IllustrationVEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE, RECALL ON OTHER MODELS HOWEVER COUGAR WAS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH SAME ENGINE AS RECALL MODELS, DENIED RECALL REPAIR (98M01). MJS
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model 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: 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
What owners actually said
73 reportsTHE DOORS ON THIS CAR WANT CLOSE. THEY ARE TOO HEAVY AND HAVE BENT THE HINGES. THIS A DESIGN FAILURE.
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH IT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CONSUMER REMOVED FOOT FROM THE PEDAL AND IT STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND ACCELERATED TO 75 WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS BRAKING HARD. IT JUST KEPT LUNCHING FORWARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER AT ALL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SPEEDOMETER HAS BROKEN. IN APRIL OF 92, SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE CURRENT PROBLEM. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK VERY SLOW, MAKE A HUMMING NOISE AND STOP WORKING. NLM
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER RESTAIN SEAT BELT BROKE. WHICH, WHEN CONSUMER IS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE THE SEAT BELT TRACK ISN'T WORKING. CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
COMPLAINTS RE; FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION SUBMITTED TO DEALER SINCE 1994; CLUNKING, CREAKING, ROUGHNESS STEERING; NOW DEALER SUBMITS REPAIR ESTIMATE AT $907.95 +TAX. LET ME KNOW WHERE/HOW TO SUBMIT COMPLAINTS RE: AUTO SERVICE/DEALERS. THX.
BOTH HEAD GASKETS BLOWN; HOWEVER, COMPLAINTS RE; FAULTY TEMPERATURE GUAGE SUBMITTED TO DEALER SINCE 10/15/1993. REPAIR COST: $1390.92 (INCL. TAX).
MOUNTS HAVE FAILED, SIMILAR TO 87 & 92 FORD TAURUS MODELS. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE 91 COUGAR FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM?...STRANGE COINCIDENCE. THANKS
SEAT BELT FAILED DURING ACCIDENT RESULTING IN HEAD INJURIES TO THE DRIVER.
Official recalls
396V071000 · 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
2EA93033 · 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