IllustrationHEADGASKET FAILED AT 63000 MILES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND ACT ERRATIC AND FINALLY SHUT DOWN
1993 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: 18 of 195 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 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
105 reportsHEAD GASKET, THERMOSTAT AND SENSOR FAILURES CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. YH
WHILE DRIVING HOME FORM WORK I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO MY MECHANIC AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION A CRACKED HEAD WAS DISCOVERED. ENGINE COOLANT WAS MIXED IN WITH THE OIL, AND OIL WAS INSIDE THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT A…
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WHILE DRIVING HOME FORM WORK I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO MY MECHANIC AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION A CRACKED HEAD WAS DISCOVERED. ENGINE COOLANT WAS MIXED IN WITH THE OIL, AND OIL WAS INSIDE THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT AND I DO TAKE CARE OF IT. THIS SHOULD NOT OF HAPPENED . FORS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND RECALLED THE 3.8L V-6 FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS BUT NOT THE REARE WHEEL DRIVE CARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FOR ME. THANK YOU! *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. CONSUMER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL. BUT DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
ADMITTED DESIGN DEFICIENCY ON ALL 88-95 FORD, LINCOLN, MERCURY 3.8L ENGINES. FORD HAS RECENTLY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS/100,000 MILES ONLY ON 94 CONTINENTAL, 94 & 95 TAURUS AND SABLE, AND 95 WINDSTAR. THIS VEHICLE AND MANY OTHERS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION EVEN THOUGH THE DEFECT CLEARLY EXISTS IN ALL 88-95…
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ADMITTED DESIGN DEFICIENCY ON ALL 88-95 FORD, LINCOLN, MERCURY 3.8L ENGINES. FORD HAS RECENTLY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS/100,000 MILES ONLY ON 94 CONTINENTAL, 94 & 95 TAURUS AND SABLE, AND 95 WINDSTAR. THIS VEHICLE AND MANY OTHERS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION EVEN THOUGH THE DEFECT CLEARLY EXISTS IN ALL 88-95 MODELS WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE. *AK
THE COUGAR HEAD GASKETS BLOWN AND THE EXTENDED WARRENTY WAS EXHAUSTED 1 MONTH PRIOR THE DEALERSHIP WOULDNT STAND BEHINDE THE PROBLEM SO I INVESTEGATED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT NUMEROUS COUGARS WITH 3.8 ENGINES HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM THE BRAKE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONTINIOUS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS COUGAR NEW AS OF TODAY I HAVE REPL…
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THE COUGAR HEAD GASKETS BLOWN AND THE EXTENDED WARRENTY WAS EXHAUSTED 1 MONTH PRIOR THE DEALERSHIP WOULDNT STAND BEHINDE THE PROBLEM SO I INVESTEGATED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT NUMEROUS COUGARS WITH 3.8 ENGINES HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM THE BRAKE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONTINIOUS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS COUGAR NEW AS OF TODAY I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS CALIPERS AND PADS FOR THE 3 RD TIME I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND ONCE AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP DENYS ANY SUCH PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND HEAD GASKETS. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SIEZE UP. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK *ML
BLOWN HEAD GASKET, REPAIRED AT BP PROCARE , SECOND AUTO OF THE SAME MAKE MODEL YEAR AND ENGINE THAT HAS HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE OF THIS NATURE. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED, ENGINE REPAIRED AT DEALER SHOP. *AK
BLOWN HEAD GASKET, 3.8LITER V-6 ENGINE. REPAIRED AT ORIGINAL DEALERS SHOP. *AK
Official recalls
399V275000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Oct 12, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.
97V159000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 22, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.
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.
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
2EA99005 · Headlight Switch
Opened Jan 20, 1999 · Closed Dec 14, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN INTERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT CAN OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLING OPERATION.
RQ97011 · Fuel Line Jumper
Opened Sep 25, 1997 · Closed Nov 16, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE ALLEGED FUEL LINE FAILURES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL GEOGRAPHIC REGION AND IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED NATIONALLY