← New search

1990 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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Cougar years →

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 4 of 86 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports9 fire reports4 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

15 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2000
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #873486

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2000
Seat Belts

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.

NHTSA ODI #730731

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2000
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #720218

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 1999
Seat Belts

DRIVERS SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT RETRACT, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #833930

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1999
Seat Belts

MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE DOES NOT GO DOWN INTO THE LOCKED POSTION FOR SAFTEY. MOTER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. STUCK IN THE DOWN POSTION MAKING THE SHOULDER BELT UNUSEABLE AND UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI #702173

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Seat BeltsStructure

GETTING INTO VEHICLE, NO LEVER TO CLOSE FROM INSIDE. DROPPED OFF HINGES THAT WERE WORN & OUT OF ALIGNMENT. AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT ACTIVATE DUE TO DOOR NOT BEING ABLE TO CLOSE. HAVE TO HOLD IT CLOSE. AT DEALERSHIP NOW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818878

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 1997
Seat Belts

FRONT PASSENGER'S MOTORIZED SAFETY BELT DOES NOT SECURE/HOLD OCCUPANTS, DEALER REMOVED PAPER STUCK INSIDE WHERE SEAT BELT COMES UP, BELT STILL HANGS LOOSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808037

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1997
Seat Belts

OWNER STATES THAT HIS DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AND THAT IT STICKS FROM TIME TO TIME, OWNER QUESTIONS THE SAFETY OF THIS BELT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809052

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 1996
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT JAMS IN THE MOTOR, CAUSING THE BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804275

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 1996
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD THE DRIVER PROPERLY IN A REAR END ACCIDENT.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #977822

Official recalls

3

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.

91V076000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

May 6, 1991

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

90V026000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Feb 12, 1990

BATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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

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

EA93033 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing

Opened Dec 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1994

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

There is no summary currently available

PE93075 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing

Opened Aug 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1993

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

There is no summary currently available

EA90034 · Hood Latches Fail

Opened Jun 26, 1990 · Closed Feb 25, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE90073 · Hood Latches Fail

Opened Apr 11, 1990 · Closed Jun 26, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available