHIELD INOPERABLE. *YH
NHTSA ID
562351
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 6, 2001
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL.*AK THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT GOES SMOTH AGAIN. THE TECHNICIANS AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPT DISCOVERED THAT THE TFI IGNITION MODUELE FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE. *YH
NHTSA ID
885275
Incident
Dec 1, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Oct 24, 2000
A PENNY, NICKLE, AND A QUARTER FELL INTO THE FEMALE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, PROBABLY OVER TIME FROM POCKETS AND/OR THE CONSOLE. THE TONGUE AND BUCKLE JAMMED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE DRIVER CUT HERSELF OUT WITH A SISSORS AFTER BEING TRAPPED. THE TONGUE COULD BE RELEASED FROM THE BUCKLE BY SLIPPING A THIN SCREWDRIVER ALONG THE SIDE OF THE TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE AND PUSHING DOWN. REINSERTING THE TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITH THE COINS IN IT CAUSED THE SAME JAM WITH THE SAME PROCEDURE TO RE-RELEASE. NO EXPERIMENT WAS PERFORMED TO FIND OUT HOW MANY OR WHICH COIN WAS CAUSING THE JAM, ALL, ONE OR SOME. THE BUCKLE STICKS UP IN THE AIR LIKE A COIN SLOT. NO CHILDREN WOULD HAVE PUT COINS IN THE SLOT SO THEY MUST HAVE GOT IN INADVERTENTLY FROM POCKETS OR THE CONSOLE.*AK
NHTSA ID
734996
Electrical
Filed Oct 12, 2000
VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING DUE TO A TFI MODULE THAT WAS PLACED TOO CLOSE TO ENGINE WHICH WILL OVERHEAT. CONSUMER IS AWARE OF NATIONAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.*AK
NHTSA ID
872880
Electrical
Filed May 7, 1999
Fire reported
VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL WIRING SHORT.
NHTSA ID
837631
Incident
Apr 18, 1999
BrakesEngineVisibility
Filed Oct 14, 1998
THE WIRE PIPE MADE A LOUD NOISE. WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE MADE A POPPING NOISE. DEALER CONTACTED AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR. ALSO, TOOK THE HEATER CORE APART, AND THERE IS NOW NO HEAT IN THE VEHICLE, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
828904
Incident
Jul 16, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Aug 7, 1998
Fire reported
AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. FIRE OCCURRED IN RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. POSSIBLE FUEL RELATED FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ID
826408
Incident
Jul 4, 1998
Filed Jun 24, 1998
UNSPECIFIED.
NHTSA ID
537462
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 1997
Fire reported
THE IGNITION SWITCH SNAPPED AND A FIRE STARTED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *AK
NHTSA ID
810571
Seat belts
Filed Feb 14, 1997
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE STUCK.
NHTSA ID
514838
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 14, 1997
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING, CAUSING THE WIRING IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO BURN OUT. *AK
NHTSA ID
807611
Brakes
Filed Jul 30, 1996
RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR RUSTED.
NHTSA ID
506870
Incident
Jul 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jul 8, 1996
Fire reported
AFTER PARKING, MOMENTS LATER FOUND FLAMES SHOOTING FROM UNDER HOOD, ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK
NHTSA ID
986668
Electrical
Filed Jun 5, 1996
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, IGNITION SWITCH BURNT, NO FLAMES. *AK
NHTSA ID
985298
Electrical
Filed Jun 5, 1996
Fire reported
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED DUE TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH, THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
NHTSA ID
985260
Incident
May 21, 1996
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats
Filed Jun 4, 1996
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR HAS GONE HAYWIRE DUE TO THE IGNITON SWITCH. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES OUT AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. *AK VEHICLE WOULD GO ON FINE, WOULD PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE RADIO WOULD TURN OFF TURN THE CORNER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT, VEHICLE WOULD START BACK UP AND MAYBE THE RADIO WOULD COME BACK ON.*JB
NHTSA ID
985217
Incident
May 20, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 15, 1996
Fire reported
AFTER PARKING MOMENT LATER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *AK
NHTSA ID
984500
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 12, 1996
Crash reported1 injury reported
DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE AFTER BEING HITTING IN THE REAR AT 35MPH, WHILE SITTING STILL IN STOPPED TRAFFIC. *AK
NHTSA ID
982755
Incident
Apr 12, 1993
Seat belts
Filed Dec 14, 1995
BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL. TT
NHTSA ID
976602
Incident
Sep 14, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Oct 26, 1995
EA95-021 ACTIVE, SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON DRIVERS WILL NOT STAY LATCHED, WHILE DRIVING, IT COMES UNLATCHED. TT *SLC
NHTSA ID
973973
Incident
Jun 1, 1995
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 25, 1995
Crash reported
GAS PEDAL STUCK, BRAKES DID NOT STOP VEHICLE ENDED UP HITTING A TREE. TT
NHTSA ID
973933
Incident
Oct 20, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Oct 18, 1995
DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE BUTTON BROKE OFF, NOW THE SEATBELT IS INOPERATIVE. TT
NHTSA ID
973523
Incident
Oct 10, 1994
EngineSeat beltsTransmission
Filed Oct 11, 1995
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FAILS TO FULLY ENGAGE INTO INDICATED GEARS. TT WHEN IN PARK, TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES IS IN REVERSE UNLESS SHOVED INTO BACK FULL FORCE, WHEN IN DRIVE THE INDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL, CONSUMER STATES THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. SHOULDER STRAP REFUSES TO ENGAGE AND PULLS TIGHT AGAINST THE BODY. *SLC
NHTSA ID
973252
Incident
Oct 11, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Oct 10, 1995
SEAT BELT TWISTS/RETRACTS, BECOMING JAMMED. *DSH
NHTSA ID
488999
Incident
Apr 1, 1987
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.
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