Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 1994 Mercury Cougar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 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.
The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words
CAR OVERHEATS DUE TO A BAD HEAD GASKET. PER FORD'S TSB 00M10, THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN ISSUE THAT THEY FIXED ONLY IF THERE WAS A PROBLE DURING THE FIRST 7 YEARS AFTER THE WARRANTY INCEPTION DATE FOR 1994 AND 1995 VEHICLES WITH A 3.8L ENGINE. THIS DEFECT CAN EASILY RESULT IN A SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENGINE FIRE DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT IF OIL LEAKS ON THE ENGINE WHEN THE GASKET FAILS. *AK
WE BOUGHT A MERCURY COUGAR 1994 AND DISCOVERED WE HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND AN ENGINE FOR THE V6 MODEL AT A REASONABLE PRICE. WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS 1994 MODEL IS FAMOUS FOR BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. *LA
ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 87,000 MILES UNDER RECALL FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE. 30,000 MILES LATER ENGINE HEAD BLEW UP AGAIN DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF A HELICOIL IN THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE. THIS HELICOIL WAS PRESENT IN THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE FROM THE FACTORY. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE, AS THE HEAD SHOULD HAVE BEEN MACHINED BY THE FACTORY NOT JUST HAVE A HELICOIL STUFFED IN. THIS IIS THE CAUSE OF THE NEW FAILURE AND FOR REFUSES TO REPAIR. *NLM
ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 87,000 MILES UNDER A RECALL. DUE TO A SPARK PLUG THAT BUSTED THROUGH THE ENGINE. 30,000 MILES LATER, ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. *AK
THE HEAD GASKET BLEW DUE TO A FAILED PART IN THE ENGINE. *JB PH *JB
THE ENGINE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET. THIS PROBLEM WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL. *CB *NLM
THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *JB
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 1994 MERCURY COUGAR WITH 33,465 MILES AS OF MAR 4, 2002. AND THERE WAS A GENERAL RECALL ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM IN QUESTION WHICH INVOLVES THE POTENTIAL FOR A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET(S).AT THE TIME OF THE NOTICE THIS CONDITION WAS NOT EXPERIENCED AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. HOWEVER THIS CONDITION HAS NOW DEVELOPED AND IS CAUSING SEVERE ENGINE OVER HEATING. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL MERCURY DEALER AND THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE DIAGNOSIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED WITH THE REPAIR REQUIRING A COMPLETE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE TAKE DOWN AND REBUILD COSTING 1400. AS OF THIS WRITING MY EFFORTS TO HAVE FORD MOTOR CO TO AGREE TO PICK-UP AND/OR AT LEAST ASSIST WITH THE PAYMENT OF THESE RELATED REPAIR FEES HAS BEEN DENIED. AND I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR REVIEW AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER.*JB
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE BUT FAILED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE SINCE THE SYMPTOMS INDICATED DID NOT EXIST. AFTER TWO YEARS THE VEHICLE'S LOW COOLANT LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE DIAGNOSIS SHOWED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED PREMATURELY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE MONIES SPENT ON REPAIRS. *YH THE WATER PUMP AND THE RADIATOR HAD LEAKED. *SCC
HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK IN CRANKSHAFT, CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. FORD REFUSED TO PAY FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED PAID OUT OF POCKET OONLY TO FIND OUT RECAL 99B29. YOUR WEBSITE SHOWED TSB # 00M10 SEQUENCE # 625 - INFO REGARDING ENGINE REPLACEMENTS WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM*YH. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON MOST OF THE TIME, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
DEALER SAID ENGINE COULD CUT OFF WHEN THE VIBRATION OCCURS IN DRIVING. THIS WILL BE AN $1300 CAR REPAIR BILL!*AK
AFTER TALKING TO THE MECHANIC AND FINDING OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MOTOR 92-96, I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUNS A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE FOR SIMILAR MAKES (WINSTAR,ETC..) I BELIEVE FORD RECOGNIZES THIS COMMON DEFECT BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. IT IS MY OPINION THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM.
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ENGINE OVERHEATED. SHE PULLED INTO A GASOLINE STATION, AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T START UP. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN.*AK
COOLANT LIGHT STARTED STAYING ON. VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE CUTTING OFF. SERVICE WAS KEPT UP. A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED FOR HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. DEALER DIDN'T GIVE OKAY FOR RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE MILEAGE HAD EXCEEDED 100,000 MILES. *AK *SLC
I RECEIVED SERVICE BULLETIN #00M10 FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN JULY 2000. I WAS ALREADY OVER THE ALLOTTED MILEAGE ALLOWED TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I WAS NOTIFIED IN TIME TO HAVE THIS KNOWN FAILURE REPAIRED IN THE ALLOTTED TIME FRAME. I CONTACTED THE DEALER REGARDING THIS PROBLEM 2/13/01 AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME "TOO BAD". I ALSO CONTACTED THE DEALER REGARDING THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM WHEN IT FIRST OCCURRED AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT SERVICE BULLETIN #BC0962941001. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN FOR INSPECTION THAT WOULD COST $150.00. *AK
VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ENGINE HEAD GASKETS, AND REMEDY HAS FAILED.*AK THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED RECENTLY FOR RECALL ON POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET/LOW COOLANT PROBLEM.
RECALL # NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER HAD OVER 100,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WAS ALMOST 7 YEARS OLD. DEALER COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM FOR RECALL. *AK
RADIATOR FAILED BETWEEN PLASTIC SIDES AND ALUMINUM CORE. THIS IS THE FIFTH FORD RADIATOR OF THE SAME CONSTRUCTION IN THE 1994-1995 MODEL YEARS I HAVE HAD FAIL. *AK
FORD SENT LETTER STATING THAT HEAD GASKETS MAY HAVE DEFECT AND CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE COSTING $3,000 TO $4,OOO TO REPAIR. FORD HAS GIVEN ME FIVE MONTHS FOR THE CAR TO FAIL OR BUY A NEW FORD, FORD WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR THE DEVALUATION OF THE CAR DUE TO THIS LETTER AT TIME OF TRADE IN. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED WHILE TRAVELING. REPAIRS WERE DONE AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. A FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS RECEIVED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS OVER THE 100,000 MILE LIMIT BY 11 MILES. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. AFTER MUCH TIME HAD PASSED AND THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED, OWNER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING HEAD GASKET FAILURES. *AK *ML
THE CARS ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED(SO THEY SAID) ON JULY 1997 AND NOW THE ENGINE IS GONE AGAIN. THE SPEED CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES 4 TIMES ALREADY. THE DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THE WINDOW SOMETIMES DOES NOT WORK THE WINDOWS ARE POWER AND WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN.ALSO THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED ALSO THE CAR HAS TIRE VIBRATION THANK YOU THIS CAR IS NOW BROKE DOWN AGAIN AND WE STILL ARE MAKING PAYMENTS I CALLED THE DEALER ON 4-5-2000 AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LOOKING AT OUR CAR PROBLEMS. *AK
THE INFAMOUS 3.8L V6 HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE AUTOMOBILE IS A WELL MAINTAINED 94 COUGAR WITH 65,915 MILES ON IT. IT SHOULD NOT EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AT THIS EARLY STAGE OF ITS LIFE. THEN, TO GO HIDE FROM THE PROBLEM AND NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT IS A DISGRACE. THEY CALL THEMSELVES A WORLD CLASS CORPORATION, THEY ARE, THIRD WORLD. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .