RoadVitals

1992 Mercury Cougar Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
92
Latest Sep 22, 2017
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Mar 17, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 92 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Mercury Cougar. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 92 · page 1 of 4

Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 22, 2017

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, SOMETIMES WILL BLINK BACK ON AND SOMETIMES NOT. VERY DANGEROUS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MUST PULL OVER AND WAIT EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME TO CONTINUE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11024943
Incident
Sep 18, 2017
Mileage
92,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jun 3, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD REMAIN STUCK AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT WOULD FAIL TO SECURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10723296
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Electrical
Filed Oct 1, 2013

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING SHORTS AND SPARKS. EFFECTING TURN SIGNALS, BLOWER MOTOR AND OTHER ELC. FORD ADVISED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED WITH A 1996 RECALL FOR THE SWITCH AND THAT IT WAS SERVICED AND REPLACED. YEA - REPLACED WITH A FAULTY ONE! FORD REP. SAID THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS AT ALL! *TR

NHTSA ID
10546447
Incident
Sep 12, 2013
Mileage
89,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 10, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET SPOKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10329769
Incident
Nov 13, 2009
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 10, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WILL SPORADICALLY FAIL AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 139,000.

NHTSA ID
10273325
Incident
Jun 4, 2008
Mileage
139,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 20, 2007

THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE CONSUMER'S 1992 MERCURY COUGAR WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. *CC EVENTUALLY THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF MORE THAN THEY REMAINED ON. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A RECALL WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM HE WAS HAVING WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE'S VIN AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THE CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE PART HIMSELF. THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH WAS A MOTORCRAFT, E6EB-11654-AA.*NM

NHTSA ID
10183725
Incident
Jan 25, 2007
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 22, 2006

TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT HER 1992 MERCURY COUGAR'S HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OFF AND ON. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE COULD BE SITTING, PARKED OR DRIVING, AND LIGHTS ALWAYS TURN OF BUT IF SHE TURNS THE SWITCH OFF AND ON THE LIGHTS TURN ON AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THIS STARTED HAPPENING BACK IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LAST YEAR. THE CONTACT SAID THAT SHE DID FIND THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH WAS ISSUED 10/08/99 FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS: SWITCH.

NHTSA ID
10176844
Incident
Jun 5, 2006
Suspension
Filed Jan 9, 2006

FRONT END SUSPENSION INCLUDING BALL JOINTS CAUSING FRONT END COLLAPSING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10147299
Incident
Nov 14, 2005
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 7, 2004

RECALL 99V275000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON /OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, AND/OR INTERMITTENTLY WOULD GO OFF AND COME BACK ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER FOUND THIS RECALL NUMBER ON NHTSA WEBSITE, CALLED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10103221
Incident
Aug 28, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 30, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH FRONT/REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NATIONAL, XT6000, SIZE 21570R15, DOT#DHM37777018. *AK A SECOND TIRE WAS REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE DEFORMITIES THAT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE ALONG WITH OTHER DIFFICULTIES. (TIRE MAKE/NATIONAL XT6000X) *SC

NHTSA ID
10081457
Incident
May 12, 2004
Mileage
42,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 2, 2004

ON TRIP TO OHIO ONE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE SECOND BECAME DEFORMED WHICH WOULD HAVE SHORTLY BLOWN EXCEPT IT WAS ON THE FRONT AND EXIBITED A DEFINITE WOBBLY . THE TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES ON THEM.MADE IN CANADA BY NATIONAL MODEL XT 6000. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079179
Incident
Jun 23, 2004
Mileage
43,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 26, 2003

RECALL 99 V275 000/HEADLIGHTS: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AND COMING BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 99V275 DUE TO VIN. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047606
Incident
Nov 23, 2003
Mileage
155,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 8, 2003

HEADLIGHTS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 99V275000; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10042566
Mileage
98,000 mi
Body & structureSteering
Filed Jun 5, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE 1992 MERCURY COUGAR INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT BELONGED TO MY FATHER, BUT HAD BEEN LOANED TO ME. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE PASSED OUT, POSSIBLY FROM LOW BLOOD SUGAR AND RAN THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT HE WAS GOING 50MPH, WHEN HE HIT A DIRT CULVERT THAT WAS ABOUT 5 FT HIGH. THE IMPACT CRUNCHED THE FRONT OF THE CAR AGAINST THE FIREWALL LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE METAL CROSS BARS IN THE TRUNK, BEHIND THE BACK SEAT SNAPPED, WHICH CAUSED EVERYTHING IN THE TRUNK TO FLY INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT FROM THE FLYING DEBREE. THE FORCE OF THE CROSS BARS SNAPPING, KNOCKED THE BACKSEAT COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE. IF A CHILD HAD BEEN IN THE CAR, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE STOOD A CHANCE OF SURVIVAL BECAUSE OF ALL THE ITEMS IN THE TRUNK SLAMMING INTO THE PASSENGER AREA.*AK

NHTSA ID
10021103
Incident
Apr 14, 2003
Mileage
120,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 31, 2003

THE HEAD LIGHTS TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014811
Incident
Mar 2, 2003
Transmission
Filed Sep 23, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH ON A ROAD, CABLE GOT STUCK BETWEEN THROTTLE, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. CONSUMER HAD THE PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. *AKTHE TRANSMISSION BOOST CABLE HAD BOKEN WHICH CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO STICK THEREFORE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT. *JG

NHTSA ID
8019196
Incident
Sep 6, 2002
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, AND THERE WAS ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER ENGINE ALSO, VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE .CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
8010976
Incident
Jun 3, 2002
Heating & air conditioningEngineInterior & seats
Filed Jun 4, 2002

WHEN I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK IT SEEMED FINE. WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR AFTER WORK I IDLED REALLY ROUGH I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MORE EXPENSIVE GAS I PUT INTO IT THE NIGHT BEFORE, SO I PROCEEDED TO THE GAS STATION TO LET THEM KNOW. THE CAR DROVE REALLY ROUGH ALL THE WAY THERE. A RED LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASH JUST BEFORE I GOT TO THE GAS STATION SAYING CHECK GAUGES. THE GAUGE SHOWED THAT THE CAR OVERHEATED. AFTER HAVING MY CAR WORKED ON ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO FOR A OVERHEATING PROBLEM, IT HAD BEEN RUNNING REALLY COOL, SO DIDN'T THINK I WOULD HAVE A OVERHEATING PROBLEM. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE FAN WORKED I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE CAME A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE THAT DISAPATED REALLY FAST AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE. CHECKED OIL THERE WAS NO WATER IN IT, BUT IT WAS LOW . I ADDED A QUART IN ORDER TO GET IT HOME. IT STILL HAD WHITE SMOKE OR STEAM COMING OUT THE TAIL PIPE. ALSO THE SEATS DO NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. THE AIRCONDITIONER DOES NOT GET COLD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT I SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT I NEED TO HAVE FIXED.

NHTSA ID
762625
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 18, 2002

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER OR GO OUT, THERE IS A RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO HEADLIGHTS.*SLC

NHTSA ID
8002464
Incident
Dec 1, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 4, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF, CONSUMER HAD TO WIGGLE SWITCH TO MAKE LIGHTS COME BACK ON, AND SOMETIMES THAT DID NOT WORK, LOST ALL LIGHTS, AND SMELLED WIRE BURNING. CONSUMER HAD LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATED EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE FLICKERING HAS STOPPED, THERE IS STILL A BURNING SMELL WHEN LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR AWHILE, CONSUMER ALSO HAD TROUBLE GETTING LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON DUE TO VIBRATION.*SLC

NHTSA ID
899824
Incident
Nov 15, 2001
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 23, 2001

ODOMETER JUST STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW CORRECT MILEAGE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
888974
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
Engine
Filed May 20, 2001

THIS ENGINE TYPE HAS HAD A HISTORY OF THIS REPORTED PROBLEM (HEAD GASKET FAILURE). I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL MECHANICS, AND THEY HAVE ALL REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING, ARE DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MO. CO., BUT THEY HAVE PROVIDED NO ANSWERS/ASSISTANCE, EVEN KNOWING OF THIS MAJOR DEFECT WITH THIS ENGINE TYPE. THIS FAILURE IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT, AND I WANT IT TO BE ON RECORD WITH EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX AT THEIR COST. FORD NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ENGINE DEFECT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, AND I EXPECT THAT I WILL BE FILING SUIT WITH THEM UNLESS THEY WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS. IF YOU AN SUGGEST ANY FURTHER ACTION I CAN TAKE, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT [email protected]. *AK

NHTSA ID
745542
Incident
May 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 13, 2001

HEAD GASKETS LEAKAGE WATER INTO CYLINDER, CAUSING PROBLEMS TO ENGINE PROFORMANCE-STALLING, DECREASED EXCELERATION, ETC. *AK

NHTSA ID
743990
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 30, 2001

HEADLIGHTS WILL FAIL AS CONSUMER IS DRIVING , SAME DEFECT AS IN RECALL 99V275000. BUT, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
884649
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 29, 2001

WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON, THEY COULD GO OUT FOR A COUPLE SECONDS JUST LIKE MENTIONED IN RECALL 99 V 275 000/HEADLIGHTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
884617
Incident
Mar 29, 2001

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.

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