IllustrationVEHICLE WAS GOING 20MPH RIGHT BALL JOINT LOCKED UP. VEHICLE STEERED STARIGHT, BUT WAS PULLING RIGHT. EVERTUALLY, VEHICLE STOPPED ITSELF. MERCURY DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
1996 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: 19 of 62 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 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Suspension complaints
3 reportsTHE FIRST TIME THE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 10,000 MILES ON IT, THAN IT WAS RESURFACED AGAIN AND FINALLY WE HAD TO HAVE NEW ROTORS INSTALLED. THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN CAUSING THE BRAKES TO WEAR, ROTORS RESURFACED AGAIN, THAN NEW TIRES IN THE FRONT WERE WEARING OUT OF ROUNDS, NOW THIS…
Read full complaint
THE FIRST TIME THE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 10,000 MILES ON IT, THAN IT WAS RESURFACED AGAIN AND FINALLY WE HAD TO HAVE NEW ROTORS INSTALLED. THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN CAUSING THE BRAKES TO WEAR, ROTORS RESURFACED AGAIN, THAN NEW TIRES IN THE FRONT WERE WEARING OUT OF ROUNDS, NOW THIS WILL BE THE FIFTH TIME WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ROTORS REPAIRED (RESURFACED). THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES TERRIBLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.*AK
POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
Official recalls
296V070000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Apr 22, 1996
WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.
96V007000 · Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner
Jan 16, 1996
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE BLOWER COULD (1) STICK ON "HIGH;" (2) OPERATE ERRATICALLY WITH BLOWER OUTPUT VARYING BETWEEN NO BLOWER AND MAXIMUM BLOWER; OR (3) NOT OPERATE AT ALL DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BLOWER MALFUNCTIONS LIMITING OR STOPPING OUTPUT CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEMI-AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULES WITH MODULES CONTAINING REVISED SOFTWARE.
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
1EA01001 · Blower Switch/resistor Or Wiring Harness
Opened Jan 5, 2001 · Closed Jul 31, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
Electrical System
There is no summary currently available