Known Recalls

Model year record

2001 MERCURY Cougar

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 103 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.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump849,700 mi
Electrical system790,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline7102,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission748,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system6151,645 mi
Engine and engine cooling475,000 mi
Tires4147,892 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly485,000 mi
Air bags: frontal3—
Engine and engine cooling: engine34,002 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline367,000 mi
Air bags238,000 mi
Equipment279,888 mi
Exterior lighting2173,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery2—
Structure: body: roof and pillars255,000 mi
Vehicle speed control220,075 mi
Visibility261,000 mi
Wheels2—
Air bags: side/window1—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables1—
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator136,900 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch1156,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring150,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1—
Engine159,800 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system178,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor167,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors1111,000 mi
Fuel system, other179,888 mi
Fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump133,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter138,400 mi
Power train: clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)1—
Power train: manual transmission1—
Service brakes1173,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic179,888 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: hydraulic113,000 mi
Steering179,888 mi
Structure126,500 mi
Structure: body1146,246 mi
Structure: body: door1—
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint133,045 mi
Suspension: front: stabilizer bar1—
Suspension: front: wheel bearing167,000 mi
Tires: sidewall1—
Unknown or other1—
Vehicle speed control: cables139,500 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor125,000 mi

The 2000 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2002 model has roughly the same number of 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.