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1990 Mercury Cougar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

18 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #10313173

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735763

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #860625

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2000
Electrical SystemSeatsVehicle Speed Control

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719214

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE. FIRST TIME AT 65MPH. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SUSPECTED AS PROBLEM SO IT WAS DISCONNECTED. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ON 5/7/99. SPEED 30MPH. IN BOTH CASES, THE ACCLERATOR SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR & THE VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN THE E…

Read full complaint

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE. FIRST TIME AT 65MPH. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SUSPECTED AS PROBLEM SO IT WAS DISCONNECTED. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ON 5/7/99. SPEED 30MPH. IN BOTH CASES, THE ACCLERATOR SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR & THE VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #707698

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED,CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835893

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED. CONSUMER PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALR INSPECTED VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835777

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 65MPH THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR BY ITSELF AND WOULD NOT COME UP, NO ACCIDENTS OCCURRED. CONTINUING A COUPLE OF MILES FURTHER, THE VEHICLE TOTALLY STOPPED. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826502

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819963

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control

SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING DAMAGE TO BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #522467

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