RoadVitals

1988 Mercury Cougar Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
11
Latest Sep 3, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
20%
of 55 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Mercury Cougar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Sep 3, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10037172
Incident
Sep 29, 2002
Electrical
Filed May 13, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8009718
Incident
May 3, 2002
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 9, 2000

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

NHTSA ID
874762
Incident
Feb 1, 1999
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Sep 12, 2000
Fire reported

IGN. SW. RECALL WORK DONE PREVIOUSLY 2 TIMES BY GALPIN LINCOLN-MERCURY. SEAT BELT FAILURE REPORTED BOTH TO GALPIN LINCOLN-MERCURY AND FORD MOTOR CORP. BECAUSE OF NO DOCUMENTED RECALL, THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING EVER SINCE WITHOUT SHOULDER BELT PROTECTION.

NHTSA ID
731200
Incident
Sep 12, 2000
Electrical
Filed May 3, 1999
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL NOTICE REPAIR. NLM

NHTSA ID
545336
Electrical
Filed Feb 6, 1997

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
514553
Incident
May 21, 1996
Electrical
Filed Oct 16, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

NHTSA ID
510031
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Aug 9, 1996

THE INGITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED . *AK

NHTSA ID
986505
Electrical
Filed Jun 18, 1996
Fire reported

SON DRIVING VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND BURN UNDER DASHBOARD, HAD TO OPEN DOOR TO SEE BECAUSE OF SMOKE, VEHICLE SOON AFTER CAUGHT FIRE, JUNKED VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
985789
Incident
Nov 23, 1995
Electrical
Filed Aug 25, 1995

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED; FIRST, WOULD LATCH, THEN WOULD NOT LOCK AT ALL; REPLACED BY DEALER. TT

NHTSA ID
971073
Incident
Jul 5, 1995
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+1 more
Filed Jun 15, 1995

BATTERY FAILED. *SKD

NHTSA ID
485060
Incident
Jun 15, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .