1996 Mercury Cougar Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

1996 Mercury Cougar recalls

Most common 1996 Mercury Cougar problems

Problem areas named in the 62 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem area	Reports
Engine And Engine Cooling	23
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	6
Visibility	6
Vehicle Speed Control	5
Structure	5
Tires	5
Power Train	4
Seat Belts	3
Suspension	3
Unknown Or Other	3

What owners report

2011-08-24, Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLIMATE CONTROL ADJUSTER FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE BLOWER WOULD ONLY FUNCTION ON HIGH AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ADJUST THE DEFROST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/24/12*LJ

2011-01-25, Engine And Engine Cooling
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

2010-07-20, Latches/Locks/Linkages
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR AND THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. WHEN SHE CLOSED THE DOORS THEY COULD BE PUSHED OPEN WITH LITTLE EFFORT. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V070000, LATCHES, LOCKS, LINKAGES, AND DOOR LATCH WAS, ISSUED FOR HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED OF THE 10 YEAR EXPIRATION PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 114,000.

2008-01-05, Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING MY 1996 COUGAR THIS PAST SEPTEMBER, WHICH HAS ONLY 40,360 MILES ON IT AND IS STORED MOST OF THE YEAR FOR THE PURPOSES OF COLLECTING AND PRESERVING THE VEHICLE INDEFINITELY, AT LOW SPEEDS I NOTICED THE OBVIOUS SIGN OF COOLANT AND THE SMELL OF COOLANT COMING FROM UP UNDER THE HOOD. I THEN SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN RIGHT AWAY AND DISCOVERED COOLANT RUNNING ONTO THE GROUND BELOW. NOW, BEING OF AN EXPERIENCED NATURE WITH AUTOMOBILES AND USING CLOSE OBSERVATION OF THE PROBLEM IT APPEARED TO BE EMANATING FROM THE FRONT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I THEN DISCOVERED AFTER THE FACT THAT THESE 4.6 LITER ENGINES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS INTAKE CRACKING PROBLEM, SO NOW I WILL BE PURCHASING AN UPGRA

2006-04-15, Fuel System, Gasoline
MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. RECALL # 97V159000 1992-93 MERCURY COUGARS...FORD RECALL LETTER TO YOU DATED 9-17-1997..MY COUGAR BUILT 4-'96...1996 WAS THE LAST YEAR FOR THIS CAR. ALL COUGARS 1992 TO 1996 SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, FOR THE CONVOLUTE COVERING PREVENTION TO BE INSTALLED AROUND THE FUEL LINES PER FORD RECALL LETTER 573.5 (C) (8) CAMPAIGN # 97S84. PURSUANT TO PART 573 OF TITLE 49 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS. *NM

1996 Mercury Cougar questions

Does the 1996 Mercury Cougar have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 1996 Mercury Cougar: Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mercury Cougar?

Based on 62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine And Engine Cooling (23), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (6), Visibility (6).

How do I check if a recall on my 1996 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.