Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 73 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Mercury Cougar, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and electrical categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 36 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 |
| Mar 1995 | 2 | 3 |
| May 1995 | 2 | 5 |
| Jun 1995 | 2 | 7 |
| Jul 1995 | 2 | 9 |
| Aug 1995 | 2 | 11 |
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 12 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 13 |
| Jan 1996 | 3 | 16 |
| Apr 1996 | 2 | 18 |
| May 1996 | 4 | 22 |
| Jun 1996 | 1 | 23 |
| Jul 1996 | 2 | 25 |
| Aug 1996 | 2 | 27 |
| Dec 1996 | 4 | 31 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 32 |
| Apr 1997 | 2 | 34 |
| Jul 1997 | 1 | 35 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 36 |
| Dec 1997 | 1 | 37 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 38 |
| Feb 1998 | 1 | 39 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 40 |
| Nov 1998 | 2 | 42 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 43 |
| Feb 1999 | 2 | 45 |
| Mar 1999 | 3 | 48 |
| Jun 1999 | 2 | 50 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 51 |
| Oct 1999 | 2 | 53 |
| Jan 2000 | 3 | 56 |
| Apr 2000 | 2 | 58 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 59 |
| Jul 2000 | 2 | 61 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 62 |
| Dec 2000 | 2 | 64 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 65 |
| Feb 2002 | 1 | 66 |
| Jun 2002 | 1 | 67 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 68 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 69 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 70 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 71 |
| Jul 2007 | 1 | 72 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 73 |
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.
3 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
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING
There is no summary currently available
THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
HEADLIGHTS GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND IS PRECEDED BY FLICKERING AND/OR BLINKING WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHICH INCREASES MY RISK OF A CRASH. ALSO NOTE A BURNING SMELL FROM VENTS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MY VEHICLE IS A 1991 COUGAR AND I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. NOTED RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM ON 1992 AND 1993 MODELS NOT FOR 1991. CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY MODEL SINCE IT HAS THE SAME ISSUE AS 1992 AND 1993 COUGARS. WAS TOLD NO RECALL FOR THIS AND TO PAY TO GET IT FIX MYSELF. THEY WOULD REPORT PROBLEM TO PROPER DEPARTMENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT. RECALL NUMBER 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) WAS FOUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 141,000.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IT IS NOT FIXED YET BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED CAR WAS REVVING WHEN STARTING IT UP. WHEN PUTTING IT IN DRIVE IN WENT DOWN SOMEWHAT. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF. THIS HAPPENED ON 8-31-05. BACK IN 1998 THE CONTACT WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SHE TOOK IT TO A DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED A CHIP THAT HAD BROKEN UNDER THE HOOD. SHE FELT THIS WAS SAME PROBLEM THAT SHE EXPERIENCED IN 1998. THE CONTACT WAS PLANNING TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A DEALER CLOSE TO HER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SHE WAS NOT GOING TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE SHE WAS AFRAID. SHE WILL HAVE IT TOWED.*AK UPDATED 11/2/2005 - *NM
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MAKING NOISES SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PARTS. *SC *JB
THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS WELL. BUT EVER SO OFTEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ENGINE WILL STALL, AND THEN IT WILL CRANK RIGHT UP. LUCKY FOR ME IT HASN'T STALLED WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH A SEMI BARRELING DOWN ON ME.
VEHICLE WAS ACTING SLUGGISH AND WHITE MOKE CAME FORM TAILPIPE. VEHICLE WAS GOING 35MPH AND OVERHEATED, CAUSING DRIVER TO PULL OVER. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT CONTINUING TO DRIVE WILL CAUSE HEAD TO WARP. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *TT
CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *JG
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
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
SUBJECT REGARDING CLIMATE CONTROL - EATC - BLOWER MOTOR CONTROL SERVICE TIPS. *JB
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
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 |
| 1991Viewing | 73 | 3 | 2 | 61.0 |
| 1990 | 86 | 3 | 5 | 64.9 |
| 1989 | 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.