2000 Mercury Cougar complaints

MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY AND THE HEAD LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING CONSISTENTLY. FIRST I TOOK IT TO TWO LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS WHO FOUND NO CHARGING PROBLEMS. THE SECOND SHOP PROVIDED ME WITH A RECALL AND RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER(WITH THE RECALL PAPER WORK) AND THEY FIRST REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR (WHICH DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM) THEN REPLACED A CONNECTOR (WHICH DIDN'T FIX MY PROBLEM). WHEN I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE BATTERY CABLE TO THE ALTERNATOR WHICH IS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A $1,900.00 WIRING HARNESS TO DO THAT. HE RECOMMENDED THAT I TRADE MY CAR IN. SO I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A "CONSUMER REPORTS" USED CAR BUYING GUIDE TO LOOK FOR A RELIABLE USED CAR AND I FOUND A SECTION IN THE BACK FOR "RECALLS". UNDER THE '99-00 MERCURY COUGAR SECTION IT REFERENCES THIS RECALL AND SAYS "IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BATTERY CABLE". I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD AND PLAN TO CALL THE ATTORNEY GENERALS CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION NEXT. *JB

I PURCHASED A USED 200 MERCURY COUGAR IN 12/2005. THE FUEL HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY FESTUS FORD AS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AS PART OF RECALL #04V421000. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE 1-866-436-7332 TO ASK IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT FORD COULD DO TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AND MY REQUEST WAS REJECTED. IT'S APPARENT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE COUGAR FUEL PUMPS. I REPORT TO FORD THAT I THOUGHT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE THIS IS CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND/OR SURGE. THEY DID NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED AT ALL. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIPPING OVER ON ITS TOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONE PERSON WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, ACCORDING TO THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

WITH NO WARNING, MY CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL START FAILING. LIGHTS WILL DIM, RPM AND SPEED GAUGES RESET AND THE CAR STALLS WITH IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AGAIN AND HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 5+ TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. THE FAILURE IS IN THE ALTERNATOR TO THE CAR AND POSSIBLY THE BATTERY AS WELL WHICH BOTH HAVE ONLY EVER BEEN THE MANUFACTURERS PARTS. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY BATTERY REPLACED 4 TIMES AND MY ALTERNATOR 5+ TIMES IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CAR IS NOT DEPENDABLE AT ALL AND CAUSES MORE STRESS, MONEY,& TIME THAN IT IS WORTH. THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *JB

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAD A FLAT TIRE. WE THOUGHT THE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT, BUT WHEN WE CHANGED THE TIRE, WE FOUND THAT THE RIM HAD BURST OPEN AND THE TIRE WAS PERFECTLY FINE. THANK GOD THE CAR DID NOT FLIP. IF IT HAD, NO ONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT HAPPENED. WE CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD NOT INCUR ANY COST FOR THEIR CLEARLY DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. AFTER ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE CAUSED THE PUBLIC WITH THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS, YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD HAVE AT LEAST HAD A DEALERSHIP LOOK AT THE RIM TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. BUT APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS UNLESS SOMEONE GETS KILLED LIKE IN THE CASE WITH THEIR DEFECTIVE TIRES. I REALLY FEEL THAT IF THEY HAD TAKEN THE COMPLAINTS SERIOUS ABOUT THE TIRE SITUATION, NO ONE WOULD HAVE LOST THEIR LIFE. IF ONE CUSTOMER COMPLAINS, AND YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR PRODUCT, I WOULD THINK THE COMPANY WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHY THEIR PRODUCT WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I TRULY HOPE THE FORD COMPANY GETS WHAT IS DUE THEM. AS THE OLD SLOGAN SAYS; FORD REALLY DOES MEAN FOUND ON THE ROAD DEAD. *JB

I HAVE A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR WITH THE TERRIBLE CD4E TRANSMISSION WITH 66,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THE SAME TRANNYS. *JB

SUNROOF IS STUCK OPEN. WENT TO CLOSE IT AND ONLY ONE SIDE GOES DOWN. NEEDS A WHOLE NEW SUNROOF. WATER LEAKS IN WHEN IT RAINS. DAMAGING THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. *JB

MY YEAR 2000 MERCURY COUGAR JUST REACHED 70,000 MILES LAST WEEK. I WENT TO OPEN MY SUNROOF YESTERDAY AND HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE AFTER PRESSING THE BUTTON. THE REAR END OF THE SUNROOF WAS AJAR AND THE SUNROOF MOTOR WAS STILL IN WORKING CONDITION BUT I COULD NOT GET THE ROOF TO CLOSE ALL OF THE WAY. I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY TOOK THE SUNROOF APART AND FOUND A PIECE OF CRACKED PLASTIC ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THEY GOT THE ROOF TO CLOSE AS BEST AS THEY COULD, HOWEVER IT STILL REMAINS AJAR AND RUNS THE RISK OF LEAKING. I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS COULD COST ME ANYWHERE BETWEEN $1,000-$2,000 TO FIX. ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO, WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED UNDER ITS MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALERSHIP THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SUNROOF IN THE COUGARS AND "TO USE MY SUNROOF OFTEN SO THAT MAYBE IT WILL BREAK WHILE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY." I CONTACTED FORD YESTERDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE SUNROOF BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONSIDER THE PROBLEM TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH,THE SUNROOF WAS OPENED BY A POWER CONTROL WHICH PARTIALLY ELEVATED THE SUNROOF. AFTERWARDS, THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. THE EXPOSED SUNROOF ASSEMBLY CAUGHT AIR WHICH RIPPED THE ASSEMBLY, CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT VERY HELPFUL, DID NOTHING TO SATISFY THE CONTACT'S COMPLAINS. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER FOUND THE BATTERY WIRE HAD CAME LOOSE FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE PROBLEM RETURNED A SECOND TIME UNDER A SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE BATTERY WIRE WAS REATTACHED THE SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT FOUND THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE BATTERY CABLES, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 01V031000. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON OCTOBER 15, 2001 AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FOUND. ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS THE RECALL IS CLOSED.

MY DAUGHTER'S CAR IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. IT IS EXACTLY AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V031000. THE DEALER WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM AS A RECALL BECAUSE IS WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL BEFORE MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT THE CAR. IT IS A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. FORD HAS TOLD HER IT WAS REPAIRED AND WHAT DEALER REPAIRED IT IN NEW JERSEY. SHE IS IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN COLLEGE , AND TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER THERE. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T DO RECALL REPAIRS. SHE CALLED THE DEALER IN NEW JERSEY THAT FORD TOLD HER DID THE WORK, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT SOMETIMES RECALL WORK HAS TO BE REDONE, BUT THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR ONE YEAR. I DON'T FEEL SHE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE WORK DONE IF IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MERCURY COUGARS, AND HER CAR WAS ONE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. I WISH FORD COULD AT LEAST HELP HER PARTIALLY WITH THE REPAIRS. THE RECALL SAID THE CAR MIGHT CATCH ON FIRE. I HOPE THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO HER OR ANYONE OWNING A COUGAR.*AK

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE NEW, IN 2000. IN 2002, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE A TOTAL OF 38,000 MILES, THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM COVERED THE WORK UNDER MY EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN. JUST THE OTHER DAY, WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY BROKE AGAIN. THIS TIME THOUGH, THE SUNROOF DETACHED FROM MY VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, I WAS DRIVING ON A ROAD THAT HAD LITTLE TO NO OTHER TRAFFIC. HAD I BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK DURING RUSH HOUR, THE SUNROOF WOULD HAVE MOST SURELY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, IT APPEARS THAT THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY FAILING IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, AS IT IS DOCUMENTED ON WWW.COUGARSUNROOF.COM. IF QUALITY IS INDEED JOB 1 AT FORD, WHY WOULD THEY NOT FIX AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW? *NM

HEADLAMPS FLICKER- WHEN MY HEADLAMPS ,"FLICKER", THEY GET SO DIM THAT I AM CONCERNED I WILL NOT SEE ITEMS IN THE PATH OF MY MOVING VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TWO NEAR MISSES; ONE WITH AN ANIMAL AT LARGE, THE OTHER MUCH MORE SERIOUS, AND A PEDESTRIAN IN A CROSSWALK. THE ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT WAS DONE 2 TIMES, BATTERY REPLACEMENT DONE ONCE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY SERVICE ADVISOR AT FORD HE STATED THAT THIS IS ONLY A BULLETIN BECAUSE IT IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE LIGHTS DO NOT GO COMPLETELY OUT. MY CHILDREN WHOM RIDE IN THIS CAR AND THE PEDESTRIAN THAT I COULD NOT SEE WOULD DEEM THIS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN RIGHT ALONG WITH MYSELF AND OTHER PASSENGERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE. I ONLY DRIVE MY CAR AFTER DARK BECAUSE I HAVE NO OTHER CAR. *JB

MERCURY COUGAR 2000 STARTED TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS WITHIN THE LAST WEEK: LIGHTS FLICKERING,LOSS OF POWER, STALLING. CURRENTLY IN A GARAGE GETTING A NEW ALTERNATOR INSTALLED. NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I FORTUNATELY FOUND ON THE WEB THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT DON'T BELIEVE THIS WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE AS IT HASN'T FOR ANYONE ELSE. I READ COUNTLESS REPORTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE WEB. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. ALL FOUR LUGS: BOLTS SNAPPED OFF. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BUT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND BACK CORNER PANEL, BUMPER, HOOD, AND DOOR. *AK

2000 MERCURY COUGAR STALLED DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP. *TS AFTER THE FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED, THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE STALLING PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER LEARNED THERE WAS RECALL , THE CONSUMER DID RECEIVE A REBATE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP THAT WAS SOLD TO THE CONSUMER WAS THE SAME ONE THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED. THE DEALER DID AGREE THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD, HOWEVER THEY WANTED OVER $500.00 TO REPLACE IT. *JB

INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS AND GAUGES DIM AND BRIGHTEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. *TS ON ONE OCCASION THE CONSUMER'S WIFE COULDN'T SEE A CURB DUE TO THE LIGHT FLICKERING. AS A RESULT SHE RAN OVER THE CURB WHICH CAUSED A FLAT TIRE AND RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE RUNNING INTO A DITCH. *NM

MY VEHICLE HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR A CRASH YET, BUT IT SOON COULD. THE THROTTLE/ ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN STICKING ON MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR SINCE SOON AFTER I BOUGHT IT IN OCTOBER OF 2003. IT STARTED WITH THE RPMS REVVING UP TO 2 OR 3 AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED ONCE EVERY COUPLE WEEKS OR SO. THE RPMS DO NOT GO DOWN UNTIL AFTER I HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED. IT HAS SINCE BECAME MORE FREQUENT (CLOSE TO EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR) AND SIGNIFICANT(RPMS GO TO 3 OR 4). I TOOK IT TO THE LINCOLN MERCURY DEALERSHIP SOON AFTER I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN APRIL 2003. THEY REPAIRED A BLOWN AIR VALVE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN WITHIN A MONTH OF THE REPAIR. I THEN TOOK IT BACK IN JUNE 2003 AND REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. IN MAY 2004 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A CONTAMINATED FUEL PUMP. THINKING THIS WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEMS I HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN WITHIN A MONTH. NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO MY CAR, I WAITED A YEAR BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. UPON EMISSIONS INSPECTION IN SEPTEMBER 2005 THEY FAILED IT BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK IT BACK A WEEK LATER AND THEY PASSED IT. THE LIGHT WAS OFF THEN. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR STUCK MAKING MY CAR STAY AT 40 MPH EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS. I RESEARCHED A 1999 RECALL THAT SE

DT: 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONSUMER FOUND RECALL 01V031000 FOR THE ELECTRIC BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK, AND THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. . WHEN SHE CONTACTED MERCURY THEY STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE WILL START. BUT WHEN SHE TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER OR RADIO THE VEHICLE STALLED. BOTH THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN CHECKED TO SEE IF THEY WERE THE PROBLEM. TWO MECHANICS STATED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE FINE. IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE EMISSION SYSTEM LIGHT ON THE VEHICLE KEPT COMING ON. FORD STATED THEY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT COULD BE CHECKED. *AK

THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T FOLLOW THE PROPER PROCEDURE/SPECIFICATION WHEN PERFORMING THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE RECALL 04N02, BECAUSE OF THIS THE RUSTED FUEL TANK STRAPS WENT UN NOTICED. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STRAPS DRAGGING WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD OF RESULTED IN A FIRE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE WILL STALL AND THEN LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING OR HESITATING. THEN JERK FORWARD WHILE IDLING. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN EITHER OF THESE FAILURES OCCUR. THE FUEL PUMP/MASSIVE FLOW SENSOR WERE REPLACED TWICE, BUT FAILURES RECURRED. *AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V031000 CONCERNING BATTERY CABLE ROUTING. CONSUMER VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE HESITATION AND STALLING. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR TWICE, AND REPAIR SHOP ONCE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

THE FRONT BUMPER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE DRIVER PICKED UP THE BUMPER AND ATTACHMENTS AND PLACED THEM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. THE DRIVER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

CD PLAYER BURNED, THE CD UNEXPECTEDLY WAS PLAYING. SMOKE AND STRONG SMELL FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CD PLAYER RED ERROR, AND CD WAS UNABLE TO BE RETRIEVED. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.*AK

RECEIVED THE RECALL INFORMATION FOR THE FUEL PUMP, DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP PER MERCURY HOME OFFICE BECAUSE THEY SAID THE CAR TESTED FINE. IF ITS A RECALL, WHY ISN'T IT BEING REPLACED?*AK

VEHICLE INTERIOR AND HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY BRIGHTEN AND DIM WHEN BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED. BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALER ON 11/26/04, ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED (100 DOLLARS SPENT). ALTERNATOR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED DUE TO COMPLETE FAILURE ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2001. NOW ON THIRD ALTERNATOR. ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 29, CAR BEGAN EXHIBITED THE SAME BRIGHTENING AND DIMMING EFFECTS. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRE BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NICE ENOUGH TO FIX IT FOR FREE. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCURY CORPORATE SEVERAL TIMES AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN ACTUALY HELP ME AND AND ALWAYS TOLD THAT I CAN'T SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THIS CAR I DONT EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.*AK

RECENTLY, I TOOK MY 2000 COUGAR TO THE SHOP TO HAVE A LEAK CHECKED OUT. ALSO, I NOTICED WHEN I USED THE HEAT, I SMELLED A BURNED RUBBER SCENT. I LEARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEAL BROKE AND I NEEDED NEW GASKETS. IT COST $1,600. WHAT IS REALLY STRANGE IS THERE WAS A 1999 COUGAR AT THE SHOP TOO. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT BOTH OF OUR CARS HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON CERTAIN COUGARS?*AK

AIR BAGS DEPLOY OUT OF NO WHERE. CAUSED CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL... THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED BUT AIRBAG LIGHTS FLASH 6 TIMES WITH A 2 SECOND DELAY, AND THE THE DEALER CANT FIX IT. *AK

THERE IS A HEALTH ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THERE WERE PARTICLES COMING FROM THE FRONT AND WINDSHIELD VENTS. SOME WERE VERY SMALL, SOME PROBABLY TOO SMALL TO SEE, WHILE OTHER WERE LARGE, 1/2 X 1/4 . THE PARTICLES CONSISTED OF BLACK, ROUGH SURFACE, SHARP MATERIAL, PROBABLY COMING FROM THE AIR MIXING BOX. ALSO COMING OUT WERE PIECES OF FOAM RUBBER. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE FORD CARS, AND HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. FURTHER, FORD HAS DECIDED NOT TO HONOR A WARRANTY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, NOT TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC THAT THEY DO NOT CONSIDER PIECES OF THE AIR-CONDITIONER FALLING APART IMPORTANT, AND NOT TO CONSIDER IT A HEALTH ISSUE. THEY SAID THAT THE MATERIAL IS NOT TOXIC. WHILE THAT MAY BE TRUE, WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT SHARP PARTICLES ENTERING A PERSONS LUNGS IS DEFINITELY NOT GOOD FOR A ONES HEALTH! I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT SOMEONE AT FORD, INCLUDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TO ADDRESS THE WARRANTY AND HEALTH ISSUE, BUT IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME! IN MY LETTER TO THE COMPANY, I SENT BOTH PICTURES AND SAMPLES WHICH THEY DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT IT. I HAVE SOME DEFINITIVE PICTURES THAT I DONT THINK YOUR FORMAT WILL ACCEPT. IF YOU CONTACT ME WITH A DIRECT EMAIL, I WILL SEND YOU THE PICTURES. YOU ASKED HOW MANY INCIDENTS, DEATHS, INJURIES, ETC. I DONT KNOW. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT FORD HAS SAID THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE WITH MANY OF THEIR CARS. THANK YOU, WILLIAM KAHN TELEP

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER. THEN, CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. . BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED THE NEXT DAY. THEN, MECHANIC ANALYZED THE PROBLEM, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VOLTAGE SENSOR CIRCUIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A SOLENOID SWITCH. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS A QUARTER FULL VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. *SC *JB

THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD KEPT DIMING WHEN EVER I HAD HIT THE GAS. DID INFORM L/M OF PROBLEM AND HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THAT THIS DOES HAPPEN ON SOME COUGARS BUT NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. I BOUGHT IT IN AGAIN FOR SOMETHING AND MENTION THE DIMING AGAIN AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING TO ME. ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY MY CAR STARTED TO LOSS POWER AND BY THE TIME I GOT HOME I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER. I CALLED L/M AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD TO BRING MY CAR IN.THEY INFORM ME IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR. I HAD 3/36 WARR ON IT & I HAD NOT EVEN 37,000 ON IT AND L/M TOLD ME IT WASN'T COVER UNDER WARR AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $1000.00. THAT WAS ON 12/19/2002...ON 9/4/2004 I WAS DRIVING AND CAR WENT OUT ON ME AND I BOUGHT IT TO FIRESTONE AND THEY MY BATTERY WAS SO DEAD AND THEY COULDN'T EVEN FINISH THE TESTING AFTER PUTTING IN A NEW BATTERY THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY ALTERNTOR.THIS IS THE 3RD ONE SINCE I PURCHASE MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DIMING WHICH IS STILL HAPPENING WASN'T A PROBLEM AND NOW I AM ON MY 3 RD ALTERTNER. EVEN I KNOW THERE IS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULN'T BEEN HAPPENING ON A CAR LESS THEN 5 YRS OLD AND IT 3RD ALTERNATOR. *AK

AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

DRIVING THE CAR, AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOSE. COULD EASILY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE MAIN BOLT THAT CONNECTS TO STEERING COLUMN BROKE, UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR, WAS CLASSIFIED AS TOTALED. *AK

FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUEL PUMP RECALL, POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.*MR THE CONSUMER'S RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER WHICH REFERENCE A HESITATION/SURGING PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED THE NEWLY DESIGNED FUEL PUMPS AND TO CALL BACK IN LATE MAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED BACK IN LATE MAY THE PART WAS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE PART DID NOT ARRIVE UNTIL MID JULY AND THE CONSUMER DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF THAT MORNING TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED THAT AFTERNOON TO PICK IT UP THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE INCORRECT PART WAS ORDERED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO KEPT OVERNIGHT. THE PUMP WAS FINALLY REPLACED THE NEXT DAY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PICK THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT SHE SMELL FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE SMELL WOULD GO AWAY IN A FEW DAYS. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT AN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HE FOUND THAT THE FLOOR UNDER THE BACK SEAT WAS CUT TO REMOVE THE OLD FUEL PUMP AND THAT THE NEW FUEL PUMP WAS SECURED WITH DUCT TAPE, NOT THE RETAINER RING. *NM

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND TOOK TO SHOP TO HAVE ALTERNATOR AND WHATEVER ELSE LOOKED AT. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. BATTERY LIGHT STILL FLASHING. I'M SCARED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND LEAVE ME STRANDED. ALSO HAVE HAD SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (POWER WINDOWS) AS EVERYONE ELSE, AS WELL AS SPENDING $600 ON BRAKES, AND TRUNK LATCH WON'T WORK. RADIO WORKS OFF AND ON. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BUMPER AS IT WAS RIPPED OFF WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. (NOT NEGLIGENC). *JB

AFTER RUNNING FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES IN A ROW ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART FOR THIRTY OR FOURTY MINUTES. BRAKES LOSE CONTROL IN RAIN.*AK

SUN ROOF BROKEN ON MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR 1) THERE WAS NO WARNING LEADING UP TO IT BREAKING. 2) I WAS OPENING THE SUN ROOF AND THEN A LOUD "POP" NOISE AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. FORD USED PLASTIC RAILS FOR THE SUN ROOF AND THEY CAN'T SUPPORT IT. THEY LATER CORRECTED THE NEWER MODEL COUGARS WITH METAL RAILS BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY ALMOST $1,000 TO LET THEM FIX IT. 3) IT IS STILL BROKEN. I PAYED MORE FOR THE SUN ROOF IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. *JB

I HAVE A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN SERVICE FAITHFULLY BY A DEALERSHIP. BUT RECENTLY IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN 3 ALTERNATORS PUT ON MY CAR ALL RESULTING FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSOLE LIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM, THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES AND EVENTUALLY IT STAYS LIGHTED AND THE GAUGES ZERO OUT AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN STARTING WITH THE RADIO AND EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE CAR DIES. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO ME WITHIN THE PAST MONTH ALL WHILE DRIVING IN LOT'S OF TRAFFIC. THE LAST TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A PARKING LOT. I'VE SEEN THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER COUGAR OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR AS MINE THAT ARE CONTINUOUSLY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER. WHY? A BRAND NEW CAR SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AND TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IS DEFINITELY HORRIFYING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS JUST PUT THE 4TH ALTERNATOR ON AND SAYS THEY HAD TO REWIRE A HARNESS BUT DIDN'T SAY TO WHAT OR FOR WHAT. IT'S COSTING ME $700 AND HOW AM I TO BELIEVE THAT IT WON'T BREAK DOWN AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW COME FORD DOESN'T ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE ALTERNATOR/BATTERY/WIRING PROBLEM. A BRAND NEW CAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BREAK DOWN BEFORE IT'S PAID FOR. I'M DEFINITELY NOT BUYING ANOTHER MERCURY PRODUCT AGAIN.*AK

FOR THE LAST 18 MONTH THE HEAD LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS HAVE FLICKERED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 4 OR 5 TIMES. TWICE BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED AND THE DEALER ALWAY TOLD ME THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED OUT FIND. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND NOW THE ALTERNATOR HAS FAILED TWICE IN 30 DAYS. THIS WAS MY THIRD AND LAST MERCURY. *LA

WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING, MY CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL START FAILING. LIGHTS WILL DIM, RPM AND SPEED GAGES RESET AND THE CAR STALLS. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AGAIN AND HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP. VEHICLE HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. THE FAILURE IS IN THE ALTERNATOR TO THE CAR AND POSSIBLY THE BATTERY AS WELL WHICH HAS ONLY EVER BEEN THE ORIGINAL FORD BATTERIES. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY BATTERY REPLACED 3 TIMES AND MY ALTERNATOR 3 TIMES. THIS HAS ALL OCCURRED WITHIN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS. AFTER READING INFORMATION FROM OTHER MERCURY COUGAR OWNERS ON THE WEBSITE WWW.FASTCOUGAR.ORG, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR'S ALTERNATOR AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED THE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. AS RESULT, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED A COLLISION, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *AK

THE FRONT BUMPER IS SO LOW IT DRAGS OUT OF DRIVEWAYS, SHOPPING CENTER PARKING BLOCKS AND SO ON. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE WHOLE FENDER HAS TORN OFF ON BOTH SIDES OF CAR. THE FULL FENDER AND LOWER SECTION WHERE FOG LIGHTS WOULD GO IS TORN OFF TOO. INCIDENT DATE WAS LAST TIME, THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. *JB

#1 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD IN LATE APRIL 2004 REGARD THE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 COUGAR LOOSING POWER ON INCLINE FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO. AFTER I PAID TO HAVE A NEW FUEL PUMP I RECIEVED THE LETTER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE NEW FUEL PUMP WOULD BE OUT LATE MAY 2004, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM AS OF DATE. *AK #2 EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY CAR FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES OR MORE, ONCE I TURN OFF THE CAR, IF I TRY TO START IT WITHIN 5 TO 10 MINUTES IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. FORD DEALERSHIP REPAIR CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE TURNING ON THE TURN SIGNAL IT FAILED TO TURN ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH UNIT DUE TO A BURNT WIRE. *AK

I WAS HEADING HOME FROM THE BEACH. I HAD MY CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL. A CAR WAS STOPPING AHEAD TO TURN INTO A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. I TRIED TO PUSH THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL,BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. I AGAIN HIT THE BRAKE, HARDER THIS TIME, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN DID NOT DISENGAGE. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE I TRIED TO SWERVE TO MISS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I ENDED UP LOSING CONTROL OF MY CAR OFFROAD AND ROLLING THE CAR INTO A DITCH. I AVOIDED ANY OTHER CARS OR PROPERTY, BUT MY CAR WAS DAMAGED HEAVILY. I AM STILL AWAITING THE ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGE FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY PASSENGER AND I BOTH WALKED AWAY, LUCKILY WE WERE WEARING OUR SEAT BELTS.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN FUEL LEVEL WAS AT 1/4 FULL VEHICLE STALLED. CURRENTLY, WHEN THE FUEL TANK LEVEL IS AT 1/2 FULL THE VEHICLE STILL STALLS. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN OUT OF GAS WHEN THERE WAS 1/4-1/2 TANK OF GAS. *SC *JB