Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 55 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Mercury Cougar, most frequently naming the seat belts, electrical and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 5 NHTSA investigations name it; and 22 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1995 | 2 | 3 |
| Jun 1995 | 2 | 5 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 6 |
| Aug 1995 | 4 | 10 |
| Sep 1995 | 1 | 11 |
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 12 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 13 |
| Mar 1996 | 3 | 16 |
| Apr 1996 | 1 | 17 |
| May 1996 | 2 | 19 |
| Jun 1996 | 1 | 20 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 21 |
| Aug 1996 | 2 | 23 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 24 |
| Oct 1996 | 1 | 25 |
| Nov 1996 | 2 | 27 |
| Dec 1996 | 2 | 29 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 30 |
| Mar 1997 | 3 | 33 |
| Sep 1997 | 2 | 35 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 36 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 37 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 38 |
| Jan 1999 | 1 | 39 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 40 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 41 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 42 |
| Aug 1999 | 1 | 43 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 44 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 45 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 46 |
| Sep 2000 | 2 | 48 |
| Nov 2000 | 2 | 50 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 51 |
| Sep 2003 | 1 | 52 |
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 53 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 54 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 55 |
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.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FAULTY SEAT BELT BUCKLES
There is no summary currently available
FAULTY SEATBELT BUCKLES
There is no summary currently available
THROTTLE STICKING
There is no summary currently available
THROTTLE STICKING
===
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
ON FEB 12, 1994 MY WIFE AND HER FRIEND TOOK MY RED 1988 MERCURY COUGAR LS TO CHURCH AT 6:30 PM. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY FOGGY EVENING. I RECEIVED A CALL AT THE HOUSE AT 6:50 PM THAT MY WIFE HAD BEEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THAT I NEEDED TO COME TO THE SITE. MY CAR WAS IN MINT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. WHEN I SAW THE CAR, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE!! MY WIFE, WITNESSES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOODYEAR TIRE CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS THE MERCURY COUGAR?S COMPUTER THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO GO FULL-THROTTLE. DIANE, MY WIFE AND PASSENGER TESTIFIED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED, SHE PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR. AFTER NO AVAIL, SHE APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN INTO A HEAVILY TRAVELED INTERSECTION. AS THE VEHICLE SPUN, MY WIFE TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO ?PARK?. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE CHANGED INTO ?REVERSE?, SENDING THEM THROUGH A GAS STATION, AT FULL-THROTTLE, BACKWARDS. AT THIS TIME, THE PASSENGER PANICKED. SHE UNBUCKLED HER SEATBELT AND OPENED THE DOOR WHILE TRAVELING IN REVERSE. THE DOOR MOMENTARILY PINED HER TO THE GROUND, RESULTING IN MAJOR FRACTURES OF THE HIP AND OTHER MINOR INJURIES. THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO REST IN THE WOODS ADJACENT TO THE GAS STATION WITH MAJOR FRAME DAMAGE, A SEVERED FUEL LINE AND ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE DESTROYED. MY WIFE WAS SHAKEN, BUT NO INJURIES. WITNESSES STATED THEY CAME WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING THE GAS PUMPS. AT THE TIME, MY FATHER-IN-LAW, A RETIRED GM MECHANIC BLAMED THE EVENT ON MY WIFE. UNTIL I BECAME COMPUTER SMART AND HAVE READ SO MANY ARTICLES THIS WEEK ON FORD VEHICLES SURGING, I THOUGHT I HAD BETTER REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO HELP OTHERS WHO APPARENTLY HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SAME EXPERIENCE. *JB
THE RIGHT SELTBELT BUCKLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILS OFTEN. FORD NO LONGER SUPPLIES THESE BUCKLES, AND THEY ARE VERY SCARCE IN WRECKING YARDS.*AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TIRE THAT FAILED FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. FRONT LEFT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM A CHEVROLET BLAZER 1984, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE HIT TWO OTHER VEHICLES, ONE BEING THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE. DURING THE CRASH CONSUMER'S WRIST WAS BROKEN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *JB
THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT IGNITE IF THE GEAR SHIFT IS NOT COMPLETELY UP. IT APPEARS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH AND THE GEAR SHIFT.*AK
RECALL 96 V 071 000/IGNITION SWITCH: RECALL REPAIRS WAS DONE AT BAYWAY LINCOLN, MERCURY; HOUSTON, TX; PHONE# 281/ 929-6500. AT THE PRESENT TIME PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN, BUT ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS WILL STILL BE WORKING, LIKE HEADLIGHTS/ RADIO/ POWER WINDOW, AND AIR CONDITIONER. BUT NOT COLD AND MOTOR WILL STILL BE WORKING; IGNITION MODULE HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, AND NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR A ROLLING STOP, RECALL 96V071 WAS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS POSSIBLY DUE TO AN ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC
BOTH FORD MOTOR CORP. AND GALPIN LINCOLN-MERCURY REFUSED TO COVER FOR REPAIRS. OWNER HAD TO DO SO AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. *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
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
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
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 |
| 1988Viewing | 55 | 1 | 5 | 60.2 |
| 1987 | 33 | 1 | 3 | 60.4 |
| 1986 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 56.4 |
| 1985 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 49.7 |
| 1984 | 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.