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

2002 Mercury Cougar

Typical pattern

8.2% of complaints about the 2002 Mercury Cougar came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2002 vehicle — around the middle of the 230 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is fuel system (40 complaints), typically at 6.3 yr or about 74,500 miles.

Complaints
122
Median age at failure
6.2 yr
Median mileage
74,500 n=99
Crash / fire / tow
15.6% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Fuel system
40 reports · 74,500 mi
6.3 yr
7.5%

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 17,136 mi 1.8 yr in service
FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT READING CORRECTLY. AFTER THE SECOND REPLACEMENT, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WOULDN'T RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK *NM
Fuel system mileage not reported 2.4 yr in service
AS LISTED I HAVE A 2002 MERCURY COUGAR AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OF THE PROBLEMS (FUEL PUMP, STEERING COLUMN, AIRBAGS.......) I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED THREE TIMES AND HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 20 OCCASIONS.*AK
Fuel system 60,000 mi 1.1 yr in service crash / fire / tow
I HAVE A 2002 COUGAR WITH 60K MILES AND I'VE ALREADY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP,POWER STEERING PUMP, AND NOW THE HEATER CORE IS CLOGGED. ALTHOUGH LINCOLN/MERCURY IS THE ONLY ONE TO WORK ON THE CAR, THE WARRANTY WONT COVER A CLOG. THEY WILL COVER A LEAK...BUT NOT A CLOGG. HOW ASININE IS THAT? FIDELITY WARRANTY SERVICE IS A JOKE! *NM

Other Cougar model years

2002200120001999

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