RoadVitals

2001 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.
82
Latest Aug 18, 2020
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.
13
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 26, 2001

What this page shows

Our database holds 82 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 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 82 · page 1 of 4

Fuel system
Filed Aug 18, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUTOFF AS THE OIL WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FUEL SENSOR, RELAY SENSOR, FUEL INJECTION SENOR AND MULTIPLE OTHER PARTS WERE REPLACED. DESPITE MULTIPLE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V421000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) WHICH WAS LINKED TO HER FAILURE. A DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ID
11350028
Incident
May 1, 2020
Mileage
116,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 30, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE FUEL LEVEL REACHED A HALF TANK OF GASOLINE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANS AXLE AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. COLUMBIA FORD LINCOLN HYUNDAI (700 7TH AVE, LONGVIEW, WA 98632) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000.

NHTSA ID
11342354
Incident
Mar 1, 2019
Mileage
136,000 mi
ElectricalFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Apr 14, 2020
Fire reported

BATTERY LIGHT IS ON AND HAS FOR AWHILE. LIGHTS KEEP BLOWING FUSES. AND TODAY I HAD TO RIP OUT A HEADLIGHT OR THE CAR WOULD HAVE SET ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11321151
Incident
Apr 14, 2020
Mileage
177,810 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 14, 2020

WELL HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS IS DRY ROTTED LIKE CRAZY THE CAR LOOSES POWER WHILE EXCELERATING WHEN BELOW 3/4 OF A TANK BRAKE FLUID/CLUTCH FLUID IS LEAKING DON'T KNOW WHY AND THE BATTERY LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ID
11321150
Incident
Apr 8, 2019
Mileage
173,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 6, 2017

THE SUNROOF JUST RELEASED FROM THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF I71 DOING 65MPH AND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF COUGAR

NHTSA ID
10993568
Incident
Mar 15, 2017
Mileage
146,246 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FLICKERED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ID
10956249
Incident
Aug 13, 2016
Mileage
129,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT, WITH THE HELP OF OTHER DRIVERS, HAD TO PHYSICALLY PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MOTOR BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID
10944316
Incident
Jan 10, 2017
Mileage
102,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 8, 2016

OVER PAST FEW WEEKS LOOSING ACCELERATION ESPECIALLY ON INCLINES AND HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMPS CAUSING NEAR COLLISSION AS I CAN'T SPEED UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED AND CAR BEHIND ME MUST BRAKE AT FAST SPEEDS. ENGINE LIGHT ON. MECHANIC SAYS CAN'T FIX AND CONTACT FORD. MY VIN # DOES NOT BRING UP RECALL BUT IT MATCHES RECALL NOTICE SUMMARY STATING CONTAMINATION OF FILTER IN FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) THI RECALL STATE 1999-2002 COUGARS.MINE IS 2001 BOUGHT NEW, UNDER 70,000 MI WITH NEW FUEL PUMP. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR WEEKS AND SCARED TO DRIVE MY ONLY CAR. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID
10883481
Incident
Jun 23, 2016
Mileage
69,900 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 7, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE ENGINE CHECK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V421000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,800.

NHTSA ID
10883445
Incident
Jun 23, 2015
Mileage
59,800 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 16, 2015

CAR STARTED HESITATING AND LOST POWER THEN STALLED OUT CAUSING TRAFFIC TO GET BACKED UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10706169
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Mileage
159,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO HESITATE AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V421000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,645.

NHTSA ID
10609561
Incident
Jan 1, 2013
Mileage
151,645 mi
Electrical
Filed May 21, 2014

KEY STICKS IN IGNITION SWITCH. SOMETIMES HALFWAY IN OR OUT. AFRAID TO DRIVE AS IT WILL PROBABLY MAKE CAR UNABLE TO START OR TAKE OUT IGNITION KEY. I AM ALSO WONDERING IF THIS COULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, SUCH AS SHUTTING ITSELF OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593220
Incident
May 5, 2014
Mileage
156,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 21, 2012

COOPER TRENDSETTER SE,P205/55/R16,INSIDE ONE TIRE IS A PILE OF POWDERED RUBBER/INSIDE WALL OF TIRE,RUBBER HAS CAME OFF AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT LOOKS LIKE BANDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10485371
Incident
Nov 20, 2012
Mileage
147,892 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 26, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V421000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT COMPLETE THE REPAIR BECAUSE SHE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED AND SHE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BUT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE PARTS HAD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. UPDATED 12/06/12*LJ UPDATED 12/07/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID
10482387
Incident
Oct 3, 2012
Mileage
111,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 21, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V421000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND WAS REPAIRED. AFTER SOMETIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START OR WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

NHTSA ID
10471696
Incident
Aug 16, 2012
Mileage
250,000 mi
ElectricalFuel systemVisibility
Filed Nov 14, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS AND OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V421000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN BACK FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES LED TO AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE, WHICH DRAINED THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF WAS JAMMED AND WOULD NOT LONGER OPEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
10435572
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Mileage
90,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 31, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A FUEL ODOR, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK AND BOTH FUEL STRAPS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID
10422793
Incident
Aug 24, 2011
Mileage
99,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 31, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND STRAPS WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10422721
Incident
Aug 26, 2011
Mileage
200,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 28, 2011
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT A PIECE OF THE METAL BATTERY CONNECTOR HAD MELTED. THE METAL CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING HER TO LOSE ALL POWER SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V031000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS BURNING AND SMOKING. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THE SECOND TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10384744
Incident
Feb 21, 2011
Airbags
Filed Jan 17, 2011
1 injury reported

DRIVING CAR TO CLASS LAST WEEK, RECENTLY BOUGHT IT WITHIN THE PAST YEAR. WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A PARKING GARAGE GOING MAYBE 5 MPH. WAS CREEPING UP INTO THE SPOT AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED OUT OF NOWHERE, CRACKING MY WINDSHIELD AND GETTING SMOKE AND AN AWFUL SMELL INTO MY CAR. I ALSO WILL BE WEARING A WRIST BRACE FOR THE NEXT 6 WEEKS DUE TO AN INJURY THAT THE AIRBAGS CAUSED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10376887
Incident
Jan 12, 2011
Mileage
128,000 mi
BrakesFuel systemOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Oct 30, 2009

VEHICLE QUITTING IN INTERSECTION AND CAR LOSING ALL POWER ENTERING GARAGE. VIBRATION AND PULLING TO RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EGR VALVE REPLACED TWICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290402
Incident
Oct 15, 2009
Mileage
79,888 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 23, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. ON JUNE 20, 2009, A PIECE OF THE SUN ROOF FELL OFF TRACK AND CAUSED THE SUN ROOF TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE SUN ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID
10274773
Incident
Jun 20, 2009
Mileage
124,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 23, 2008

WENT TO OPEN SUN ROOF DIDN'T WORK . I WENT TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST WAS TOLD OVER 1000.00 AND THIS A REALLY COMMON WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR EVEN WENT TO SALVAGE YARDS NO SUNROOFS THERE THEY EVEN SAID GOOD LUCK THAT FORD DID NOT MAKE THIS ANY GOOD THE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE SAME THING THEY CANT GET ONE IN FAST ENOUGH AND WHEN THEY DO ITS GONE THAT QUICK IF IT IS ANY GOOD MOST AREN'T. *TR

NHTSA ID
10246532
Incident
Oct 13, 2008
Mileage
61,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 2008
Fire reported

I AM NOT SURE WHO TO CONTACT WITH THIS, BUT I HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND I AM STILL A LITTLE UPSET ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. I OWNED A MERCURY COUGAR 2DR COUPE 2001. ONE NIGHT I WAS ALERTED BY A NEIGHBOR THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. MY FATHER STARTED PUTTING WATER ON THE CAR, AND I USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAD A CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE COME OUT AND CHECK THE VEHICLE. THEY ALREADY SENT ME A CHECK FOR WHAT THEY SAY THE VEHICLE WAS WORTH, AND I AM JUST NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. I KNOW THAT FORD HAD ISSUES WITH CARS CATCHING ON FIRE. I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THE INSURANCE COMPANY CAN CUT ME A CHECK FOR THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINE A CAUSE, WITH ONLY PICTURES. MY CAR STILL SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY 2 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS SITTING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ROUGHLY 8 HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I JUST HATE THE FACT THAT I AM HAVING TO TAKE A CAR I SPENT 13,000$ FOR, AND NOW I GET TO BUY SOMETHING WORTH 6,700$. I WAS SEARCHING ONLINE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VEHICLE FIRES, AND ALSO SAW WHERE IT SHOULD BE REPORTED AND THAT WHY I DECIDED TO WRITE THIS. THANK YOU, SETH GOODOWENS *TR

NHTSA ID
10243138
Incident
Sep 8, 2008
Mileage
73,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 9, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AND/OR WHEN DRIVING FORWARD, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE MUST BE RESTARTED AND OPERATES NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT OCCURRENCE. NO WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, BUT THE CONTACT HAD THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED TWO YEARS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE MADE UNDER THE RECALL, SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE NEW REPAIRS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID
10227130
Incident
Apr 15, 2008
Mileage
102,000 mi

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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