IllustrationLOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT PINCH BOLT CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING CAR. CAR CAME TO STOP AND COULD NOT TURN WHEEL. REPLACED R/F LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BOLT NUT M12 HF PIP 8, OLT M12X55 HEX. ARM BSHG & JT ASY-FR ALIGMENT. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR $517.41. *AK
2001 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
40–25K
1325–50K
1050–75K
775–100K
10100–150K
7150K+
51 reports with mileage · 31 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.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports6 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
82 reportsWHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND THEN IT STALLED, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
THE HEATING/COOLER GAUGE WORKS UP TO 2 THEN YOU HAVE TO MESS WITH THE CONTROLLER TO TURN IT UP TO 3 OR 4. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB *SC
2001 COUGAR STALLS AND LOOSES POWER AND WONT RESTART UNTIL THE NEXT DAY ONLY TO STALL AGAIN AT ANY SPEED. HAS BEEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP 7 TIMES AND 2 INDEPENDENT GARAGES. DEALERSHIP & GARAGE CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. WAS ALMOST HIT TWICE FROM BEHIND STALLING ON HIGHWAY.*AK
EARLY JULY OF 2004, THE CONSUMER FOUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT TIRE. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRE. TWO MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS FOUND FLAT, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TIRE IS. B-.F . MODEL COMPT/8 DR4. MODEL P215/15R16 DOT: 89VMTS THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRE AT HIS …
Read full complaint
EARLY JULY OF 2004, THE CONSUMER FOUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT TIRE. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRE. TWO MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS FOUND FLAT, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TIRE IS. B-.F . MODEL COMPT/8 DR4. MODEL P215/15R16 DOT: 89VMTS THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRE AT HIS EXPENSE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND RADIATOR LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
TEN MINUTES AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES REPLACED AND WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A WOMAN. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. *AK
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED BY POPPING THE CLUTCH. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIRING AROUND THE STARTER BURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE STALLING AND FUEL PUMP. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT FORD REIMBURSE THE COST OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART. *SC *JB
Official recalls
104V421000 · 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.
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.