1989 Mercury Cougar Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

1989 Mercury Cougar recalls

Most common 1989 Mercury Cougar problems

Problem areas named in the 81 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem area	Reports
Vehicle Speed Control	22
Seat Belts	17
Electrical System	13
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	11
Engine And Engine Cooling	10
Power Train	6
Equipment	6
Steering	4
Visibility	3
Exterior Lighting	3

What owners report

2008-11-09, Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CAR IS NOW TOAST. IT WAS ABOUT 100 MILES PAST ITS SCHEDULED OIL-CHANGE/TUNE UP BUT OTHERWISE HAS BEEN WELL-CARED-FOR AND WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. I WAS DRIVING, AND A BEEPING STARTED. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT'S COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE CAR, AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON WARNING OF VERY LOW BATTERY, BUT NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT THE BACK (REARVIEW AND SIDE MIRRORS) AND IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING SYNTHETIC IS BURNING (THIS ALL HAPPENS IN SECONDS TIME); SO, I PULL OVER, PARK, TURN THE CAR OFF. MY FRIEND AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. WITH THE CAR STOPPED I REALIZED THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED AAA FOR A TOW-TRUCK AND THE SMOKE WAS DYING DOWN. THEN TH

2003-07-30, Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE PLASTIC BLOCK THAT CONNECTS THE THROTTLE VALVE (TV) CABLE TO THE THROTTLE LEVER BROKE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE THROTTLE LEVER. THE PLASTIC BLOCK, STILL CONNECTED TO THE TV CABLE, DROPPED DOWN AND WEDGED BETWEEN THE THROTTLE LEVER AND A FUEL RAIL AND PREVENTED THE THROTTLE LEVEL FROM GOING BACK TO THE NORMAL IDLE POSITION. WHEN APPROCHING STOPPED TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION THE PARTIALLY OPEN THROTTLE PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING AS USUAL AND A COLLISION RESULTED. WHEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE IDLED AT 3000 RPM. WHEN THE PLASTIC TV CABLE BLOCK WAS UNWEDGED FROM BETWEEN THE THROTTLE LEVER AND THE FUEL RAIL THE ENGINE IDLE SPEED W

2003-07-22, Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING, CUSTOMER SMELT A BURNING ODOR. THEN DIGITAL DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. MAYBE CAUSE BY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE.

2003-02-20, Seat Belts
I HAVE TRIED TWICE TO ASK FORD TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF SEATBELT FAILURE IN THE COUGAR. THEY HAVE STATED THAT "ALTHOUGH IT IS A VITAL SAFETY COMPONENT THERE IS NO RECALL AND MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. YOU SHOULD PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED QUICKLY." I REFUSE TO PAY IN EXCESS OF 500.00 TO THE FORD GARAGE TO FIX A STANDARD SAFETY COMPONENT ! AMONG THE HEAD GASKET , E.G.R., TRANS. , P.W. MOTORS, AND COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT, I BELIEVE I HAVE PAID FOR ENOUGH OF THEIR FAILURES IN THIS AUTO! I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY WOULD DEVISE SUCH A WORTHLESS SAFETY DEVICE AND THEN NOT ONLY ADMIT IT IS HAZARDOUS, BUT TELL CUSTOMERS OF SUCH AN EXPENSIVE ITEM THAT THEY NEED TO GET IT FIXED BY T

2003-01-06, Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A REREATED BRAKE PROBLEM; WHEN SLIGHTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, DURING HIGH/LOW SPEEDS, CITY/HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUES TO DEPRESS ON ITS OWN UNTIL IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN SLAPS THE CONSUMERS FOOT AS IT COMES BACK UP TO NORMAL POSITION, WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING FOR 15 MINS, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AT LOW/NO SPEED-AND HAS HAPPENED TO THE CONSUMER WHEN SITTING AT A RED LIGHT/ON SEVERAL TIMES WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM-@ J & S/DIFEO FORD SERVICE STATION. UNTRUSTING FORDS SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MIDAS, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIX THE PROBL

1989 Mercury Cougar questions

Does the 1989 Mercury Cougar have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 1989 Mercury Cougar: Electrical System:Ignition; Suspension:Rear:Springs; Service Brakes, Air:Disc:Caliper; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 1989 Mercury Cougar?

Based on 81 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Vehicle Speed Control (22), Seat Belts (17), Electrical System (13).

How do I check if a recall on my 1989 Mercury Cougar has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.