IllustrationVEHICLE HAD LOSS OF POWER AND LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING. WIRING HARNESS, ALTERNATOR AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR NEED REPLACED.VEHICLE HAS 47000 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAID IT WAS 4TH COUGAR WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT YET NO RECALL. COST OF REPAIR IS AT LEAST $800.00.
2000 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
90–25K
2425–50K
2950–75K
1975–100K
15100–150K
3150K+
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
What owners actually said
211 reportsPROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. TS
I WAS IN A MINOR MVA IN WHICH THE AIRBAGS BOTH DEPLOYED. DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WAS COSMETIC BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN THE SAME SINCE. I SUFFER FROM ATTACKS OF VERTIGO, DIZZINESS, BLURRED VISION, LIGHT HYPERSENSITIVITY, LOUDNESS SENSITIVITY AND HAVE CONSTANT TINNITUS TO NAME A FEW. AIRBAGS SHOULD BE OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT AND ALL EXSISTING A…
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I WAS IN A MINOR MVA IN WHICH THE AIRBAGS BOTH DEPLOYED. DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WAS COSMETIC BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN THE SAME SINCE. I SUFFER FROM ATTACKS OF VERTIGO, DIZZINESS, BLURRED VISION, LIGHT HYPERSENSITIVITY, LOUDNESS SENSITIVITY AND HAVE CONSTANT TINNITUS TO NAME A FEW. AIRBAGS SHOULD BE OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT AND ALL EXSISTING AUTO'S WITH THEM SHOULD HAVE ON/OFF SWITCHES INSTALLED.
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND THE CONSUMER HIT THE CURB. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THE CONSUMER WISHES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NUT FELL FROM AN AREA WHICH TURNS THE FRONT WHEELS FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. PRIOR TO THIS, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING WORKED ON FOR THE ALTERNATOR. THIS FAILURE OCCURED WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL TURNED OUTWARD AND DRIVERS SIDE STILL STRAIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE D…
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THE CONSUMER WISHES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NUT FELL FROM AN AREA WHICH TURNS THE FRONT WHEELS FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. PRIOR TO THIS, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING WORKED ON FOR THE ALTERNATOR. THIS FAILURE OCCURED WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL TURNED OUTWARD AND DRIVERS SIDE STILL STRAIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS
SAME AS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ISSUE, HOWEVER, THIS TIME THE REPLACED PART (ALTERNATOR) FAILS AFTER ONE DAY OF OPERATION. VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AGAIN, WHILE APPROACHING TRAFFIC LIGHT. ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT, GAUGES WERE NOT RESPONDING, RADIO SHUT OFF ETC. AGAIN, POSSIBLE FAILURE REPORTED IN WARRANTY PERIOD, HOWEVER, DEALER AND MANUFACTUR…
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SAME AS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ISSUE, HOWEVER, THIS TIME THE REPLACED PART (ALTERNATOR) FAILS AFTER ONE DAY OF OPERATION. VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AGAIN, WHILE APPROACHING TRAFFIC LIGHT. ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT, GAUGES WERE NOT RESPONDING, RADIO SHUT OFF ETC. AGAIN, POSSIBLE FAILURE REPORTED IN WARRANTY PERIOD, HOWEVER, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO REPAIR. 11/12/2002 REPAIR APPEARS TO HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING. WILL NEVER BUY FOMOCO PRODUCT AGAIN. CONTEMPLATING CONTACTING ATTORNEY AND RESOLVE SITUATION WITH FOMOCO. DT
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR BLOWING OUT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND HAS FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. MR
PRIOR TO FAILLURE, DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED REGARDING THE FLASHING BATTERY LIGHT. LIGHTS WOULD DIM DURING ACCELERATIONS OR REVING OF ENGINE. PRIOR TO FINAL WARRENTY CHECK (@ 35.800 MILES), NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP THAT ALTERNATOR PROBABLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS DENIED BY DEALERSHIP. NOW, 1500 MILES LATER, AND …
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PRIOR TO FAILLURE, DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED REGARDING THE FLASHING BATTERY LIGHT. LIGHTS WOULD DIM DURING ACCELERATIONS OR REVING OF ENGINE. PRIOR TO FINAL WARRENTY CHECK (@ 35.800 MILES), NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP THAT ALTERNATOR PROBABLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS DENIED BY DEALERSHIP. NOW, 1500 MILES LATER, AND OUT OF WARRANTY, ALTERNATOR FAILS CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE MANY MORE FOMOCO VEHICLES (COUGARS, CONTOURS) HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER FOMOCO REFUSES TO ISSUE RECALL TOTAL REPAIR COST $700. DT
CONSUMER STATES WHLE DRIVING THE SUN ROOF HINGES BROKE, CONSUMER WILL FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE SAME VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO 100 MPH BEFORE SLOWING DOWN,. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Official recalls
304V421000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.