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1997 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 →
76Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
137
1994109
199562
199676
19971
1998454
1999211
2000
Compare all Cougar years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
30Power Train
10Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9Fuel System, Gasoline
8Suspension
6
All reported categories
Electrical System
4Tires
4Seat Belts
3Unknown Or Other
3Visibility
3Equipment
2Service Brakes, Air
2Steering
2Structure
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Air Bags
1Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1Seats
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

26 reports with mileage · 50 unknown

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 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

10 reports
Clear category filter
156,000 miles · Jun 23, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

MY VEHICLES BECAME TOTALLY DISABLED ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY WITH HEAVY AFTER HOURS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE MANIFOLD WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC BROKE WERE THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS BUILT IN, I ALSO NOTICED THAT A FEW SPARKPLUGS WERE FLOODED WITH COOLANT. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A LAWSUIT ON THESE VEHICLES BUT NO ONE KNEW…

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MY VEHICLES BECAME TOTALLY DISABLED ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY WITH HEAVY AFTER HOURS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE MANIFOLD WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC BROKE WERE THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS BUILT IN, I ALSO NOTICED THAT A FEW SPARKPLUGS WERE FLOODED WITH COOLANT. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A LAWSUIT ON THESE VEHICLES BUT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT AND ONLY FLEET VEHICLES WERE COVERED AND NOT CIVILIAN VEHICLES. I WONDER IF THERE IS ANY CHANCE FOR ME TO SEEK A DEALERSHIP AND GET REIMBURSED FOR THESE DAMAGES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521303

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2003
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

ON 7/29/2003 WHILE FUELING T GAS WAS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. OWNER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THREE HOLES IN THE FUEL LINE. OWNER STATED THAT DRIVESHAFT WAS RUBBING ON THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSED THE HOLES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10031533

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

TRANSMISSION VIBRATES AND WAS ERRATIC, TORQUE CONVERTER WAS CLEANED, TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS INOPERATIVE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #785615

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2000
Electrical SystemEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

HORN FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ODI #552943

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1999
Power TrainSuspension

WHEN TRAVELING THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. ALSO, THERE IS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847454

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1999
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. GAS IS LEAKAGE FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, CONSUMER REPLACED TRANSMISSION FOUR TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #840421

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 1999
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. WHENEVER CONSUMER PUT GAS INTO THE VEHICLE, THE GAS LEAKS OUT, AND THE CONSUMER CAN SMELL GAS IN VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES FOR THE FUEL INJECTION. ALSO CONSUMER HAD TRANSMISSION IN REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE IS STILL IN REPAIR SHOP FOR FUEL …

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THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. WHENEVER CONSUMER PUT GAS INTO THE VEHICLE, THE GAS LEAKS OUT, AND THE CONSUMER CAN SMELL GAS IN VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES FOR THE FUEL INJECTION. ALSO CONSUMER HAD TRANSMISSION IN REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE IS STILL IN REPAIR SHOP FOR FUEL INJECTION PROBLEMS, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #839002

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 1997
Power Train

CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILURE DUE TO POORLY DESIGNED CLUTCH PACKS/CYLINDERS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #523318

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1997
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING, TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO SHIFT. WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE ANYWHERE. *AK SERVICE MANGER TOLD CONSUMER THAT FORD USED BAD CLUTCH PACKS AND CLUTCH PACK CYLINDERS IN THE 1997 TRANSMISSIONS. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #819990

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 1997
Power TrainInjury

STOPPED VEHICLE IN STREET, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TILTED THE STEERING WHEE, . GOT OUT AND VEHICLE JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND ROLLED BACK. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #815141

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

EA01001 · 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