1999 Mercury Cougar Brakes Problems

CALIPERS CONSTANTLY FALLS OFF CAUSING WHEEL TO LOCK UP

NHTSA ID

10894211

Incident

Jan 15, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: (MANAGEMENT) I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND WAS HONKED AT BY ANOTHER DRIVER WHO TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKES LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE THAT IS A CERTIFIED REPAIR PERSON LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT WASN'T THE LIGHT OR THE FUSE OR THE BRAKE SWITCH UNDER THE PEDAL AND THAT HE WAS 95% SURE IT WAS THE STOP LAMP EXTENSION HARNESS THAT HAS BRONZE TERMINALS AT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CONNECTOR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2004 AND UNDER A RECALL HAD THE BLOWER SWITCH RESISTOR REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE REASON THE RECALLS FOR THIS CAR ARE NOT SHOWING UP IS BECAUSE THE RECALLS ARE MORE THAN 15 YEARS OLD & THEY DON'T KEEP TRACK AFTER THAT. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR BEFORE BUT I HAVE HAD OVER $9,000 WORTH OF REPAIRS ON IT SINCE I'VE OWNED IT NOT INCLUDING THE NORMAL OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UP. I THINK FORD NEEDS TO APPROVE THIS FOR THE RECALL CONSIDERING THEY KNEW HOW MANY THINGS WERE WRONG WITH THE COUGARS AND THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE... NOT A SATISFIED CUSTOMER WITH A FORD PRODUCT! FIRST & LAST FORD PRODUCT I WILL EVER OWN IF THIS ISN'T FIXED TO MY SATISFACTION. THANK-YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10724828

Incident

Apr 16, 2015

Mileage

175,000 mi

BOUGHT CAR AT DEALER ON 02/05/01 SINCE THEN I'VE HAD TO REPAIR CAR ON TOO MANY OCCASIONS. HERE SOME OF THE REPAIRS I'VE HAD TO DO ON THIS CAR EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT. ON 3/01: BRAKES, 10/01: DEALERSHIP REPLACED BATTERY AND PERFORMED A RECALL,12/01: DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALTERNATOR, 05/02: BRAKE PADS, 04/04: WATER PUMP BELT, 09/04: REPLACED BATTER, 10/11/04: REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BELT, 10/14/04: REPLACED POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL, 12/04: REPLACED RADIO, 02/06: REPLACED MOTOR MOUNT, 01/07:REPLACED BATTERY, 02/07: REPLACED STRUT, 02/08: REPLACED SHOCK ABSORBER, 10/08: REPLACED BATTERY, 04/09: REPLACED BEARING, TRANSMISSION & ANCHOR ENGINE MOUNT AND DON'T HAVE THE DATE BUT ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THESE REPAIRS ARE WHAT I HAVE IN RECEIPTS YET FOR EXAMPLE I HAVE REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS MORE THAN ONCE. CURRENTLY THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF MY VEHICLE DO NOT FUNCTION: THE HORN NO LONGER WORKS, CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT FUNCTIONING, THE AIR CONDITIONER NO LONGER HEATS, & THE BRAKE LIGHT OF MY VEHICLE REMAINED LIT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON AND NOW HAVE FAILED TO TURN OUT (LAMP SOCKET IS BURNT). *TR

NHTSA ID

10294762

Incident

Mar 19, 2001

BRAKES CONTINUE TO GRIND EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT. TRANSMISSION SURGES AND HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION CAUSING UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN SPEED. TRANSMISSION ALSO SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEARS RANDOMLY. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10205576

Incident

Jan 9, 2007

Mileage

73,000 mi

RECALL OF BRAKE PRESSURE CONTROL. FORD SERVICE CENTER STATES REPAIR WAS DONE ON 12-19-2000, BUT THERE IS NO RECORDS TO CONFIRM. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL SYSTEM RECALL, FORD STATES THAT THERE ISN'T ONE ON MY VEHICLE, HOWEVER, MY VECHICLE DISPLAYS THE SAME SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED UNDER RECALL 04V421000 AND THE CONTINUOUS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I HAVE HAD ALL SENSORS REPAIRED THAT CAME UP IN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING . ACCORDING TO LAST TEST DONE, READS FUEL IS RUNNING LEAN BUT CAN'T REPAIR BECAUSE NO CODE APPEARS FOR THAT TO SHOW WHERE PROBLEM LIES. I HAVE HAD FUEL SYSTEM FLUSHED TO HELP REMEDY PROBLEM. STILL HAVING ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10189652

Incident

Apr 24, 2007

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I FILED A COMPLAINT, I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BACK ! I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ITS BUMPING THE GAS PEDAL UP AND DOWN WHEN TRYING TO STOP WHICH IN TURN CAUSED ME TO BE IN A CAR CRASH IN DECEMBER 2006 IN CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. THERE IS A RECALL AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP~! I ALSO FEEL THAT SOMEONE SHOULD CONTACT MY HOME PHONE LISTED ON CONTACT FORM AND LET ME KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS MESS~! YOU CAN DRIVE THE DUMB CAR AND SEE WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT FOR ALL I CARE, JUST PLEASE CONTACT ME EITHER BY PHONE OR BY EMAIL AT LEAST . THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184695

Incident

Dec 8, 2006

Mileage

112,554 mi

I BOUGHT A 199 FORD MERCURY COUGAR AND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON DEC. 8TH, 2006 WHEN I TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES THEY STARTED MOVING ON THEIR OWN AND THE MOVEMENT WAS BRAKING UP AND DOWN I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND WRECKED AND I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM A CAR LOT. THIS CAR CONSTANTLY WHEN COLD DOES THIS AND IT ALSO SQUEAKS LIKE THERE IS TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE WHOLE CAR, THE BRAKES ARE STILL HAVING THAT SHUTTERING PROBLEM. CAN THIS BE FIXED?-I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR... IT HAS SINCE DONE THE SAME THINGS WITH THE BRAKING AGAIN AND IT SCARES ME BUT IT ONLY DOES IT WHEN IT IS COLD OUT ... *NM UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10181377

Incident

Dec 8, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE AT ALL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NEARLY GET REAR-ENDED WHILE BRAKING FROM TRAVELING 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #01V032000 PERTAINING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. SECONDLY, THE ENGINE HESITATED WHILE WARMING UP, ACCOMPANIED BY A ROUGH IDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID

10170664

Incident

Oct 12, 2006

Mileage

85,000 mi

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON AN ICY ROAD, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONSUMER HIT INTO A CURB. THE THROTTLE HAS STUCK INTERMITTENTLY SINCE AUGUST OF 2005. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE TWO RECALLS, #00V075000 REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES AND #99V194000 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147933

Incident

Jan 16, 2006

Mileage

62,200 mi

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V032000. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD A RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH. EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE HAD THE SAME ISSUES AS THE VEHICLES UNDER THE RECALL. THEY WILL NOT HONOR. OCTOBER 30, 2001 I HAD THE BRAKE SWITCH AND JUMPER HARNESS REPLACED. DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF MY EXTERIOR BRAKE LAMPS

NHTSA ID

10133579

Incident

Oct 30, 2001

Mileage

81,491 mi

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V032000; FORD ISSUED A BRAKE LIGHT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH THE BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED AND HAVE BEEN FIXED THREE (3) TIMES WITH CHARGES OF $402.47 INCURRED. *AK DEALER REPLACED BRAKE SWITCH CONNECTOR AND SWITCH. *TT *NM

NHTSA ID

10115598

Incident

Jun 15, 2001

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

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR WHEN THE BRAKE WERE BEING APPLIED. ALSO, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK THE SWITCH HAD BECOME HOT AND MELTED PLASTIC FROM THE HOUSING AROUND METAL CONNECTOR PRONE. *SC

NHTSA ID

10097594

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

78,000 mi

PURCHASED CAR NEW, IN 57000 MILES WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE, 2 ALTERNATORS, 1 STARTER, 2 BATTERIES, ENTIRE RACK AND PINION, POWER STEERING PUMP, TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER, 4 SET OF BRAKES, 4 SETS OF TIRES PLUS TWO INDIVIDUAL TIRES ALL WITH SIDEWALL BLOW OUTS EXCEPT ONE PUNCTURE AND 2 HEADLIGHT SWITCHES, 2 CIG LIGHTERS. THE ENTIRE UPPER ENGINE GASKET SET HAD TO BE REPLACED TO GET TO AN INTAKE LEAK. THE HEAD LIGHTS AND FOGLIGHTS WORK ITERMITTANTLY, ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING ON AND OFF. CURRENTLY ONE HEADLIGHT IS OUT (LAMP IS GOOD) FOG LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING (TODAY) AND AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT IS INDICATING A PROBLEM AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10093261

Incident

Jul 1, 1999

Mileage

8,520 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED 3 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS. EACH TIME REQUIRING THE BEARING TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079184

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

Mileage

73,000 mi

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

MY CAR IS A LEMON. HAVE HAD A NEW ENGINE PUT IN IT 2 TIMES BECAUSE THE RODS SPUN. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE LIGHTS "FIXED" 3 TIMES, THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES, NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTERS TWICE. NEW POWER STEERING. TRANSMISSION DONE 3 TIMES. THERES DEFINANTLY MORE I JUST CANT THINK OF ALLLLLLL MY REPAIRS ON THIS 1999 COUGAR. I BOUGHT IT USED AND IT HAS NOW 98000 MILES CAUSE I DRIVE OUT OF STATE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10037305

Incident

Sep 19, 2001

Mileage

98,000 mi

I OWN A 99 MERCURY COUGAR, ORIGINAL OWNER. MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE FRONT BRAKES AND FOUND THE SENSOR WAS MISSING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE TO ONE OF THE TECH'S, HE SAID ALL 4 WHEELS SHOULD HAVE A SENSOR. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR THERE TODAY THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THE TECH COMPARED IT TO ANOTHER COUGAR AND FOUND NO SENSOR ON THE RIGHT FRONT. IF A COUGAR HAS ABS THERE WILL NOT BE ANY SENSORS, SO WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WAS COMPARING IT TO. NO BRAKES WEAR EVEN. THE ONLY WAY I WILL BE HAPPY IF SOMEONE SENDS ME A PICTURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN A TRUCK AND CAR TECH. FOR 30 YEARS AND HE SAID ALL FOUR WHEELS SHOULD HAVE A SENSOR. WHO ARE THEY KIDDING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018946

Incident

May 19, 2003

THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE DISC'S ARE NOTHING BUT A TOTAL PROBLEM. REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 30000 MILES. THE FRONT AT 38000 MILES. NOW THE FRONTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 52000 MILES. IT IS ABOUT TIME FOR FORD TO BUILD A RELIABLE CAR OR JUST QUIT MAKING CARS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018764

Incident

May 15, 2003

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE DEALER INDICATED THEAT BOLTS FELL OUT WHICH CAUSED BRAKES TO LOCK UP. *JB. *AK

NHTSA ID

10003656

Mileage

36,000 mi

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY '99 COUGAR SUCH AS, FAILURE OF MY PAT SYSTEM AND COMPUTER SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES WHICH THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MY STARTER REPLACED TWICE. I HAVE HAD DEFECTS IN SEVERAL SENSORS, WHICH IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THAT I HAD TO PAY A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THEM TO REPAIR. MY FAN HAS EVEN BLOWN OUT. THERE IS A BURNING SMELL WHENEVER I TURN ON MY HEATER THAT NONE OF THE DEALERS CAN'T SEEM TO SMELL. I ALSO HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW RADIATOR. WHEN MY COMPUTER WENT OUT MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY MADE ME PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, PARTS, AND LABOR OUT OF MY POCKET. THIS IS NOT ALL. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP, FORD MOTOR CO. AND EVEN HAD SOMEONE FROM FORD TO INVESTIGATE ALL OF THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH MY VEHICLE. THEY HAVE BEEN RUDE TO ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REPAIRS OF MY VEHICLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THE PURCHASE OF A MERCURY COUGAR TO ANYONE.

NHTSA ID

10000023

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

NHTSA RECALL 01V032000 CONCERNING BRAKE LAMP; BRAKE LIGHTS STILL FAIL, NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. OWNER INDICATES THAT THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8015749

BRAKE CALIPERS STICK FREQUENTLY, LEAVING VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES.HAD PARTS REPLACED. HOWEVER,PROBLEM REOCCURRED. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013009

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

566017

Incident

Jul 18, 2001

I FEEL LIKE SUCH AN IDIOT BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS CAR!! UNBELIEVEABLE PROBLEMS, AND NOW I HAVE TO TRY TO SELL THIS CAR. I PAID $16000 FOR THIS CRAP, AND THEN I HAD TO PAY $300 BECAUSE THE ROTORS WARPED ON MY REAR BRAKES, AND THEN THE TRACK ON MY SUNROOF COMPLETLEY BROKE, AND THAT IS GOING TO COST ME AT LEAST $800. FORD/MERCURY SHOULD BE SUED FOR MAKING A TOTALLY CRAPPY CAR. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS!!!! THANKS, ROSIE

NHTSA ID

761527