← New search

2002 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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

79 reports with mileage · 16 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 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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
50,000 miles · Jan 29, 2008
Fuel System, GasolineLatches/locks/linkagesVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE IDLING, THE ENGINE REVS AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V194000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED FOR WEEKS AT A T…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE IDLING, THE ENGINE REVS AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V194000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V421000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND THE DOORS ARE SHUT, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK. ALSO, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V226000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES: DOORS:LATCH). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10216394

Official recalls

1

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.