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 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER. THEN, CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. . BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED THE NEXT DAY. THEN, MECHANIC ANALYZED THE PROBLEM, AND INFORME…
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WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER. THEN, CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. . BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED THE NEXT DAY. THEN, MECHANIC ANALYZED THE PROBLEM, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VOLTAGE SENSOR CIRCUIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094313
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A SOLENOID SWITCH. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS A QUARTER FULL VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT …
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A SOLENOID SWITCH. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS A QUARTER FULL VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10087740
36,000 miles · Sep 7, 2004
Electrical System
THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD KEPT DIMING WHEN EVER I HAD HIT THE GAS. DID INFORM L/M OF PROBLEM AND HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THAT THIS DOES HAPPEN ON SOME COUGARS BUT NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. I BOUGHT IT IN AGAIN FOR SOMETHING AND MENTION THE DIMING AGAIN AND THEY SAID TH…
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THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD KEPT DIMING WHEN EVER I HAD HIT THE GAS. DID INFORM L/M OF PROBLEM AND HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THAT THIS DOES HAPPEN ON SOME COUGARS BUT NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. I BOUGHT IT IN AGAIN FOR SOMETHING AND MENTION THE DIMING AGAIN AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING TO ME. ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY MY CAR STARTED TO LOSS POWER AND BY THE TIME I GOT HOME I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER. I CALLED L/M AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD TO BRING MY CAR IN.THEY INFORM ME IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR. I HAD 3/36 WARR ON IT & I HAD NOT EVEN 37,000 ON IT AND L/M TOLD ME IT WASN'T COVER UNDER WARR AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $1000.00. THAT WAS ON 12/19/2002...ON 9/4/2004 I WAS DRIVING AND CAR WENT OUT ON ME AND I BOUGHT IT TO FIRESTONE AND THEY MY BATTERY WAS SO DEAD AND THEY COULDN'T EVEN FINISH THE TESTING AFTER PUTTING IN A NEW BATTERY THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY ALTERNTOR.THIS IS THE 3RD ONE SINCE I PURCHASE MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DIMING WHICH IS STILL HAPPENING WASN'T A PROBLEM AND NOW I AM ON MY 3 RD ALTERTNER. EVEN I KNOW THERE IS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULN'T BEEN HAPPENING ON A CAR LESS THEN 5 YRS OLD AND IT 3RD ALTERNATOR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090565
90,000 miles · Sep 3, 2004
Air BagsCrash
AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10090366
Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2004
Steering
DRIVING THE CAR, AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOSE. COULD EASILY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE MAIN BOLT THAT CONNECTS TO STEERING COLUMN BROKE, UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR, WAS CLASSIFIED AS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10088990
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUEL PUMP RECALL, POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.*MR THE CONSUMER'S RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER WHICH REFERENCE A HESITATION/SURGING PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED THE NEWLY DESIGNED FUEL PUMPS AND TO CALL BACK IN LATE MAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED BACK IN LATE MAY…
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FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUEL PUMP RECALL, POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.*MR THE CONSUMER'S RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER WHICH REFERENCE A HESITATION/SURGING PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED THE NEWLY DESIGNED FUEL PUMPS AND TO CALL BACK IN LATE MAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED BACK IN LATE MAY THE PART WAS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE PART DID NOT ARRIVE UNTIL MID JULY AND THE CONSUMER DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF THAT MORNING TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED THAT AFTERNOON TO PICK IT UP THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE INCORRECT PART WAS ORDERED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO KEPT OVERNIGHT. THE PUMP WAS FINALLY REPLACED THE NEXT DAY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PICK THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT SHE SMELL FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE SMELL WOULD GO AWAY IN A FEW DAYS. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT AN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HE FOUND THAT THE FLOOR UNDER THE BACK SEAT WAS CUT TO REMOVE THE OLD FUEL PUMP AND THAT THE NEW FUEL PUMP WAS SECURED WITH DUCT TAPE, NOT THE RETAINER RING. *NM
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
39,000 miles · Jul 19, 2004
Visibility
SUN ROOF BROKEN ON MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR 1) THERE WAS NO WARNING LEADING UP TO IT BREAKING. 2) I WAS OPENING THE SUN ROOF AND THEN A LOUD "POP" NOISE AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. FORD USED PLASTIC RAILS FOR THE SUN ROOF AND THEY CAN'T SUPPORT IT. THEY LATER CORRECTED THE NEWER MODEL COUGARS WITH METAL RAILS BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY A…
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SUN ROOF BROKEN ON MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR 1) THERE WAS NO WARNING LEADING UP TO IT BREAKING. 2) I WAS OPENING THE SUN ROOF AND THEN A LOUD "POP" NOISE AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. FORD USED PLASTIC RAILS FOR THE SUN ROOF AND THEY CAN'T SUPPORT IT. THEY LATER CORRECTED THE NEWER MODEL COUGARS WITH METAL RAILS BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY ALMOST $1,000 TO LET THEM FIX IT. 3) IT IS STILL BROKEN. I PAYED MORE FOR THE SUN ROOF IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10082224
66,000 miles · Jul 17, 2004
Electrical System
I HAVE A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN SERVICE FAITHFULLY BY A DEALERSHIP. BUT RECENTLY IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN 3 ALTERNATORS PUT ON MY CAR ALL RESULTING FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSOLE LIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM, THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES AND EVENTUALLY IT S…
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I HAVE A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN SERVICE FAITHFULLY BY A DEALERSHIP. BUT RECENTLY IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN 3 ALTERNATORS PUT ON MY CAR ALL RESULTING FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSOLE LIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM, THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES AND EVENTUALLY IT STAYS LIGHTED AND THE GAUGES ZERO OUT AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN STARTING WITH THE RADIO AND EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE CAR DIES. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO ME WITHIN THE PAST MONTH ALL WHILE DRIVING IN LOT'S OF TRAFFIC. THE LAST TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A PARKING LOT. I'VE SEEN THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER COUGAR OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR AS MINE THAT ARE CONTINUOUSLY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER. WHY? A BRAND NEW CAR SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AND TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IS DEFINITELY HORRIFYING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS JUST PUT THE 4TH ALTERNATOR ON AND SAYS THEY HAD TO REWIRE A HARNESS BUT DIDN'T SAY TO WHAT OR FOR WHAT. IT'S COSTING ME $700 AND HOW AM I TO BELIEVE THAT IT WON'T BREAK DOWN AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW COME FORD DOESN'T ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE ALTERNATOR/BATTERY/WIRING PROBLEM. A BRAND NEW CAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BREAK DOWN BEFORE IT'S PAID FOR. I'M DEFINITELY NOT BUYING ANOTHER MERCURY PRODUCT AGAIN.*AK
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.
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.
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.
2000 Mercury Cougar Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year