Model year record

2000 MERCURY Cougar

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 283 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V421000

Fuel system, gasoline

Component
Fuel system, gasoline
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
88,600
Reported to NHTSA
2004-08-30
Owners notified
2004-04-16

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 01V031000

Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables

Component
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
120,000
Reported to NHTSA
2001-02-06
Owners notified
2001-03-22

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THE SHORT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE, STALLING, OR A NO-START CONDITION.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V075000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
436,200
Reported to NHTSA
2000-03-09
Owners notified
2000-10-11

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system2570,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump2340,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator2059,875 mi
Fuel system, gasoline1392,788 mi
Vehicle speed control1332,000 mi
Unknown or other1270,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly1270,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables1067,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling1065,000 mi
Air bags925,214 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline860,000 mi
Air bags: frontal790,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission755,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine510,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system583,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition423,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch4
Exterior lighting: headlights426,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip470,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery3
Equipment382,150 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly338,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch3
Steering3
Steering: hydraulic power assist system323,000 mi
Structure: body: bumpers324,260 mi
Tires3
Electrical system: wiring235,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers2
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control240,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.2
Exterior lighting2
Power train2
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist223,000 mi
Tires: sidewall2
Vehicle speed control: cruise control239,000 mi
Visibility/wiper295,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls235,900 mi
Air bags: side/window1
Electrical system: horn1
Electrical system: starter assembly1
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe164,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1
Equipment: electrical123,000 mi
Exterior lighting: tail lights1
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting171,000 mi
Fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump160,000 mi
Fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly130,000 mi
Interior lighting1
Latches/locks/linkages170,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1
Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: lock1
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly1
Seat belts: integrated child seat1
Service brakes1165,000 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock1
Service brakes, hydraulic1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor1
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
Steering: column1
Steering: rack and pinion154,000 mi
Structure: body1
Structure: body: door1
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate1
Structure: body: trunk lid1
Suspension1
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1
Vehicle speed control: cables1
Visibility1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor1
Wheels1
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs1
Wheels: rim1

The 1999 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2001 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.