Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Mercury Cougar problems
Owners filed 67 complaints about the 1996 Mercury Cougar with NHTSA between Aug 1996 and Aug 2011. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (20).
Complaints
67
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling20
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Vehicle speed control6
- Visibility4
- Structure4
- Power train4
- Tires4
- Latches/locks/linkages3
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Electrical system3
- Suspension3
- Air bags3
- Seat belts3
- Equipment2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
11
3
4
10
5
6
4
8
5
2
0
1
0
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1997 | 11 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 4 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
20 reports
“TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
6 reports
“DT: WITHOUT WARNING WHILE STEPPING ON BRAKE THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE, AND THE ENGINE WILL REV UP. CALLER HAS TO STOMP ON BRAKE HARD TO GET IT TO STAY STILL. CAR CAN BE IN GEAR OR IN PARK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. EVERY TIME HE HAS TAPPED THE BRAKE JUST BEFORE THIS HAPPENS.*AK”
Vehicle speed control
6 reports
“ON FIVE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK”
Visibility
4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLIMATE CONTROL ADJUSTER FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE BLOWER WOULD ONLY FUNCTION ON HIGH AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ADJUST THE DEFROST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/24/12*LJ”
Structure
4 reports
“CHECK FOR COOLANT LEAK AT INTAKE MANIFOLD. REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD. THERE WERE REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TIRE ROTATION. *BF THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, AND THE COOLANT LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT AND ADDED A CUP OF WATER. THE CONSUMER'S SON IN LAW WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE RUBBER STRIP ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMING OFF, THE RIGHT REAR TRIM PANEL COMING LOOSE, THE BRAKES MADE RUBBING NOISE INTERMITTENTLY, GLOVE BOX DOOR WON'T SHUT, THE AIR BAG WOULD RATTLE, THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR RATTLED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AND THE DOOR SWITCH TRIM PANEL WAS DISCOLORED. *SC”
Power train
4 reports1 crash
“HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS SHORTED OUT MANY TIMES. LOCAL DELARSHIP KNOWS THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE HAD IT REPLACED BY A LOCAL SHOP THREE TIMES. FOD HAD CHECKED FOR ELECTRICAL SHORTS AND SAID THEY WERE ALL FINE.*AK AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION WENT OUT BECAUSE THE FILTER WASNT GETTING ENOUGH FLUID BECAUSE THE FILTER WASNT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FAN 96 COUGAR 41,000 ORIGINAL MILES”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.