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1991 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 →
73Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
55
198881
198986
199073
199192
1992195
1993137
1994
Compare all Cougar years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
17Electrical System
11Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11Seat Belts
9Vehicle Speed Control
9
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
8Visibility
6Fuel System, Gasoline
5Suspension
4Latches/locks/linkages
2Structure
2Air Bags
1Fuel System, Other
1Power Train
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1Wheels
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: 5 of 73 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports6 fire reports5 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

11 reports
Clear category filter
141,000 miles · Jul 25, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT. RECALL NUMBER 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) WAS FOUND.…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT. RECALL NUMBER 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) WAS FOUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 141,000.

NHTSA ODI #10197452

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 1998
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK SENDER/PUMP LEAKS AT SOLDERED TUBE, CAUSING FUMES.

NHTSA ODI #530192

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 1996
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA ODI #513354

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #507701

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

PARKED CAR AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK CONSUMER STATESVEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER IT WAS ON FIRE NEAR STEERING WHEEL AREA.*JB

NHTSA ODI #986389

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 200 YDS, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, STOPPED & CHECKED UNDER HOOD, FEW MINUTES LATER FLAMES WERE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #986009

Mileage unknown · May 13, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE ALTENATOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #984334

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983643

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF HOME, OWNER HEARD EXPLOSION SOUND; CAME OUT TO CHECK; VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED WITH FLAMES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, UNDERDASH/UNDERHOOD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983474

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 1996
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE, CAUSES LOSS OF POWER WINDOWS AND BRAKING. TT

NHTSA ODI #977243

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.

91V048000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Mar 18, 1991

THE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF PARK IS NOT ENGAGED AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS OFF, AVEHICLE ROLL-AWAY COULD RESULT.

Remedy: REPLACE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

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

2

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