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1988 Mercury Cougar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
55Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

5Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
10
198513
198633
198755
198881
198986
199073
1991
Compare all Cougar years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
16Electrical System
12Vehicle Speed Control
10Engine And Engine Cooling
6Visibility
4
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Seats
2Steering
2Tires
2Equipment
1Structure
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 55 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports6 fire reports6 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

STEEL BRAKE LINE ON REAR AXEL FAILED FIRST. STEEL BRAKE LINE ON TO RIGNT FRONT FAILED THIS TIME. LEFT FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINE SHOWED SIGNS OF FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED TOO. LINES ARE RUSTING THROUGH WHERE ATTACHED TO FRAME OR AXLE. BOUGHT CAR IN INDIANA, BUT LATER FOUND OUT IT CAME FROM WISCONSIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705411

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 1995
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting

BATTERY FAILED. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #485060

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE ROTORS WARP VERY FAST; PADS WEAR PREMATURELY; WHEN APPLIED, PEDAL PULSATES; FRONT BRAKES LOCKS UP. TT

NHTSA ODI #966223

Official recalls

1

96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 25, 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

5

EA95021 · Faulty Seat Belt Buckles

Opened Jul 31, 1995 · Closed Sep 30, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE95019 · Faulty Seatbelt Buckles

Opened Mar 27, 1995 · Closed Jul 31, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

There is no summary currently available

EA90009 · Throttle Sticking

Opened Feb 8, 1990 · Closed Feb 28, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE90001 · Throttle Sticking

Opened Oct 4, 1989 · Closed Feb 2, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

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PE88097 · Floormat/accel Pedal Intrf

Opened Aug 31, 1988 · Closed Dec 2, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

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