Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 81 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Mercury Cougar, most frequently naming the driver assistance, seat belts and brakes categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 6 NHTSA investigations name it; and 26 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 | 3 | 4 |
| May 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| Jun 1995 | 4 | 9 |
| Jul 1995 | 2 | 11 |
| Aug 1995 | 1 | 12 |
| Sep 1995 | 4 | 16 |
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 17 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 18 |
| Jan 1996 | 2 | 20 |
| Mar 1996 | 3 | 23 |
| Apr 1996 | 3 | 26 |
| May 1996 | 2 | 28 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 29 |
| Aug 1996 | 1 | 30 |
| Sep 1996 | 3 | 33 |
| Oct 1996 | 5 | 38 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 39 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 40 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 41 |
| Mar 1997 | 1 | 42 |
| Apr 1997 | 1 | 43 |
| Jun 1997 | 2 | 45 |
| Aug 1997 | 2 | 47 |
| Sep 1997 | 2 | 49 |
| Oct 1997 | 4 | 53 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 54 |
| Mar 1998 | 1 | 55 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 56 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 57 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 58 |
| Feb 1999 | 2 | 60 |
| Mar 1999 | 2 | 62 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 63 |
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 64 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 65 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 66 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 67 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 68 |
| Jan 2001 | 2 | 70 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 71 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 72 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 73 |
| Mar 2002 | 1 | 74 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 75 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 76 |
| Jan 2003 | 1 | 77 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 78 |
| Jul 2003 | 2 | 80 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 81 |
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.
4 campaigns 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
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FAULTY SEATBELT BUCKLES
There is no summary currently available
THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING
There is no summary currently available
THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING
There is no summary currently available
HOOD LATCHES FAIL
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE CAR IS NOW TOAST. IT WAS ABOUT 100 MILES PAST ITS SCHEDULED OIL-CHANGE/TUNE UP BUT OTHERWISE HAS BEEN WELL-CARED-FOR AND WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. I WAS DRIVING, AND A BEEPING STARTED. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT'S COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE CAR, AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON WARNING OF VERY LOW BATTERY, BUT NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT THE BACK (REARVIEW AND SIDE MIRRORS) AND IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING SYNTHETIC IS BURNING (THIS ALL HAPPENS IN SECONDS TIME); SO, I PULL OVER, PARK, TURN THE CAR OFF. MY FRIEND AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. WITH THE CAR STOPPED I REALIZED THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED AAA FOR A TOW-TRUCK AND THE SMOKE WAS DYING DOWN. THEN THE SMOKE PICKED UP AGAIN AND I SAW WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS SMALL DROPS OF FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD (PROBABLY DRIPPING, BURNING OIL). I THEN CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ABLAZE WITH A MASSIVE DARK SMOKE PLUME GOING WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN EASILY 100 FEET INTO THE AIR. THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT NOT BEFORE THE EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS TOTALLY BURNED OUT AND THE TWO FRONT TIRES (WHICH ARE NOW MELTED ONTO THE FRAME) HAD EXPLODED RATHER DRAMATICALLY. WHILE SMOKE GOT INTO THE COCKPIT, THE FLAME DID NOT BREACH IT NOR DID THE GAS TANK EXPLODE, BUT THE FUEL LINE MUST HAVE BEEN BREACHED. I'M CALLING A WRECKER TOMORROW MORNING TO TAKE THE CAR TO A SCRAP YARD (NO ONE OPEN SUNDAY EVENING). I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSES SOMEONE FOR. I HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE, BUT NOT COMPREHENSIVE. NO ONE WAS HURT, SAVE FOR WHAT I AS A LAYMAN WOULD CHARACTERIZE AS MINOR SMOKE INHALATION WHILE MY FRIEND AND I WERE IN/VACATING THE CAR (I FELT NAUSEOUS I WHILE AFTERWARD, BUT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE SHOCK OF SEEING MY CAR TURN INTO A FIREBALL AS MUCH AS IT WAS THE SMOKE I INHALED). *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE PLASTIC BLOCK THAT CONNECTS THE THROTTLE VALVE (TV) CABLE TO THE THROTTLE LEVER BROKE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE THROTTLE LEVER. THE PLASTIC BLOCK, STILL CONNECTED TO THE TV CABLE, DROPPED DOWN AND WEDGED BETWEEN THE THROTTLE LEVER AND A FUEL RAIL AND PREVENTED THE THROTTLE LEVEL FROM GOING BACK TO THE NORMAL IDLE POSITION. WHEN APPROCHING STOPPED TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION THE PARTIALLY OPEN THROTTLE PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING AS USUAL AND A COLLISION RESULTED. WHEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE IDLED AT 3000 RPM. WHEN THE PLASTIC TV CABLE BLOCK WAS UNWEDGED FROM BETWEEN THE THROTTLE LEVER AND THE FUEL RAIL THE ENGINE IDLE SPEED WAS BACK TO THE NORMAL 900 RPM.
WHILE DRIVING, CUSTOMER SMELT A BURNING ODOR. THEN DIGITAL DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. MAYBE CAUSE BY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE.
I HAVE TRIED TWICE TO ASK FORD TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF SEATBELT FAILURE IN THE COUGAR. THEY HAVE STATED THAT "ALTHOUGH IT IS A VITAL SAFETY COMPONENT THERE IS NO RECALL AND MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. YOU SHOULD PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED QUICKLY." I REFUSE TO PAY IN EXCESS OF 500.00 TO THE FORD GARAGE TO FIX A STANDARD SAFETY COMPONENT ! AMONG THE HEAD GASKET , E.G.R., TRANS. , P.W. MOTORS, AND COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT, I BELIEVE I HAVE PAID FOR ENOUGH OF THEIR FAILURES IN THIS AUTO! I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY WOULD DEVISE SUCH A WORTHLESS SAFETY DEVICE AND THEN NOT ONLY ADMIT IT IS HAZARDOUS, BUT TELL CUSTOMERS OF SUCH AN EXPENSIVE ITEM THAT THEY NEED TO GET IT FIXED BY THEMSELVES! I RELY ON THIS DEVICE TO SAVE MY FAMILY AND MY LIFE! I ONLY WANT THE CHANCE FOR US TO STAY IN THE VEHICLE IN A CRASH, NOT BE EJECTED AND KILLED BECAUSE FORD DID NOT THINK THESE RESTRAINTS WERE USELESS.
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A REREATED BRAKE PROBLEM; WHEN SLIGHTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, DURING HIGH/LOW SPEEDS, CITY/HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUES TO DEPRESS ON ITS OWN UNTIL IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN SLAPS THE CONSUMERS FOOT AS IT COMES BACK UP TO NORMAL POSITION, WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING FOR 15 MINS, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AT LOW/NO SPEED-AND HAS HAPPENED TO THE CONSUMER WHEN SITTING AT A RED LIGHT/ON SEVERAL TIMES WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM-@ J & S/DIFEO FORD SERVICE STATION. UNTRUSTING FORDS SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MIDAS, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AS WELL. THE CONSUMER THEN RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR SEVERAL RECALLS AND FOUND THAT AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COULD START EXPERIENCING A REDUCTION IN THE BRAKE PERFORMANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF 978.02, AND REQUEST INFO ON ALL NECESSARY REPAIR INFO AS WELL AS ANY PARTS TO BE REPLACED ALONG W/INSTRUCTIONS TO BE FORWARDED TO MIDAS AUTO SERVICE. REFER TO #89V081000. SCC
CONSUMER SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL WHILE IDLING AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CRASHING INTO A RETAINER WALL. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. TS
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER SAID FORD NEW OF THIS PROBLEN BUT DID NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. *AK
THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1989 COUGAR WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP IN A SMALL DITCH WITH NO OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED. ATTEMPTED TO GET THE ABS SYSTEM REPAIRED BUT THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT IT WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $4000 TO REPAIR. SPENT OVER $100 FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS TURBO-CHARGED, A NORMAL BRAKING SYSTEM CANNOT BE INSTALLED WHICH WOULD BE MORE REASONABLE PRICED. BRAKING IS SPORADIC. *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *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 |
| 1989Viewing | 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 |
| 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.