What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2001 Mercury Cougar

Typical pattern

8.1% of complaints about the 2001 Mercury Cougar came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2001 vehicle — around the middle of the 216 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is fuel system (18 complaints), typically at 4.8 yr or about 102,000 miles.

Complaints
99
Median age at failure
4.7 yr
Median mileage
78,000 n=68
Crash / fire / tow
17.2% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Fuel system
18 reports · 102,000 mi
4.8 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

08E033000 2008-04-14
Suspension

FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.

THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E022000 2006-03-13
Service brakes, hydraulic

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

04V421000 2004-08-30
Fuel system

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.

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.

In owners’ own words

Fuel system mileage not reported 8 mo in service
CONSUMER COULD SMELL GAS COMING THROUGH VENTS. FUEL WAS ALSO LEAKING ON GROUND. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER, BEING INSPECTED. *AK
Fuel system mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service
FUEL SMELL WAS COMING FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Fuel system 52,000 mi 2.8 yr in service
FUEL PUMP FAILURE - FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED PREVIOUSLY (WITH AN OEM FORD ONE), WHILE DRIVING ON I95 NEAR DC IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, PUMP DIED, CAUSING CAR TO STALL, ALMOST CAUSING A MULTI CAR ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO MERGE THRU TRAFFIC TO REACH THE BREAKDOWN LANE. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP (52,000 MILES). NOW AT 61,000 THE PUMP IS DYING AGAIN. *LA

Other Cougar model years

2002200120001999

How to read this