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2000 Mercury Cougar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

99 reports with mileage · 112 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports10 fire reports11 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

10 reports
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70,000 miles · Aug 11, 2004
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND TOOK TO SHOP TO HAVE ALTERNATOR AND WHATEVER ELSE LOOKED AT. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. BATTERY LIGHT STILL FLASHING. I'M SCARED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND LEAVE ME STRANDED. ALSO HAVE HAD SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (POWER WINDOWS) AS EVERYONE ELS…

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VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND TOOK TO SHOP TO HAVE ALTERNATOR AND WHATEVER ELSE LOOKED AT. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. BATTERY LIGHT STILL FLASHING. I'M SCARED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND LEAVE ME STRANDED. ALSO HAVE HAD SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (POWER WINDOWS) AS EVERYONE ELSE, AS WELL AS SPENDING $600 ON BRAKES, AND TRUNK LATCH WON'T WORK. RADIO WORKS OFF AND ON. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BUMPER AS IT WAS RIPPED OFF WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. (NOT NEGLIGENC). *JB

NHTSA ODI #10086633

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

AFTER RUNNING FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES IN A ROW ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART FOR THIRTY OR FOURTY MINUTES. BRAKES LOSE CONTROL IN RAIN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10082812

23,000 miles · Nov 18, 2003
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

ENGINE DIES AND VEHICLE LOSES POWER AT ANYTIME WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURS POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10048112

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

PROBLEMS WITH ODOMETER, GAS GAUGE, TURN SIGNALS,WINDOWS, RADIO, HAZARD LIGHTS, AIR BAG LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER.*MR. THE MILEAGE AND CLOCK WERE NO LONGER VISIBLE. A NEW BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE INSTALLED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE SUN ROOF LEAKED CONSTANTLY AND WAS ALSO FIXED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE BATTERY AND WRENCH LIGHT WE…

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PROBLEMS WITH ODOMETER, GAS GAUGE, TURN SIGNALS,WINDOWS, RADIO, HAZARD LIGHTS, AIR BAG LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER.*MR. THE MILEAGE AND CLOCK WERE NO LONGER VISIBLE. A NEW BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE INSTALLED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE SUN ROOF LEAKED CONSTANTLY AND WAS ALSO FIXED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE BATTERY AND WRENCH LIGHT WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. CONSUMER HAD TO EXIT AND BARELY MADE IT HOME WHEN SHE ENTERED THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED. *PH. THE AIR CONDITION WAS NOT COLD ENOUGH, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS BROKE, THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE, THE DOOR LOCKS/LATCHES WERE INOPERATIVE, AND THE VEHICLE HAD A TRANSMISSION LEAK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10032290

46,726 miles · Jun 17, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFICE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE CONTROL. *MR *CB

NHTSA ODI #10024635

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE WRONG ROTORS WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED ROTORS WERE CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015857

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CONSUMER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SHE APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR , HITTING A TREE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8012610

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SQUEAKING NOISE COINCIDES WITH HESITATION IN DRIVING. SERVICE TECHNICIANS CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. HAD IN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, ONCE THEY KEPT IT FOR 5 DAYS AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. FEELS LIKE A JERKING OR BUCKING, HAPPENS RANDOMLY/FREQUENTLY. DOESN'T MATTER WHAT GEAR OR HOW FAST, HAPPENS WHEN APPL…

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SQUEAKING NOISE COINCIDES WITH HESITATION IN DRIVING. SERVICE TECHNICIANS CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. HAD IN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, ONCE THEY KEPT IT FOR 5 DAYS AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. FEELS LIKE A JERKING OR BUCKING, HAPPENS RANDOMLY/FREQUENTLY. DOESN'T MATTER WHAT GEAR OR HOW FAST, HAPPENS WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AND APPLYING GAS. BUZZING SOUND IN STEERING COLUMN. SAID WAS FIXED ONCE, BUT STILL OCCURS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #752657

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2001
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicFire

WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH CONSUMER TURNED ON AIR CONDITIONER, THEN SMELLED SMOKE. TURNED AIR CONDITIONER OFF. WENT TO PULL OVER, AND BRAKES HAD FAILED. WHEN VEHICLE CAME TO STOP, CONSUMER OPENED HOOD AND SAW FLAMES. PUT FIRE OUT, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT STARTER HAD CAUSED FIRE AND REPLACED STARTER…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH CONSUMER TURNED ON AIR CONDITIONER, THEN SMELLED SMOKE. TURNED AIR CONDITIONER OFF. WENT TO PULL OVER, AND BRAKES HAD FAILED. WHEN VEHICLE CAME TO STOP, CONSUMER OPENED HOOD AND SAW FLAMES. PUT FIRE OUT, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT STARTER HAD CAUSED FIRE AND REPLACED STARTER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886363

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES FAILED, ALMOST CAUSING COLLISION AT 65 MPH. AFTER PUMPING PEDAL, BRAKES RETURNED TO NORMAL. CONTACTED DEALER, WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG W/ CAR BASED ON TEST DRIVE ALONE. WAS TOLD IT WAS $40.00 TO PUT IT ON THE LIFT TO CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, REGARDLESS OF MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ODI #742015

Official recalls

3

04V421000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Aug 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.

01V031000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

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.

00V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.