1999 Mercury Cougar Steering Problems

I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS INCLUDING BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING AND BACK WHEEL LOCKING UP. IT WAS RAINING, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY ABOUT 55 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY, THE HEAT/DEFROST STOPPED WORKING AND MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I JUST INSTALLED A BRAND NEW BATTERY JUST 6 DAYS BEFORE INCIDENT, ALTHOUGH THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE RAINING. THIS TIME IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY DUE TO THE HIGH SPEED I WAS DRIVING AND BECAUSE THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING MY WINDOWS STARTED TO FOG UP QUICKLY CAUSING MY VISIBILITY TO BE REDUCED DRAMATICALLY WHILE TRYING TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO STEER THE CAR AROUND A CURVE WITHOUT HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS SOON AS I WAS ABLE TO SEE AN EXIT I GOT OFF FREEWAY AND CAR DIED COMPLETELY DRIVING UP THE OFF RAMP. THANK GOD THERE WASN'T ANY VEHICLES BEHIND ME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AFTER WAITING ABOUT HALF HOUR CAR STARTED BACK UP, POWER STEERING & HEAT WAS BACK ON. I HAVE 2 YOUNG KIDS AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IN THIS CAR WITH THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10560074

Incident

Jan 12, 2014

Mileage

116,000 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

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

RACK & PINION. LOSS OF FLUID. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054326

Incident

Jan 11, 2004

Mileage

89,000 mi

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

POWER RACK AND PINION LEAKAGE OCCURRED AND RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WARRANTY 3 YRS. OR 36,000 MI. HAD EXPIRED ACCORDING TO DEALER. $800.00 AND 15 MONTHS LATER A "CLUNKING" NOISE IS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL DURING PARKING MANEUVERS. APPARENTLY, THEY ONLY WARRANTY THE PART FOR 12 MONTHS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023225

Incident

Oct 12, 2001

Mileage

45,000 mi

WHEN TURNING KEY IN IGNITION THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE, SOMETIMES VEHICLE WON'T START. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED BB VALVES, AND CLEANED ENGINE. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, LOOSE OUTER TIE RODS. *JB. *AK

NHTSA ID

10002564

WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL AFTER DRIVING THROUGH ANY WATER, EVEN VERY SMALL PUDDLES. WOULD HEAR SCREECHING NOISE, POWER STEERING FAILED FOR 20 SECOND OR SO, NEARLY CRASHED SEVERAL TIMES. LOCAL DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WHEN I TOOK IN FOR REPAIR. RECENTLY, WARRANTY EXPIRED, EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING GEAR REPLACED FOR $1000. STILL LOST POWER STEERING IN PUDDLES AFTER REPAIR. NEEDS SPLASH GUARD SIMILAR TO MERCURY MYSTIQUE, SEE MERCURY TSB 97-11-2 TECH SERVICE BULLETIN. SEVERE SAFETY HAZZARD! SHOULD BE RECALLED!!*AK

NHTSA ID

766704

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS POWER STEERING WILL LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DETERMINED THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003864

Incident

Mar 1, 1999

5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS COUGAR, THERE WAS A HUGE POWER STEERING LEAK. CALLED AROUND FOR SOMEONE TO FIX IT, BUT DEALER WAS THE ONLY CHOICE. WE WERE TOLD IT COULD BE A BAD PUMP AND THAT WOULD COST $450 TO FIX. THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID THE WHOLE GEAR WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST US $700. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT RACK AND PINION GEAR SHOULD NOT GO BAD ON A 2 YEAR OLD CAR. WE ALSO CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, WHO DID NOTHING TO HELP US. WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK. DEALER ALSO FAILED TO NOTIFY US OF 5 OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON THIS CAR. THEN, 2 DAYS AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM STEERING BEING FIXED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT AND STRANDED OUR 19 YEAR DAUGHTER AT 2 IN THE MORNING. THIS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO ONE OF THE RECALLED ITEMS. THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE FIXED THIS DURING THE 3 DAYS WHEN THEY HAD THE CAR .*AK

NHTSA ID

755600

Incident

Dec 3, 2001

THE ENGINE WILL KILL WITHOUT ANY INDICATIONS AT HIGH SPEEDS OF 50+ MPH. WHEN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO HIT THE BRAKES OR STEER, THEY BOTH LOCK UP AND THAT IS WHEN I DISCOVER THAT THE CAR IS DEAD. LUCKILY, I NEVER NEEDED TO USE MY BRAKES OR STEERING WHEN IT HAPPENED, I COASTED THROUGH TRAFFIC WHILE HAVING TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD IT FOR TWO WEEKS, THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FAIL FOR THEM, YET IT STILL READS AS IF THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT ON ALL OF THEIR DIAGNOSTICS. IT IS UNDER WARRANTY AND FORD IS NOT OFFERING TO REPLACE OR REIMBURSE ME FOR THE AUTOMOBILE. THEY ACTUALLY TOLD ME TO COME PICK IT UP AND DRIVE IT TILL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SHOULD TRAFFIC HAD BEEN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME, I COULD BE DEAD, MY BABY COULD BE DEAD AND WHOMEVER I HIT COULD BE DEAD. YET FORD IS TAKING LITTLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

753708

Incident

Oct 16, 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

WHENEVER YOU HIT A PUDDLE SOMETIMES THE WATER HITS SOMETHING UNDER THE CAR WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES AWAY, I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR I HAD TO SLOW DOWN FAST BEFORE HITTING THE CURB, 4 OR 5 MIN LATER THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPEND ON A CAR WASH.*AK

NHTSA ID

743791

Incident

Mar 25, 2001

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING WHEN DRIVING OVER A WATER PUDDLE, AND INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING MALFUNCTION TO INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. *AK BOTH SIDE MIRRORS FELL OFF. THE CD AND THE RADIO ARE NOT OPERATIONAL. THE RADIATOR HOSE BROKE AFTER 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE BACK WINDOW WIPER FAILED. THE SUN ROOF FAILED. THIS VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

874753

Incident

Sep 15, 2000

POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND PUDDLE IS DRIVEN THROUGH, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. BATTERY ALERT LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD.THIS DEFECT FIRST SURFACED IN JUNE OF 1999, AND WAS CALLED A "SERPENTINE BELT" FAILURE AND REPAIRED . THE PROBLEM HAS NOW RETURNED AND CAUSES A SERIOUS LOSS OF CONTROL OF AUTO.

NHTSA ID

731721

Incident

Sep 16, 2000

STEERING TIE ROD BROKE WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED. BOLT SHEARED OFF. WOULD OF BEEN MAJOR ACCIDENT IF AT HIGHER SPEED. LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL.*AK

NHTSA ID

725248

Incident

Jul 4, 2000

IN RAIN, IF YOU HIT A PUDDLE WATER SPLASHES, HITS THE BATTERY,& THE POWER STEERING DIES. DEALER SAYS MUST WAIT FOR MANUFACTURER TO SEND RECALL NOTICE. HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT TWICE! *AK

NHTSA ID

724928

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS FALLING APART WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, STEERING MAKES LOUD SOUND WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, TRUNK WON'T OPEN UNLESS HIT NUMEROUS TIMES FROM REMOTE OR INSIDE.

NHTSA ID

718229

Incident

Nov 30, 1999

WHEN TURNING A CORNER ON WET PAVEMENT, THE STEERING WHEEL / COLUMN LOCKS UP FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

847755

Incident

Sep 11, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING RACK BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

837835