1999 Mercury Cougar Body & structure Problems

I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY CAR WASHED AND RUST PROOFED DURING THE WINTER EVER 2 WEEKS. LAST DECEMBER THE PAINT UNDER THE BOTTOM OF BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER DOORS STARTED HAVING THE PAINT BUBBLE UP ON BOTH ROCKER PANELS. IT STARTED BUBBLING UP THEN CURLING AND THE PAIN STARTED COMING OFF. IVE SEEN MANY OTHER COUGARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND FEEL IT IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE PAINT THAT WAS USED OR SOMETHING MISSING FROM THE PAINT JOB THAT WAS DONE

NHTSA ID

10724832

Incident

Dec 11, 2014

Mileage

175,000 mi

SUNROOFS ON THE 1999 TO 2001 MERCURY COUGARS SEEM TO BREAK WITH ALOT OF FREQUENCY. ONE DAY THEY SEEM TO WORK AND THEN FOR NO REASON THEY BREAK. INCLUDED IS A WEBSITE WITH OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD/MERCURY SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW OF USING PLASTIC TRACKS FOR THE SUNROOF. HERE'S A LINK TO THE SITE WITH COMPLAINTS HTTP://WWW.COUGARSUNROOF.COM/ *TR

NHTSA ID

10272717

Incident

Feb 13, 2007

Mileage

113,000 mi

THE PLASTIC SUNROOF TRANSPORT MECHANISM HAS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME DURING THE LIFE OF THIS CAR (I AM THE ONLY OWNER). THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED EARLY IN MY OWNERSHIP AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP THAT FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME HAS REFUSED TO FIX IT AGAIN CITING A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM IS A WELL KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT IN THE 1999 AND 2000 MODEL YEAR MERCURY COUGARS AND WAS ADDRESSED IN THE 2001 MODEL YEAR DESIGN. THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS IS UNCONSCIONABLE CONSIDERING THE FACTS REGARDING THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT CLEAR KNOWLEDGE OF THESE ISSUES OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE SHOULD HAVE NECESSITATED A RECALL LONG PRIOR TO THIS AND BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A RECALL I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241104

Incident

Sep 5, 2008

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR AUTOMATIC V6. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. LIKE OTHER 1999 ' 2000 MERCURY COUGAR OWNERS I WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH MORE PROBLEMS THAN CAN COST EFFECTIVELY BE FIXED. MY LIST OF BROKEN ITEMS INCLUDE THE RADIO, POWER WINDOW REGULATOR, O2 SENSORS, TRANSMISSION AT 59,000 MILES, DASHBOARD LIGHTS (LOW COOLANT AND CHECK ENGINE), DOOR/WINDOW LEAKY SEAL ISSUES, ENGINE MISFIRE (DECREASED ACCELERATION) AND NOW MY CRUISE CONTROL AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. UPON RESEARCHING THE RECALL FOR CRUISE CONTROL FIRES DEALING WITH FORD PRODUCTS I FOUND THAT I AM AMONG OTHER DISGRUNTLED COUGAR OWNERS. FORD/MERCURY OR FORD TECHNICIANS HAVE NOT DONE A SATISFACTORY JOB LETTING OWNERS KNOW OF RECALLS THAT NEED ATTENTION. MY LATEST CONCERN IS THAT MY COUGAR MIGHT START ON FIRE, PER MY COMPLAINT WITH FORD; THEY SEE NO THREAT WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ISSUES AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE NHTSA WITH MY COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222903

Incident

Mar 15, 2008

1999 MERCURY COUGAR LEAKS WATER INTO HATCH AREA DIRECTLY ONTO THE INTERIOR EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRING AND CONNECTIONS FOR TAIL LIGHTS AND HATCH RELEASE. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE SOURCE OF LEAK AND THEREFORE CANNOT REPAIR. MERCURY WILL NOT RELEASE BLUEPRINTS OF SHEET METAL LAYOUT TO HELP IN DETERMINING WHERE WATER LEAK MIGHT BE ORIGINATING. NEITHER DID MERCURY COVER DIAGNOSIS AND WILL NOT COVER REPAIR EVEN IF PROBLEM SOURCE WAS IDENTIFIED. SIGNIFICANT WATER INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND DIRECTLY ON EXPOSED ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS COULD EASILY RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC FIRE HAZARD AND LOSS OF LIFE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10159319

Incident

May 9, 2006

Mileage

200 mi

MOONROOF ON A 99 COUGAR DOESN'T WORK. WASN'T MUCH OF A PROBLEM UNTIL THE ROOF FLEW UP AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD OF THE PERSON BEHIND ME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10156086

Incident

Apr 10, 2006

Mileage

89,899 mi

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE CONTACT'S SON DROVE THE VEHICLE THE HOOD LATCH BROKE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY UP AND SHATTER THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED SERVICE DEALER, BUT THEY STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL, AND THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10135460

Incident

Dec 4, 2004

1999 MERCURY COUGAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEAKERS, BATTERY EQUIPMENT, BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING SHE NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO FIND A MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED ALL FOR ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10119217

Incident

Jun 23, 2000

MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH 1999 MERCURY COUGAR. *MR THE VEHICLE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ON THREE OCCASIONS. THERE WERE ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A CREDITED AMOUNT OF FUNDS AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE BATTERY, BRAKES AND ADDITIONAL EXPENSES. OTHER PROBLEM ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE NEW WHEELS WERE DEFECTIVE (CORRODED AND FROZEN), THE BRAKE SENSOR SNAPPED OFF OF THE WHEEL, THE CD PLAYER WAS SKIPPING, THE HATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE PROPERLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE, THE KEYLESS ENTRY WITH ANTI-THEFT WAS INOPERATIVE, THERE WAS ROUGH IDLE, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD STICK, THE CUP HOLDER DID NOT SHUT, THE HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN, AND THE LIGHTS WOULD DIM AND OR BRIGHTEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10075877

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

I OWN A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN JANUARY OF 2003 WITH 32,000 MILES ON THE CAR. TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR THE ALTERNATOR DIED, WHICH IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. BUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS AFTER THAT, MY POWER SUNROOF BROKE, WHICH IS ALSO A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE IT COST ME OVER $1200.00 WITH LABOR TO FIX. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY COUGAR OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SUNROOF BREAK BECAUSE THE 1999 AND 2000 COUGARS WERE MADE WITH PLASTIC RAILS THAT EASILY BREAK. THE 2001 AND 2002 COUGARS WERE MADE WITH METAL RAILS AND WORK FINE. THE PARTS THAT YOU ORDER NOW FOR THE 1999 AND 2000 COUGARS ARE METAL, SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY WASN'T THIS A RECALL, AND WHY SHOULD WE ALL HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND BREAKS ONLY BECAUSE IT IS POORLY MANUFACTURED? WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY I WOULD HAVE TO PUT INTO FIXING THE STOCK PARTS, SUCH AS THE ALTERNATOR, SUN ROOF, AND FUEL PUMP, AND REAR HATCH DOOR, WHICH ARE ALSO VERY COMMON PROBLEMS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016632

Incident

Feb 20, 2003

Mileage

33,000 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED A BLUE WIRE HANGING FROM THE VEHICLES FRONT. *JG

NHTSA ID

566017

Incident

Jul 18, 2001

WHEN CAR WAS PURCHASED WAS NOT TOLD THAT THE UINBODY RAIL WAS CUT AWAY OVER SUSPENSION/MTR.CROSSMEMBER MOUNT. FOUND THIS INFO OUT WHEN WE HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT WITH DAMANGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT .HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS RESOLVED SENCE 1/02 AND JACK GARRETT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING JUST KEPT GIVING ME A RUN AROUND.THIS CAR SHOULD OF NEVER BEEN SOLD IT IS UNSAFE AND ILLIEGAL TO SELL WITH THE FRAME BEING CUT AND A PIECE WELDED TO MAKE IT FIT,THE RAIL IS RUSTING. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR IT HAS BEEN A LIE FROM DATE OF PURCHASE EX. WAS TOLD HAD GREAT BREAKS GOT IT TO FL. HAD NO BRAKES 343.00 I HAVE SEVERAL RECEIPTS FOR ONE REPAIR AFTER ANOTHER.HAVE PICTURES OF THE UNIBODY,CERTFIED LETTER TO JACK GARRETT,PHONE BILLS WHERE I HAVE CALLED HIM LETTING HIM KNOW OF ALL THE PROBLEMS AND LIES HE TOLD US.*AK

NHTSA ID

761542

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CUP HOLDER HAD A DRINK INSIDE. CUP HOLDER WILL DUMP THE DRINK IN DRIVER'S LAP. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8008701

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

REMOTE CONTROL DOES NO LONGER UNLOCK DOORS. REMOTE CONTROL WAS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. RECALL 96V070000 ON LOCKS WAS DONE, IT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003944

Incident

Nov 10, 2001

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE CONTENTS MY CUP IN THE CUP HOLDER (USUALLY HOT TEA) SPILLS INTO MY DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. 30-35 MI P/HR IS THE MINIMUM SPEED THAT I'VE NOTICED. THIS DISTRACTION CAUSES ME TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO STRAIGHTEN THE CUP TO STOP THE SPILLAGE. AT TIMES I'VE FOUND MYSELF SWERVING A BIT IN THE TURN BECAUSE OF THE "INITIAL SHOCK" OF FEELING MY HOT BEVERAGE ON MY THIGH.*AK

NHTSA ID

756979

Incident

Oct 23, 2001

WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN WHEN DOOR CLOSED AND AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. CONSUMER NOTED THIS WAS NOT A FEATURE OF VEHICLE. KEY FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, CONSUMER REACHED INSIDE VEHICLE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK DOOR. DEALER STATED IF A NEW ALARM SYSTEM WAS PUT IN TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE, PROBLEM MIGHT BE CORRECTED. *AK AIR CONDITIONER TURNS ON AND OFF. RADIO WILL NOT COME ON AT TIMES. MOTOR WILL DIE OUT. ALARM WENT OFF, DOOR LOCK BY THEMSELVES. KEY WILL NOT CRANK VEHICLE AT TIMES. VEHICLE JUMPED AND JERKED ALMOST HITTING CONSUMERS SISTER WHO WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

891001

Incident

Jun 15, 2001

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING TEMPORARY CONTROL PROBLEMS, CONSUMER STATES ON SOME OCCASIONS THE ACCELERATOR WILL PAT HER FOOT JUST BEFORE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

560996

PASSENGER'S SEAT WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE UNLESS SEAT IS POSITIONED ALL WAY TO THE BACK CLOSELY TO REAR SEAT . *AK CONSUMER STATES THE SEAT IF UNLOCKED AND MOVED FOWARD WILL ONLY RELOCK WHEN PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR, THEN SEAT CAN BE ADJUSTED AND LOCKED FROM ANY POSITION, THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU CAN NOT LOCK THE SEAT IF ANYTHING IS PLACED BEHIND THE SEAT, IN TRYING TO LOCK THE SEAT CONSUMER STATES SHE HAS THE CRUSH HER GRANDCHILD'S FEET IN THE CAR SEAT, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A STRONG TO LIGHT GASOLINE ODOR, ALSO GAS PEDAL WILL STICK IN UP POSITION AND NEED STRONG PUSH TO RELEASE, DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICCALYLOCK AND UNLOCK AT ANY TIME, THE LOCKS WERE FINALLY REPLACED AND CONSUMER WAS GIVEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, CONSUMER STATES RADIO GOES OUT AND THE DISPLAY DISAPPEARS WHEN IT IS HOT.*JB

NHTSA ID

885241

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A STARTING PROBLEM, IT WOULD CRANK EXCESSIVELY BEFORE STARTING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BUT THAT ONLY TEMPORARILY SOLVED THE PROBLEM AS IT RETURNED SHORTLY AFTER REPLACING THE PUMP. NLM

NHTSA ID

560235

Incident

Dec 1, 1999

BRAKES MAKE INTERMITTENT LOUD GRINDING NOISES, DEALER CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID

785200

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS RANDOMLY WITHOUT APPLICATION. THIS HAPPENS WITH THE IGNITION ON OR OFF. DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO CORRECT PROBLEM THREE TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR LAST 18 MONTHS.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

874666

REMOTE WILL NOT WORK ON TRUNK RELEASE NOR WILL THE RELEASE FROM THE INSIDE WORK. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT 3 TIMES AND ALWAYS THE SAME ANSWER. DON'T KNOW WHY IT WON'T OPEN. PANEL HAS BEEN REPLACED, STILL WILL NOT OPEN.*AK

NHTSA ID

734342

WHEEL NUT WRENCH IS DEFECTIVE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

554701

Incident

Feb 9, 2000

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WEATHER STRIP RIPPED, AND CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN DOOR. HAS HAD WEATHER STRIP REPLACED 5 TIMES, ORIGINAL STRIP WAS OKAY. IT WAS JUST LEAKING, BUT THE REPLACEMENT ONES ARE THE ONES THAT KEEP RIPPING. *AK

NHTSA ID

868680

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. *SLC

NHTSA ID

784693