Known Recalls

Model year record

2002 MERCURY Cougar

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 127 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, gasoline2284,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump1642,000 mi
Engine9126,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission764,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling574,500 mi
Air bags4125,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system492,000 mi
Air bags: frontal312,000 mi
Electrical system392,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine35,000 mi
Suspension39,967 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly399,000 mi
Exterior lighting2165,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery277,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly271,000 mi
Structure: body2110,000 mi
Unknown or other292,000 mi
Vehicle speed control230,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal212,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition1—
Electronic stability control (ESC)1126,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system160,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline1—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system155,500 mi
Equipment160,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly1—
Fuel system, other185,000 mi
Fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump190,000 mi
Fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings139,450 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system150,500 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch150,000 mi
Power train1—
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter185,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly184,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission14,026 mi
Seat belts166,600 mi
Seats146,800 mi
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1—
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1—
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump160,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion: rack1—
Tires112,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems112,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt116,000 mi
Unknown1—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor159,407 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core160,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls1800 mi
Wheels113,000 mi

The 2001 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.