Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2006
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IT IS NOT FIXED YET BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10149363
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2005
1991 Mercury Cougar Engine Problems
Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Engine 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.
17
Latest Feb 3, 2006
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.
23%
of 73 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.
1
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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Mercury Cougar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 engine
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
EngineVisibility
Filed Jan 15, 2004
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 10069593
- Incident
- Jun 15, 2003
- Mileage
- 95,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 28, 2002
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
- NHTSA ID
- 8012955
- Incident
- Jun 10, 2002
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 2002
CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *JG
- NHTSA ID
- 564227
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 2002
WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, CONSUMER PULLED INTO SERVICE STATION TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE SERVICE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTATCED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 8001876
- Incident
- Jan 8, 2002
Engine
Filed Dec 22, 2000
HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE, KEY SWITCH PROB. RECALL REPAIR, HEATER BLOWS COLD, CAR DIED AFTER EXCEL. RESTARTED AND DROVE 50 FT. DIED AGAIN AND KNOW IN SHOP & BEEN TOLD GASKETS OR BUSTED HEAD. I LOVE THIS CAR AND HAVE TAKEN EXTRA CARE, ENGINE AND CAR KEEP SPOTLESS, CAR IS NEVER LEFT OUTSIDE. ALL TOOK PLACE WITHIN 1 MO. IS IT ALL TIED TOGETHER WITH ONE THING? *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 738145
- Incident
- Nov 27, 2000
Engine
Filed Jul 25, 2000
WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP,TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WICH HAPPENED WITHOUT A WARNING. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 865979
- Incident
- Jul 19, 2000
Engine
Filed Jul 7, 2000
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 725106
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2000
Engine
Filed May 15, 2000
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 722729
- Incident
- Sep 1, 1998
EngineSeat belts
Filed Apr 29, 2000
THE HEAD GASKET WENT BAD EVEN AFTER ROUTINE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND ONLY 80,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND SEVERAL MECHANICS THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON. I WAS FORTUNATE BECAUSE THE HEADS AND BLOCK WERE NOT CRACKED UNLIKE THE MAJORITY OF THE ONES THAT ARE SERVICED. IT SEEMS THAT IF THE 3.8 LITER HAS THIS PROBLEM THEN MAYBE THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR QUALITY PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS WHEN HAVING THIS FIXED, THE STEERING PUMP FRONT GASKET USUALLY BREAKS WHEN THE BELT IS REMOVED, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THIS ENGINE I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS OR ANY FORD VEHICLES WITH A 3.8 LITER ENGINE. ALSO WHY DON'T THE SEAT BELTS LOCK? *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 722078
- Incident
- Aug 18, 1999
Engine
Filed Apr 26, 2000
ENGINE HEAD GAKSET NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AT 60,000 MILES. THE FORD DEALER "SHAVED" THE GASKET. THE HEAD GASKET IS NOW SHOT AT 98,000 MILES. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD VIA THE INTERNET AND PHONE BUT HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS. FORD HAS ADMITTED TO A DEFECT IN THIS SAME ENGINE IN THE 1994-95 TAURUSES, SABLES, CONTINENTALS, COUGARS, THUNDERBIRDS, MUSTANGS AND WINDSTARS AND OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT AND/OR MONEY TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE (SEE APRIL 26, 2000 EDITION OF DETROIT NEWS AUTO SECTION - WWW.DETNEWS.COM). *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 721947
- Incident
- Aug 1, 1996
Engine
Filed Oct 29, 1999
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE, RECALL ON OTHER MODELS HOWEVER COUGAR WAS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH SAME ENGINE AS RECALL MODELS, DENIED RECALL REPAIR (98M01). MJS
- NHTSA ID
- 549571
- Incident
- Jun 8, 1999
Engine
Filed Mar 16, 1999
BOTH HEAD GASKETS BLOWN; HOWEVER, COMPLAINTS RE; FAULTY TEMPERATURE GUAGE SUBMITTED TO DEALER SINCE 10/15/1993. REPAIR COST: $1390.92 (INCL. TAX).
- NHTSA ID
- 704514
- Incident
- Mar 11, 1999
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 1999
MOUNTS HAVE FAILED, SIMILAR TO 87 & 92 FORD TAURUS MODELS. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE 91 COUGAR FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM?...STRANGE COINCIDENCE. THANKS
- NHTSA ID
- 703764
- Incident
- Nov 1, 1998
Engine
Filed Oct 14, 1997
EGR VALVE AND SENSOR FAILED. NLM
- NHTSA ID
- 604450
- Incident
- Sep 6, 1997
Engine
Filed Apr 3, 1997
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT MADE A PUFFING SOUND AND CUT OFF, AFTER RESTARTING AND DRIVING ABOUT ONE BLOCK, THE ENGINE SUDDENDLY DIED. THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BY MECHANIC. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 810661
- Incident
- Mar 14, 1997
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 2, 1996
Fire reported
PARKED CAR AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK CONSUMER STATESVEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER IT WAS ON FIRE NEAR STEERING WHEEL AREA.*JB
- NHTSA ID
- 986389
- Incident
- Apr 17, 1996
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .