Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Brakes 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.
10
Latest Jan 6, 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.
12%
of 81 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4
What this page shows
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Mercury Cougar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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 brake
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
BrakesHeating & air conditioningEngine
Filed Jan 6, 2003
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
NHTSA ID
10001373
Mileage
93,655 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 15, 2002
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
NHTSA ID
759414
Incident
Jan 20, 2002
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Nov 5, 1997
ENGINE FAILED.
NHTSA ID
604396
Brakes
Filed Oct 27, 1997
RIGHT FRONT ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO RIGHT FRON TPADS/ROTORS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUDDER UPON BRAKING. *AK
NHTSA ID
524499
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering+1 more
Filed Oct 9, 1997
POWER STEERING LINES LEAK FLUID.
NHTSA ID
523651
Incident
May 14, 1997
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Apr 1, 1997
Crash reported
VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE POSITION IN PARK, PUT IN GEAR INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, PEDAL WENT THE FLOOR, TRIED TO BRAKE, RPMS UNKNOWN, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
NHTSA ID
807829
Incident
Apr 5, 1996
BrakesElectrical
Filed Oct 15, 1996
BRAKES FAILED.
NHTSA ID
509914
Incident
Oct 8, 1996
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 27, 1995
Crash reported4 injuries reported
CONSUMER GOT IN CAR STARTED IT UP AND IT WENT DEAD, STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND PUT INTO REVERSE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARD . TT
NHTSA ID
969491
Incident
Jul 21, 1995
Brakes
Filed Jun 8, 1995
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED 5 TIMES AFTER RECALL WORK PERFORMED. *SKD
NHTSA ID
485049
Incident
Jun 8, 1995
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Apr 5, 1995
MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE TO SIT ON OIL PAN, RUBBING A HOLE IN IT WHICH CAUSED OIL TO SPLASH ONTO ENGINE/TRANSMISSION.EXHAUST.
NHTSA ID
482930
Incident
Apr 5, 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