Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 41 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 →
Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

1 reports

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126,000 miles · Jan 20, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel System, Gasoline

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MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2002 MERCURY COUGAR AND IS RISKING HER LIFE AS WELL AS OTHERS LIVES EVERY TIME SHE GETS INSIDE THAT CAR. HER COUGAR HER BEEN HAVING ISSUES FOR MONTHS NOW, AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO MAKE THE CAR SAFER FOR HER, NOTHING IS WORKING. OUR LAST STRAW WAS THREE DAYS AGO, WHEN THE CAR STALLED ON HER ON THE HIGHWAY. SHE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN THE CAR STALLED AND SHUT OFF LEAVING HER STRANDED WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK. HER CAR, FOR MONTHS, HAS BEEN SURGING WHILE AT COMPLETE STOPS, AND HAS BEEN SHUTTING OFF WHILE AT A STAND STILL. WE'VE TRIED FIXING MANY THINGS, BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO BE FIXING THE ISSUE. AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. CAN SOMEONE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PLEASE?? ITS CLEARLY AN ON-GOING ISSUE AND IS COSTING PEOPLE LOTS OF MONEY. HER CAR IS CURRENTLY BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, AND IS UNDERGOING DIAGNOSTICS. WE WERE ALREADY TOLD THAT HER CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AND WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR EVEN MORE WORK, OUT OF POCKET. PLEASE HELP.. WHY WAS IT NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, SEEING THAT IT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS?! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560713

Official recalls

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.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.