Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Mercury Cougar problems
Owners filed 79 complaints about the 1997 Mercury Cougar with NHTSA between Aug 1997 and Jun 2013. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (30).
Complaints
79
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling30
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Power train8
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Suspension6
- Electrical system4
- Tires4
- Visibility3
- Seat belts3
- Equipment2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Service brakes, air2
- Steering2
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 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
5
15
7
3
5
10
13
7
4
2
1
0
1
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 5 |
| 1999 | 15 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
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
30 reports
“MY VEHICLES BECAME TOTALLY DISABLED ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY WITH HEAVY AFTER HOURS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE MANIFOLD WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC BROKE WERE THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS BUILT IN, I ALSO NOTICED THAT A FEW SPARKPLUGS WERE FLOODED WITH COOLANT. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A LAWSUIT ON THESE VEHICLES BUT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT AND ONLY FLEET VEHICLES WERE COVERED AND NOT CIVILIAN VEHICLES. I WONDER IF THERE IS ANY CHANCE FOR ME TO SEEK A DEALERSHIP AND GET REIMBURSED FOR THESE DAMAGES. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
9 reports1 crash
“WE HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. ONE OF WHICH IS THE BRAKES. ANOTHER IS THE COOLING SYSTEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE MANIFOLD BUT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WLLL NOT REPLACE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO DO SO. IN ADDITION THE ENGINE HAD A PROBLEM WHICH NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT.”
Power train
8 reports
“ON 7/29/2003 WHILE FUELING T GAS WAS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. OWNER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THREE HOLES IN THE FUEL LINE. OWNER STATED THAT DRIVESHAFT WAS RUBBING ON THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSED THE HOLES. *AK”
Fuel system, gasoline
7 reports
“FUEL WAS NOTED LEAKING FROM FUEL LINES JUST AFT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, FUEL WAS SEEM RUNNING DOWN THE FUEL LINES AND SIDE OF FUEL TANK. LEAK WAS CAUSED BY FUEL LINES CHAFFING THROUGH ON TOP OF TANK. CAR HAD 51,000 MILES ON IT. *TT”
Suspension
6 reports
“LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE WHEN VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE. *MR THE VEHICLE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY GRINDING TO A HALT. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE LEFT WHEEL RIM WITH EXTENSIVE GRINDING DAMAGE AND WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. *SCC *JB”
Electrical system
4 reports2 fires
“IGNITION FAILED TO TURN WITH KEY. PUT LUBRICANT (WD-40) IN HOLE AND TAPPED WITH HAMMER UNTIL KEY TURNED.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.