1989 Mercury Cougar Owner Complaints

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

NHTSA ID

10248214

Incident

Nov 9, 2008

Mileage

166,900 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10030489

Incident

May 27, 2003

Mileage

205,060 mi

WHILE DRIVING, CUSTOMER SMELT A BURNING ODOR. THEN DIGITAL DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. MAYBE CAUSE BY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10029786

Incident

Jul 13, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10007854

Incident

Jan 27, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

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

CONSUMER SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL WHILE IDLING AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CRASHING INTO A RETAINER WALL. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. TS

NHTSA ID

10001375

Incident

Jan 30, 2002

Mileage

140,000 mi

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER SAID FORD NEW OF THIS PROBLEN BUT DID NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

760383

Incident

Apr 5, 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

PASSENGER'S SHOULDER SEAT BELT IS BROKEN. THREAD TO THE SEATBELT IS COMING APART. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002629

Incident

Jan 22, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. THEN UPON CHANGING TIRE CONSUMER NOTICED RIM WAS SPLIT ON INSIDE ABOUT 12 INCHES LONG. THIS CAUSED TIRE TO GO FLAT.*AK CONSUMER STATED THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.*SLC

NHTSA ID

895740

Incident

Aug 29, 2001

AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS GET STUCK IN COLD WEATHER, SOMETIMES IF WEARING BULKY CLOTHES BELTS WILL BE LOOSE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IN AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED. *AK

NHTSA ID

885953

Incident

Jan 1, 1989

THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO FAULTY MOTOR, DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. NLM

NHTSA ID

559209

WHILE DRIVING VINYL PART OF ROOF MADE A CRACKING NOISE, AND VINYL PART LIFTED OFF, LEAVING METAL PART OF HOOD. VINYL WAS HANGING OVER CAR,.THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY IT WOULD FALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

877855

Incident

Jan 9, 2001

AUTOMATIC SEATBELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS FAILED ,IT WILL NOT RETRACT , CAUSING A LOSS OF PROTECTION POSSIBLY DUE TO TEETH THAT GOT CHEWED UP AND OVERWORKED THE MOTOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

870612

MOTOR CONTROL ON SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY( CALLED THE MOUSE) WILL NOT OPERATE THE SEAT BELT MAKING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE

NHTSA ID

728517

Incident

Jun 1, 1999

BOTH AUTOMATIC MOTOR BELTS MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING LOCK UP AND 2 INJURIES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

784764

Incident

May 10, 2000

FRONT END KNOCK DRIVERS SIDE. COMPLETE FRONT END REPLACEMENT. STRUTS, SPRINGS, BALL JOINTS, TRANNY MOUNT. NOISE CONTINUES ON BUMPY ROADS.

NHTSA ID

723103

Incident

Jun 10, 1995

WHILE TRAVELING TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. ALSO, VIBRATION WITHIN THE FRONT END WHEN TRAVELING OVER 50 MPH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

851414

WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOUD NOISES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELORATED AT FULL SPEED,COLLIDING WITH OTHER VEHICLES. A CABLE CAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE SYSTEM AND LODGED THE ACCELERATOR OPEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

846943

Incident

Aug 30, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

704450

THE HEADLIGHT LENSES BECOME FOGGED UP AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. OWNER HAS TO USE HIGH BEAMS TO SEE AT NIGHT. DEALER HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

835382

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER. CONTACTED DEALER. NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

835025

CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE AND HAD VEHICLE IN PARK WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT 35 MPH AND HIT A BRICK WALL. CONSUMRER DOESN'T HAVE A VEHICLE ANY MORE. *AK

NHTSA ID

834851

Incident

Feb 2, 1999

VEHICLE WA SPARKED, FACING UPHILL ON A 75 FOOT LONG DOWNWARD SLOPING DRIVEWAY OF ASPHALT. STARTED VEHICLE AND IT SUDDENLY REVVED AND ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY REARWARD. VEHICLE RACED BACKWARD, DOWN DRIVE, TOWARD STREET. DRIVER TRIED TO STOP WITH BRAKES, BUT THEY ONLY SLOWED VEHICLE A BIT. FEARING THAT VEHICLE WOULD RACE INTO STREET, SWUNG STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT, TO PUT VEHICLE ON LAWN. REA ROF VEHICLE SWUNG INTO PARKE DVEHICLE, KNOCKING IT FORWARD AND DAMAGING REAR. VEHICLE THEN BOUNCED SIDEWAYS INTO DRIVE AND ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB A HILL. KILLED IGNITION TO STOP. DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES AND HAD A HEADACHE. .

NHTSA ID

781220

Incident

Oct 8, 1998

RUBBER VACUUM HOSE RUBS AGAINST AIR CONDITONER, CAUSING SPILLAGE OF FREON. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

825573

Incident

Jul 20, 1998