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

What owners actually said

86 reports

235,000 miles · Jul 19, 2018

Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System

SEAT BELT DOESN'T STAY LOCKED AND LATCH BROKE, AUTOMATIC HEAD LIGHTS DON'T WORK THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DON'T WORK AND AS SOON AS IS GETS SO HOT IT VAPER LOCKS A LOT

NHTSA ODI #11112292

61,800 miles · Sep 19, 2017

Electrical System

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE FLICKERING ON OFF OF DASH LIGHTS,PANEL COMPLETELY OUT AND NOW WILL NOT COME BACK ON,CREATING AN ISSUE DRIVING,UNABLE TO SEE SPEED,MILAGE GAS USAGE,WHEN CHECKING UNDER HOOD I WAS GIVEN AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK,THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING,IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF MOTOR

NHTSA ODI #11024160

60,000 miles · Sep 18, 2017

Electrical SystemEngine

HEAVY TRAFFIC ON STATE HIGHWAY ENGINE OVERHEATING ALARM ACTIVATED,INCIDENT HAS OCCURED TWICE,IN TRAFFIC,EVERYTHING HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND I HAD TO PULL OFF OF HIGHWAY, OTHER COMPLAINT DASH PANEL LIGHTS OUT WITH DEFINITELY ELECTRICAL ISSUE,ALMOST WILL NOT START,THIS OCCURED WHILE DRIVING AND NOW EILL NOT COME BACK ON AT ALL

NHTSA ODI #11024101

89,000 miles · Jan 7, 2014

Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON AND WITHIN SECONDS THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THE FIRE ORIGINATED AT A FUSE BOX LOCATED IN THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…

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NHTSA ODI #10558771

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 · Jul 1, 2004

Electrical System

TWO YEARS AGO THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER NHTSA # 96V071000. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONE YEAR LATER THE RECALLED COMPONENT FAILED AND THIS TIME AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONCE AGAIN THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10080252

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #565699

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2001

Visibility

PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS CANNOT REMAIN ON TRACK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON WINDOWS COMING OFF TRACK, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY HAVE FIXED OTHER COUGAR WITH THIS PROBLEM, CONSUMER STATED SHE WILL BE DRIVING AND THE WINDOWS WILL JUST FALL DOWN AT …

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NHTSA ODI #896788

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2001

Electrical System

IGNITION WENT BAD. FORD NO LONGER MAKES THE PART. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888486

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

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HEADS/HEAD GASKETS HAD CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVER-HEAT AS WELL AS SHUT ITSELF DOWN DURING MOTION. PROBLEM WERE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF HOWARD PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOWING DAY USED CAR MANAGER DEAN SCHULATZ HAD OFFERED TO MAKE ANOTHER EVEN TRADE WITH ME TO A OLDSMOBILE ACHEIVA SO HE COULD PUT THE VEHICLE I WERE CURRENTLY OPERATTING BACK IN SERVICE AND DO THE REPAIR WORK NEEDED TO MAKE IT A SAFE VEHICLE FOR THE ROAD, BUT UPON FINDING OUT THAT I HAVE PUT THIS VEHICLE IN A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP HE HAD DECLINED TO COME FORTH WITH THE MONEY TO DO THE REPAIR WORK ,HE WOULD HAVE FOUND IF HE HAD SERVICED THISVEHICLE PRIOR TO THE SALE OF THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #740927

Official recalls

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 ↗