Mercury Cougar

Is your Mercury Cougar a lemon?

The Mercury Cougar is considered a safe bet for small families. This front-drive vehicle has two engines available. The first is a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder that gives the vehicle 125 hp and 130 lb-ft of torque, as well as a five-speed manual transmission. The second is a 2.5-liter V6 with 170 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque. Both the standard five-speed transmission and a four-speed automatic are available for this engine.

The V6 model is considered the safer bet. It offers side airbags and antilock brakes, as well as a traction control system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) side-impact crash test for its front and rear passenger protection gave Mercury Cougar three stars out of five.

The Cougar has a large cargo area and a comfortable rear seat. The sliding front passenger seat makes it easier to get in an out of the vehicle. In addition, the Cougar boasts of a firm suspension and tight steering.

But that is not the end of the story. The Mercury Cougar is marred by a number of complaints. The Mercury Cougar has faced several recalls involving the fuel injection system, electrical problems, and the hydraulic systems. Many owners feel it is the definition of a lemon.

Common Problems

These are the common problems faced by the users of Mercury Cougar, as filed with the NHTSA.

• Service Brakes, Hydraulic
• Fuel System, Gasoline
• Electrical System
• Electrical System: Battery: Cables
• Unintended Acceleration
• Transmission problems

Problems associated with the fuel filter have often been the source of complaints. Contamination of the filter in the fuel delivery module (FDM) can reduce and eventually block the follow of fuel to the engine. As a result, owners have experienced engine hesitation, loss of power, surging and similar problems. With time, the filter can become sufficiently blocked to cause the engine to stall, which could result in a crash.

The Mercury Cougar's battery cables have also been problematic. In some cases, the battery cable was misrouted and its attachment to the alternator cable was under-torqued. The misrouted cable can contact the power steering line and the insulation could wear, resulting in an electrical short. The consequences of such an electrical short include stalling, a no start condition, and even a fire.

In some reported cases, the Mercury Cougar was not equipped with the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). A Pressure Conscious Reducing Valve (PCRV) in the rear brakes became corroded and consequently did not perform well when operated in areas that use salt compounds on the roadway for de-icing or dust control. If both PCRVs are malfunctioning, the vehicle handling can be adversely affected during braking, which in turn increases the risk of a crash.

Legal Rights

See the listing at the above right for things you can do.