The 1999 Mercury Cougar has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,190,338 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 740 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
THIS ACTION IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE SAFETY ACT. ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FDM WITH A NEW DESIGN AT NO CHARGE IF THE OWNER REPORTS THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS ANY OF THE IDENTIFIED SYMPTOMS. THE FREE REPLACEMENT WILL BE…
ON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLANTS, THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS…
Consequence
THE OPEN CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT COULD MELT THE CONNECTOR HOUSING MATERIAL CREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH TERMINALS COULD OVERHEAT.
Consequence
THIS COULD CAUSE EITHER A LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED BRAKE LAMPS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW STOP LAMP EXTENSION HARNESS WITH BRONZE TERMINALS AT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CONNECTOR, AND ALSO INSPECT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FOR SIGNS OF OVERHEATING AND REPLACE, AS REQUIRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L V6 ENGINES. THE BATTERY CABLE WAS MISROUTED AND ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE ALTERNATOR CABLE WAS UNDER-TORQUED. IF MISROUTED, THE CABLE COULD CONTACT THE POWER STEERING LINE AND THE INSULATION COULD WEAR, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence
THE SHORT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE, STALLING, OR A NO-START CONDITION.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERY CABLE TO THE ALTERNATOR FOR DAMAGE AND, IF IT IS DAMAGED, WILL REPLACE THE CABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ROUTING OF THE CABLE WILL BE CORRECTED, AS NECESSARY, AND A ROUTING CLIP WILL BE ADDED. ALSO THE TORQUE ON THE ALTERNATOR ATTACHMENT OF THE CABLE WILL BE CHECKED AND, AS REQUIRED,…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC00V0750002000-03-09436,200 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.
Consequence
IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DOOR LATCH MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A LATCH PAWL THAT HAS A COATING WHICH WILL SWELL IN HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS. THE LATCH PAWL MAY THEN STICK IN THE OPEN OR UNLATCHED POSITION.
Consequence
THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED. IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN THE DOOR OPENING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A BURR ON OR NEAR THE END OF THE CABLE SLEEVE INTERIOR. THIS BURR COULD FRAY THE CORE WIRE RESULTING IN THE ACCELERATOR NOT RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE STICKING, BINDING, OR CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPM.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED ACCELERATOR CABLE THAT HAS A FLARED CONDUIT SLEEVE END AND MOLDED ON END FITTING.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
40
1crashes3injuries
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
33
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
31
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
31
2crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
26
2crashes5injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
26
1injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
23
3crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
21
2crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
18
10crashes11injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
17
Total complaints740
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Yes, I purchased my vehicle in july of 2017. When I test drove the vehicle, everything seemed perfectly fine. Yet, the day I received it, I went to the gas station to fill up. Upon returning home, 1 mile., the engine light came on. I was told by the seller all was perfectly fine. Drive the car, it…”
“Transmission having problems going into gear constantly slipping and catching gears when trying to drive only gets up to 30 mph”
“I got in my car one day after work in the parking lot and started my car and my airbag light was on. It stayed on for three days and is no longer on. It seems like no one wants to take account or provide solutions for the problem. Everytime I roll up my windows, my lights dim as if the battery is…”
“I got in my car one day after work in the parking lot and started my car and my airbag light was on. It stayed on for three days and is no longer on. It seems like no one wants to take account or provide solutions for the problem. Everytime I roll up my windows, my lights dim as if the battery is…”
“I got in my car one day after work in the parking lot and started my car and my airbag light was on. It stayed on for three days and is no longer on. It seems like no one wants to take account or provide solutions for the problem. Everytime I roll up my windows, my lights dim as if the battery is…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 mercury cougar. While driving approximately 5 mph approaching a stop, the vehicle idled and stalled without warning. In addition, the speedometer fluctuated. The failure recurred, especially when the heater was activated. The contact would have to turn the ignition key…”
“I have problem with transmmition shifting 1st to second changes at 3000rpm but when I change park to drive shakes motor bad , one of the wires start smoking I like I put tape around wired burnd. Temperature it doesn't show but when I open the hood the car is very hot every time I tried driving it…”
“I have problem with transmmition shifting 1st to second changes at 3000rpm but when I change park to drive shakes motor bad , one of the wires start smoking I like I put tape around wired burnd. Temperature it doesn't show but when I open the hood the car is very hot every time I tried driving it…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA01001 Opened 2001-01-05 · closed 2001-07-31
BLOWER SWITCH/RESISTOR OR WIRING HARNESS
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA01001 Opened 2001-01-05 · closed 2001-07-31
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 Mercury Cougar as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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