Owners filed 86 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 3 times.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Electrical System › Ignition | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Electrical System | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Exterior Lighting › Headlights | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defect. THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Defect. THE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. THIS CAUSES CHANGED WIPER PATTERNS, OR THE WIPERS MAY JAM IF TWO OF THE THREE NUTS COME OFF.
Risk. CHANGES IN THE WIPER PATTERN OR JAMMING OF THE WIPERSWOULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILTY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Remedy. APPLY TORQUE RETENTION MATERIAL TO WIPER MOTOR STUDS AND NUTS AND RETORQUE.
Defect. BATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY.
Risk. CABLE PROTECTIVE COVERING AND INSULATION COULD WEAR THROUGH AND CAUSE A DIRECT SHORT TO GROUND, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING OF THE CABLE INSULATION AND POSSIBLY A UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy. REPLACE BATTERY TO STARTER CABLE WITH CORRECT LENGTH CABLE.
SEAT BELT DOESN'T STAY LOCKED AND LATCH BROKE, AUTOMATIC HEAD LIGHTS DON'T WORK THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DON'T WORK AND AS SOON AS IS GETS SO HOT IT VAPER LOCKS A LOT
AFTER STARTING VEHICLE FLICKERING ON OFF OF DASH LIGHTS,PANEL COMPLETELY OUT AND NOW WILL NOT COME BACK ON,CREATING AN ISSUE DRIVING,UNABLE TO SEE SPEED,MILAGE GAS USAGE,WHEN CHECKING UNDER HOOD I WAS GIVEN AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK,THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING,IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF MOTOR
HEAVY TRAFFIC ON STATE HIGHWAY ENGINE OVERHEATING ALARM ACTIVATED,INCIDENT HAS OCCURED TWICE,IN TRAFFIC,EVERYTHING HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND I HAD TO PULL OFF OF HIGHWAY, OTHER COMPLAINT DASH PANEL LIGHTS OUT WITH DEFINITELY ELECTRICAL ISSUE,ALMOST WILL NOT START,THIS OCCURED WHILE DRIVING AND NOW EILL NOT COME BACK ON AT ALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON AND WITHIN SECONDS THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THE FIRE ORIGINATED AT A FUSE BOX LOCATED IN THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
THE CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND ACCELERATED WAY TOO FAST AND HE BOLTED FORWARD STRIKING A CONCRETE BARRIER. *DT CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL LETTER REGARDING RESULTS FROM INCIDENT. *TGW 04/06/10 THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
TWO YEARS AGO THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER NHTSA # 96V071000. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONE YEAR LATER THE RECALLED COMPONENT FAILED AND THIS TIME AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONCE AGAIN THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NM
THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. *YH
PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS CANNOT REMAIN ON TRACK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON WINDOWS COMING OFF TRACK, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY HAVE FIXED OTHER COUGAR WITH THIS PROBLEM, CONSUMER STATED SHE WILL BE DRIVING AND THE WINDOWS WILL JUST FALL DOWN AT TIMES, WINDOWS WILL JUST COMPLETELY GO DOWN IN THE DOOR, CONSUMER HAS TO PAY SOMEONE TO TAKE THE DOOR APART TO GET THE WINDOWS OUT.*JB
IGNITION WENT BAD. FORD NO LONGER MAKES THE PART. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
HEADS/HEAD GASKETS HAD CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVER-HEAT AS WELL AS SHUT ITSELF DOWN DURING MOTION. PROBLEM WERE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF HOWARD PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOWING DAY USED CAR MANAGER DEAN SCHULATZ HAD OFFERED TO MAKE ANOTHER EVEN TRADE WITH ME TO A OLDSMOBILE ACHEIVA SO HE COULD PUT THE VEHICLE I WERE CURRENTLY OPERATTING BACK IN SERVICE AND DO THE REPAIR WORK NEEDED TO MAKE IT A SAFE VEHICLE FOR THE ROAD, BUT UPON FINDING OUT THAT I HAVE PUT THIS VEHICLE IN A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP HE HAD DECLINED TO COME FORTH WITH THE MONEY TO DO THE REPAIR WORK ,HE WOULD HAVE FOUND IF HE HAD SERVICED THISVEHICLE PRIOR TO THE SALE OF THIS VEHICLE.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING WATER AND ANIT-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE MOTOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO HEAT. SLC
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRAC/ IT COMPLETELY FAILED/ WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION, CAUSING LOSS OF SHOULDER RESTRAINT AND PROTECTION. POSSIBLY CAUSED BY FAILURE OF MOTOR OR BELTS.*AK
NO SUMMARY
ALSO THE FIRST YEAR I OWNED THE CAR, THE PAINT ON THE FRONT BUMPER STARTED COMING OFF, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOTOR WAS REPLACED.
REPLACED ACCUMULATOR ON THE ABS ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING 40+ MILES PER HOUR. FOLLOWING THIS PERFORMED ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND HYDRALIC AND PUMP ASSEMBLY LEAKING RENDERING THE CAR UNROADWORTHY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ADVISED THE ABS FAILURE IS A REPORTABLE SAFETY CONCERN AND MAY BE A BASIS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COST FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL NOT BEING ENGAGED, ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF. THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS AT 30-35 MPH. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE CONTROL VALVE AND CLEANED OUT THROTTLE BODY. *AK *ML
THIE 3.8 ENG IS THE SAME AS THE RECALLS ON OTHER FORD VEHICLE. *AK
THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON A FEW OCCASSION AND THEN LATER THEY WENT OFF AND ON. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT AND YOU WOULD CREATE OR BE IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS UNTIL MY BROTHER BORROWED THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND THE PROBLEM RETURNED . IT WAS VERY BAD THAT WEEK. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AT LEAST ONCE EVERYDAY. I CHANGED THE HEADLIGHT BULB AND CHECKED THE GROUNDS, THE WIRING SYSTEM FOR LOOSE WIRE. I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. I WENT TO THE PART STORE TO INQUIRE IF THEY HAD ANY IDEA WHAT COULD BE WRONG AND THEY SAID "IS IT A FORD PRODUCT". I SAID YES AND THEY SAID FORD HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHT SWITCHES. I COULDN'T IMAGINE ANYTHING AS SERIOUS AS THIS PROBLEM WHICH THEY CLASSIFIED AS A KNOW PROBLEM AND NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. I CHANGED THE LIGHT SWITCH AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. I CAN'T IMAGINE A DEFECT MORE DANGEROUS THAN HAVING YOUR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *AK
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO I CAN TAKE IT TO REPAIR THE FRONT SEAT BELT. ITS THE MANUAL LAP PART THAT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. *AK
20 of 86 complaints, reproduced as filed.
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 95 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2001 | 82 | 3 | 6 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2000 | 211 | 5 | 10 | 0 | Above average |
| 1999 | 454 | 9 | 3 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1997 | 76 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 1996 | 62 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1995 | 109 | 0 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 1994 | 137 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 1993 | 195 | 3 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 1992 | 92 | 3 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 1991 | 73 | 3 | 6 | 0 | Routine |
| 1990 — this page | 86 | 3 | 9 | 0 | Routine |
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Apr 25, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.