NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
72 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · May 19, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I OWN A 99 MERCURY COUGAR, ORIGINAL OWNER. MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE FRONT BRAKES AND FOUND THE SENSOR WAS MISSING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE TO ONE OF THE TECH'S, HE SAID ALL 4 WHEELS SHOULD HAVE A SENSOR. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR THERE TODAY THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THE TECH COMPARED…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 99 MERCURY COUGAR, ORIGINAL OWNER. MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE FRONT BRAKES AND FOUND THE SENSOR WAS MISSING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE TO ONE OF THE TECH'S, HE SAID ALL 4 WHEELS SHOULD HAVE A SENSOR. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR THERE TODAY THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THE TECH COMPARED IT TO ANOTHER COUGAR AND FOUND NO SENSOR ON THE RIGHT FRONT. IF A COUGAR HAS ABS THERE WILL NOT BE ANY SENSORS, SO WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WAS COMPARING IT TO. NO BRAKES WEAR EVEN. THE ONLY WAY I WILL BE HAPPY IF SOMEONE SENDS ME A PICTURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN A TRUCK AND CAR TECH. FOR 30 YEARS AND HE SAID ALL FOUR WHEELS SHOULD HAVE A SENSOR. WHO ARE THEY KIDDING. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10018946
30,000 miles · May 15, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE DISC'S ARE NOTHING BUT A TOTAL PROBLEM. REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 30000 MILES. THE FRONT AT 38000 MILES. NOW THE FRONTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 52000 MILES. IT IS ABOUT TIME FOR FORD TO BUILD A RELIABLE CAR OR JUST QUIT MAKING CARS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10018764
36,000 miles · Jan 13, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheels
WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE DEALER INDICATED THEAT BOLTS FELL OUT WHICH CAUSED BRAKES TO LOCK UP. *JB. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10003656
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE CALIPERS STICK FREQUENTLY, LEAVING VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES.HAD PARTS REPLACED. HOWEVER,PROBLEM REOCCURRED. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8013009
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
CONSUMER NOTICED A BLUE WIRE HANGING FROM THE VEHICLES FRONT. *JG
NHTSA ODI #566017
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility
I FEEL LIKE SUCH AN IDIOT BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS CAR!! UNBELIEVEABLE PROBLEMS, AND NOW I HAVE TO TRY TO SELL THIS CAR. I PAID $16000 FOR THIS CRAP, AND THEN I HAD TO PAY $300 BECAUSE THE ROTORS WARPED ON MY REAR BRAKES, AND THEN THE TRACK ON MY SUNROOF COMPLETLEY BROKE, AND THAT IS GOING TO COST ME AT LEAST $800. FORD/MERCURY SHO…
Read full complaint
I FEEL LIKE SUCH AN IDIOT BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS CAR!! UNBELIEVEABLE PROBLEMS, AND NOW I HAVE TO TRY TO SELL THIS CAR. I PAID $16000 FOR THIS CRAP, AND THEN I HAD TO PAY $300 BECAUSE THE ROTORS WARPED ON MY REAR BRAKES, AND THEN THE TRACK ON MY SUNROOF COMPLETLEY BROKE, AND THAT IS GOING TO COST ME AT LEAST $800. FORD/MERCURY SHOULD BE SUED FOR MAKING A TOTALLY CRAPPY CAR. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS!!!! THANKS, ROSIE
NHTSA ODI #761527
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES WHICH WERE CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO STOP .*AK
NHTSA ODI #8008523
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND STANDARD BRAKES ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8006655
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND APPLYING BRAKES ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WILL LOCK UP. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8005774
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SHORTLY AFTER OWNING THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT BRAKES SEEMED INSUFFICIENT FOR THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A FEW TIMES TO GET CHECKED, BUT THEY DENIED ANY THING BEING WRONG. WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP AT A SUFFICIENT TIME. I ALSO HAD TO BUY SEVERAL TIRES SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE,…
Read full complaint
SHORTLY AFTER OWNING THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT BRAKES SEEMED INSUFFICIENT FOR THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A FEW TIMES TO GET CHECKED, BUT THEY DENIED ANY THING BEING WRONG. WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP AT A SUFFICIENT TIME. I ALSO HAD TO BUY SEVERAL TIRES SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE, BECAUSE THE TIRES WOULD GET LEAKS BY SIMPLE ROAD DEBRIS SUCH AS GLASS AND METAL PIECES. I REPORTED MY PROBLEMS IN PERSON AND BY PHONE TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT FROM, BUT THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAR'S HISTORY. THEY ONLY STATED THAT ALL NECESSARY CHANGES WERE MADE IN DECEMBER THE MONTH BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I ALSO TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SHIFTING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING, BUT THEY DISREGARDED THE COMPLAINT ABOUT THE STEERING AND THE INAPPROPRIATE STOPPING OF THE VEHICLE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2B0IRB TIRESIZE: P215/50R16)
NHTSA ODI #758768
Official recalls
7Aug 30, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION OF THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) CAN REDUCE, AND EVENTUALLY BLOCK, THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. OVER TIME, THE FILTER MAY BECOME SUFFICIENTLY BLOCKED TO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: THIS ACTION IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE SAFETY ACT. ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FDM WITH A NEW DESIGN AT NO CHARGE IF THE OWNER REPORTS THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS ANY OF THE IDENTIFIED SYMPTOMS. THE FREE REPLACEMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, WITH NO MILEAGE LIMIT. THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Jul 9, 2001
ON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLANTS, THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR AND, DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE OPEN CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT COULD MELT THE CONNECTOR HOUSING MATERIAL CREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Feb 6, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L V6 ENGINES. THE BATTERY CABLE WAS MISROUTED AND ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE ALTERNATOR CABLE WAS UNDER-TORQUED. IF MISROUTED, THE CABLE COULD CONTACT THE POWER STEERING LINE AND THE INSULATION COULD WEAR, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SHORT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE, STALLING, OR A NO-START CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERY CABLE TO THE ALTERNATOR FOR DAMAGE AND, IF IT IS DAMAGED, WILL REPLACE THE CABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ROUTING OF THE CABLE WILL BE CORRECTED, AS NECESSARY, AND A ROUTING CLIP WILL BE ADDED. ALSO THE TORQUE ON THE ALTERNATOR ATTACHMENT OF THE CABLE WILL BE CHECKED AND, AS REQUIRED, WILL BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Feb 6, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH TERMINALS COULD OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE EITHER A LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED BRAKE LAMPS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW STOP LAMP EXTENSION HARNESS WITH BRONZE TERMINALS AT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CONNECTOR, AND ALSO INSPECT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FOR SIGNS OF OVERHEATING AND REPLACE, AS REQUIRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Mar 9, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.
Aug 18, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DOOR LATCH MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A LATCH PAWL THAT HAS A COATING WHICH WILL SWELL IN HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS. THE LATCH PAWL MAY THEN STICK IN THE OPEN OR UNLATCHED POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED. IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN THE DOOR OPENING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED SIDE DOOR LATCH.
Jul 20, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A BURR ON OR NEAR THE END OF THE CABLE SLEEVE INTERIOR. THIS BURR COULD FRAY THE CORE WIRE RESULTING IN THE ACCELERATOR NOT RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE STICKING, BINDING, OR CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPM.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED ACCELERATOR CABLE THAT HAS A FLARED CONDUIT SLEEVE END AND MOLDED ON END FITTING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Illustration