IllustrationKNOWN PROBLEM WITH 3.8 ENGINE.. RECALL ON 94'S AND 95'S BUT NONE ON 93'S. I'VE RECEIVED A COPY OF THE RECALL FORD SENT OUT CONCERNING THE 3.8 LITER ENGINE WITH FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. BOTH OF MINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A SIGNIFICANT COST.*AK
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
What owners actually said
195 reportsTHE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SIEZE UP AND BE DESTROYED, AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS PROVIDED FOR THE 1994 MODEL WITH THE SAME EXACT ENGINE AND SAME PROBLEM. NLM
LOOK AT ALL THE 3.8L HEAD GASKET COMPLAINTS - WHY NO RECALL OR ACTION FROM YOU? *AK
THE HEAD GASKET BLEW DAMAGING THE ENTIRE ENGINE, THE MANUFACTURER EXTENED THE WARRANTY FOR 1994-1995 MODEL VEHICLES BUT NOT THE 1994 COUGAR ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME V6 3.8 ENGINE. NLM
TRAVELING 35MPH WHEN TEMPERATURE LIGHT WOULD GO TO HOT. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. HAVE TAKEN TO MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT HEAD GASKETS. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLOWN DUE TO MANUFACTOR DEFECT. *AK
AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH THAT CONTROLED HEATING AIR MALFUNCTIONED, AND IT MELTED, EXPOSING A POSITIVE TERMINAL. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD. ALSO, SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS NOT OPERABLE. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPLACED, 2/7/01 TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT SAME PROBLEM, ENGINE SMELLING HOT AND SWEET, COOLANT RESERVE TANK NOT HOLDING ANTIFREEZE, IDLE ROUGH AND HESITATION OCCURRING WHEN ACCLERATING/DECELERATING, VEHICLE ONLY DRIVEN 4,000 MILES SINCE HEAD GASKET REPAIR, SERVICE PROGRAM 99B29 DO…
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ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPLACED, 2/7/01 TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT SAME PROBLEM, ENGINE SMELLING HOT AND SWEET, COOLANT RESERVE TANK NOT HOLDING ANTIFREEZE, IDLE ROUGH AND HESITATION OCCURRING WHEN ACCLERATING/DECELERATING, VEHICLE ONLY DRIVEN 4,000 MILES SINCE HEAD GASKET REPAIR, SERVICE PROGRAM 99B29 DOES NOT INCLUDE 1993 COUGARS. CJ
HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS GO UNANSWERED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK
ON FEBRUARY 5, 2001 AFTER PREVIOUSLY PAYING CROSSROADS LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER IN INDIANAPOLIS IN JANUARY OF 2000 $1140.82 FOR HEAD GASKET REPAIR AT 59039 MILES, NOW MY CAR WITH 62913 MILES IS BACK AT THE SAME DEALER FOR ANOTHER COOLANT LEAK. THE DEALER HAS CONFIRMED IT IS THE ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET LEAKING. I DISCOVERED FOR…
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ON FEBRUARY 5, 2001 AFTER PREVIOUSLY PAYING CROSSROADS LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER IN INDIANAPOLIS IN JANUARY OF 2000 $1140.82 FOR HEAD GASKET REPAIR AT 59039 MILES, NOW MY CAR WITH 62913 MILES IS BACK AT THE SAME DEALER FOR ANOTHER COOLANT LEAK. THE DEALER HAS CONFIRMED IT IS THE ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET LEAKING. I DISCOVERED FORD HAS RECALLED 1996 AND 1997 COUGARS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT 1993 COUGARS. SAME STORY WITH THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR NOT BEING COVERED BY FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE 3.8L V-6 ENGINES FOR 1993 OWNERS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF SENDING A LETTER TO WILLIAM FORD AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY ALONG WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF INDIANA. I WILL BE SENDING COPIES TO YOUR ORGANIZATION AND THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY.*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