Problems · by component

1999 Mercury Cougar exterior lighting problems

33 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Mercury Cougar cite exterior lighting, 7% of all 454 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
33
7% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I GOT IN MY CAR ONE DAY AFTER WORK IN THE PARKING LOT AND STARTED MY CAR AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. IT STAYED ON FOR THREE DAYS AND IS NO LONGER ON. IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OR PROVIDE SOLUTIONS FOR THE PROBLEM. EVERYTIME I ROLL UP MY WINDOWS, MY LIGHTS DIM AS IF THE BATTERY IS DYING. MY WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL DOESN'T SHUT OFF AND IM NOT ABLE TO CHANGE THE SPEED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 10947691
“TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: (MANAGEMENT) I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND WAS HONKED AT BY ANOTHER DRIVER WHO TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKES LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE THAT IS A CERTIFIED REPAIR PERSON LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT WASN'T THE LIGHT OR THE FUSE OR THE BRAKE SWITCH UNDER THE PEDAL AND THAT HE WAS 95% SURE IT WAS THE STOP LAMP EXTENSION HARNESS THAT HAS BRONZE TERMINALS AT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CONNECTOR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2004 AND UNDER A RECALL HAD THE BLOWER SWITCH RESISTOR REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE REASON THE RECALLS FOR THIS CAR ARE NOT SHOWING UP IS BECAUSE THE RECALLS ARE MORE THAN 15 YEARS OLD & THEY DON'T KEEP TRACK AFTER THAT. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR BEFORE BUT I HAVE HAD OVER $9,000 WORTH OF REPAIRS ON IT SINCE I'VE OWNED IT NOT INCLUDING THE NORMAL OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UP. I THINK FORD NEEDS TO APPROVE THIS FOR THE RECALL CONSIDERING THEY KNEW HOW MANY THINGS WERE WRONG WITH THE COUGARS AND THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE... NOT A SATISFIED CUSTOMER WITH A FORD PRODUCT! FIRST & LAST FORD PRODUCT I WILL EVER OWN IF THIS ISN'T FIXED TO MY SATISFACTION. THANK-YOU, [XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2015Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 10724828
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY RECALLS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V032000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING ). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2013Exterior lightingODI 10550854
“BOUGHT CAR AT DEALER ON 02/05/01 SINCE THEN I'VE HAD TO REPAIR CAR ON TOO MANY OCCASIONS. HERE SOME OF THE REPAIRS I'VE HAD TO DO ON THIS CAR EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT. ON 3/01: BRAKES, 10/01: DEALERSHIP REPLACED BATTERY AND PERFORMED A RECALL,12/01: DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALTERNATOR, 05/02: BRAKE PADS, 04/04: WATER PUMP BELT, 09/04: REPLACED BATTER, 10/11/04: REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BELT, 10/14/04: REPLACED POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL, 12/04: REPLACED RADIO, 02/06: REPLACED MOTOR MOUNT, 01/07:REPLACED BATTERY, 02/07: REPLACED STRUT, 02/08: REPLACED SHOCK ABSORBER, 10/08: REPLACED BATTERY, 04/09: REPLACED BEARING, TRANSMISSION & ANCHOR ENGINE MOUNT AND DON'T HAVE THE DATE BUT ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THESE REPAIRS ARE WHAT I HAVE IN RECEIPTS YET FOR EXAMPLE I HAVE REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS MORE THAN ONCE. CURRENTLY THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF MY VEHICLE DO NOT FUNCTION: THE HORN NO LONGER WORKS, CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT FUNCTIONING, THE AIR CONDITIONER NO LONGER HEATS, & THE BRAKE LIGHT OF MY VEHICLE REMAINED LIT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON AND NOW HAVE FAILED TO TURN OUT (LAMP SOCKET IS BURNT). *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 7, 2009Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10294762
“I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR AUTOMATIC V6. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. LIKE OTHER 1999 ' 2000 MERCURY COUGAR OWNERS I WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH MORE PROBLEMS THAN CAN COST EFFECTIVELY BE FIXED. MY LIST OF BROKEN ITEMS INCLUDE THE RADIO, POWER WINDOW REGULATOR, O2 SENSORS, TRANSMISSION AT 59,000 MILES, DASHBOARD LIGHTS (LOW COOLANT AND CHECK ENGINE), DOOR/WINDOW LEAKY SEAL ISSUES, ENGINE MISFIRE (DECREASED ACCELERATION) AND NOW MY CRUISE CONTROL AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. UPON RESEARCHING THE RECALL FOR CRUISE CONTROL FIRES DEALING WITH FORD PRODUCTS I FOUND THAT I AM AMONG OTHER DISGRUNTLED COUGAR OWNERS. FORD/MERCURY OR FORD TECHNICIANS HAVE NOT DONE A SATISFACTORY JOB LETTING OWNERS KNOW OF RECALLS THAT NEED ATTENTION. MY LATEST CONCERN IS THAT MY COUGAR MIGHT START ON FIRE, PER MY COMPLAINT WITH FORD; THEY SEE NO THREAT WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ISSUES AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE NHTSA WITH MY COMPLAINT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2008Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure, Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 10222903
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS BECAME DIM. THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO DIMMED IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE CONTACT BEGAN DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ALSO FLICKERED AND DIMMED, BUT THEN ILLUMINATED TO FULL CAPACITY. THE FAILURE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V031000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,700.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2008Exterior lighting, Electrical systemODI 10219440

Showing 6 of 33 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH TERMINALS COULD OVERHEAT.

Exterior lightingReported Feb 6, 2001NHTSA 01V032000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.