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 reports
49,700 miles · Jun 28, 2004
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
2001 MERCURY COUGAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH AND A HALF. TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY AND 3 TIMES IDLE. CAR WAS COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF WITHOUT RESTARTING AND 2 COMPUTER CHIPS WERE REPLACED DUE TO FORD PUTTING IN A BAD CHIP. CAR IS NOW STALLING WHEN GOING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR STOPPED AND HAS BEEN IN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP 3 TIMES W…
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2001 MERCURY COUGAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH AND A HALF. TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY AND 3 TIMES IDLE. CAR WAS COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF WITHOUT RESTARTING AND 2 COMPUTER CHIPS WERE REPLACED DUE TO FORD PUTTING IN A BAD CHIP. CAR IS NOW STALLING WHEN GOING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR STOPPED AND HAS BEEN IN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP 3 TIMES WITHIN A 3 WEEK PERIOD SO THE CAR IS NOW STALLING ONCE A WEEK. BRAND NEW WIRES, THROTTLE BODY, IDLE CENSOR WAS REPLACED AND IT'S STILL STALLING. SPENT A SMALL FORTUNE ON RENTAL CARS, TOW TRUCKS AND REPAIRS. FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. WILL NEVER EVER BUY AN AMERICAN CAR AGAIN!
NHTSA ODI #10078947
33,000 miles · May 25, 2004
Fuel System, Other
I HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER AS IF MY CAR WAS NOT GETTING GAS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS. DEALER REPLACED THE DPFE UNIT. GOOD FOR 4 MONTHS. STALLED OUT. WE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER. DID NOT WORK, STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. STALLED OUT ON THE ROAD AGAIN, HAD TO BE TOWED. TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN. THEY REPLACED…
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I HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER AS IF MY CAR WAS NOT GETTING GAS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS. DEALER REPLACED THE DPFE UNIT. GOOD FOR 4 MONTHS. STALLED OUT. WE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER. DID NOT WORK, STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. STALLED OUT ON THE ROAD AGAIN, HAD TO BE TOWED. TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN. THEY REPLACED THE DPFE UNIT AGAIN. STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. ALSO, EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL REGISTERING AFTER FILLING THE CAR UP, IT STILL READ EMPTY. STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM WITH HESITATION AND STALLING OUT. THE DEALER IS GOING TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. SINCE I RECEIVED THE LETTER OF RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10073110
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP. *MR *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10073758
38,000 miles · Apr 28, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER HIT A PILE OF SAND AND LOST CONTROL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLE TWICE. VEHICLE LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10071743
25,000 miles · Apr 21, 2004
Visibility
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC , WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10068630
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2004
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER APPLIED THE CLUTCH, AND THE CLUTCH WAS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10063556
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10059864
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Wheels
BLISTERS ON THE SIDEWALLS OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A BENT WHEEL, THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS DUE THE SHORT SIDEWALL HEIGHT ALONG WITH THE WHEEL DESIGN THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. DURING THE VEHICLE'S NEXT OIL CHANGE, THE CONSUMER WAS AGAIN INFORMED THE VEHICLE HAD TWO MORE BENT WHE…
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BLISTERS ON THE SIDEWALLS OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A BENT WHEEL, THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS DUE THE SHORT SIDEWALL HEIGHT ALONG WITH THE WHEEL DESIGN THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. DURING THE VEHICLE'S NEXT OIL CHANGE, THE CONSUMER WAS AGAIN INFORMED THE VEHICLE HAD TWO MORE BENT WHEELS. *JB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10055478
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2004
TiresWheels
CONSUMER NOTICED BLISTERS ON SIDEWALL OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. DEALERSHIP ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE BENT DUE TO SHORT SIDEWALL HEIGHT. *LA THE VIBRATIONS FROM THE TIRES AND WHEEL CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. *SC THE DEALERSHIP FELT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE MAGNESIUM/ALUMINUM WHEELS AND THE…
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CONSUMER NOTICED BLISTERS ON SIDEWALL OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. DEALERSHIP ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE BENT DUE TO SHORT SIDEWALL HEIGHT. *LA THE VIBRATIONS FROM THE TIRES AND WHEEL CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. *SC THE DEALERSHIP FELT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE MAGNESIUM/ALUMINUM WHEELS AND THE LOW PROFILE TIRES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10057298
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2003
Air BagsCrash
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER DIED AS A RESULT. *AK *SCC *JB
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2001 Mercury Cougar Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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