1993 Mercury Cougar

Routine

Owners filed 195 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine76
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline17
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor11
000
Exterior Lighting › Headlights10
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings5
000
Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch5
110
Vehicle Speed Control4
100
Exterior Lighting4
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System4
000
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments3
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch99V275000
Filed Oct 12, 1999164,731 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING.

Risk. DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings97V159000
Filed Sep 22, 1997125,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.

Risk. THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.

Electrical System › Ignition96V071000
Filed Apr 25, 19967,900,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 29, 201738,500 milesMS

HEAD LIGHT SWITCH HARD TO APPLY HEAD LIGHT FLICKER ON AND OFF.SOMETIME WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL.CAR WAS IN MOTION,AND STATIONARY

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 21, 2013150,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 26, 2011164,431 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,431.

Seat Belts
Filed Jan 13, 2009MI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY COUGAR. A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2008, THE ELECTRONIC SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP WOULD NOT RETRACT AFTER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRACKING WAS OFF AND THE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › SwitchFire
Filed Sep 17, 20074,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Mar 26, 2007150,000 milesNE

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MARCH 14, 2007 SHE BEGAN TO SMELL FUMES IN THE 1993 MERCURY COUGAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS RECALL 97V159000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL, BUT THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED AN INVOICE FOR REPAIR. UPDATED 05/04/07*TR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 10, 2007144,000 milesIN

LIGHTS PERIODICALLY STOPPED WORKING ELIMINATING VISIBILITY. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Aug 31, 2006IL

I WAS DRIVING HOME GOING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD AND MY HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING. I ALMOST WRECKED,AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I ENDED UP DRIVING IT HOME WITH NOTHING BUT PARKING LIGHTS ON WHICH WAS A GOOD HALF HOUR JOURNEY. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Nov 8, 2005115,000 milesPA

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 97V159000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. THE CONTACT HAD RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED IN DECEMBER 1997. THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY A LOCAL SERVICE DEALER. SINCE RECALL REPAIRS HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT OFFER ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. *AK UPDAYED 11/29/2005 - *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 19, 200590,000 milesPA

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED OFF AND ON. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS DEFECT WAS NOT AN OPEN RECALL. PREVIOUS REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE UNDETERMINED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE BEING OLD IS TO BLAME FOR FAILURE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. *TC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 5, 200497,500 milesMN

1993 3.8 L BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT 97K. $1200 OUT OF MY POCKET. I DON'T EVEN MAKE THAT MUCH A MONTH. I WILL NEVER BY A FORD AGAIN. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Feb 23, 2004105,850 milesMO

1993 COUGAR HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN . *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 10, 200484,799 milesHI

ODOMETER BECAME INOPERATIVE AFTER 84,799 MILES, SPEEDOMETER STILL OPERATES. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Jan 21, 2004101,000 milesWA

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE ALUMINUM HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SIZE ENGINE BECAUSE THE GASKET WRAPPED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 20, 2003120,000 milesWI

MY 1993 MERCURY COUGAR XR7 HAS BLOWN A HEAD GASKET TWICE (ONE AT 80,000 MILES AND ANOTHER AT 120,000 MILES.) AND AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET ENDLESSLY I HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE TO MYSELF AND MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO TRY AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *LA

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed May 27, 2003100,000 milesMN

THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGES HAS A FAILURE, THAT RESULTS IN THE DOOR BEING INOPERATIVE(MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CLOSE).*AK

Electrical System
Filed Apr 17, 2003153,000 milesWI

WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF OR BECAME DIM. *NLM *TT

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Apr 15, 2003120,000 milesIL

HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON. I HAD TO PLAY WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO FINALLY GET THEM BACK ON. AT FIRST THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NOT COME ON, BUT BARELY PULLED ON SWITCH AND THEY CAME ON. PULLED DASH APART AND NOTICED THE SWITCH BRACKET WAS MELTED A LITTLE AND A (BROWN AND GRAY?) WIRE WAS SCORCHED, MELTED, FRAYED.*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 2, 2003114,806 milesCA

HEAD GASKET BLEW @ 114,000 MILES ON 93 MERCURY COUGAR 3.8 V-6 ENGINE. TWO REPAIR SHOPS HAVE STATED "EVERYBODY" IN VEHICLE REPAIR BUSINESS KNOWS THE 3.8 ENGINE HAS GASKET PROBLEM TO THE POINT THE GASKETS BLOW IN ONE OF TWO PLACES. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF CAR AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED. UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME 3.8 FORD ENGINES, BUT NOT THE '93 ENGINE. *NLM

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Feb 26, 2003KY

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLOCK. *JB THE AUTO SHOULDER BELT DID NOT MOVE AND INTERRUPTS THE ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER DOOR MOLDING DID WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE DRIVER DOOR HAS TO BE PULLED UP IN ORDER TO SHUT. SCC

20 of 195 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200295310Routine
200182361Fatalities reported
20002115100Above average
1999454931Fatalities reported
19981000Routine
199776020Routine
199662200Routine
1995109040Routine
1994137021Fatalities reported
1993 — this page195340Routine
199292320Routine
199173360Routine
199086390Routine

Compare every Cougar year →

Reading this record

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: Oct 12, 1999. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.