The 2000 Mercury Cougar has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 644,800 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 283 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…
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
25
5fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
23
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
20
1fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
13
1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
13
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
12
2crashes3injuries
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
10
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10
1crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS
9
5crashes5injuries
Total complaints283
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Takata inflatorsi have a 2000. Mercury. Coguar. When. I bought the. Car it ran tgood, then. In 2014. I had to. Pay 1000. To get a. Fuel pump put in. And. That only lasted. 2yrs. Now the fuel pump went out . I don't. Have. That kind of money .I live on as. When I pay my bills I'm. Broke. I looked…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 mercury cougar. While driving 15 mph, the headlights failed without warning. In addition, the windows and sun roof independently rolled down. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 mercury cougar. While driving 15 mph, the headlights failed without warning. In addition, the windows and sun roof independently rolled down. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 mercury cougar. While refueling the vehicle, the fuel pump would only allow 1-2 gallons to enter the fuel tank before shutting off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 mercury cougar. The contact stated that the battery failed and multiple warning indicators, including the check engine indicator, illuminated. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics to have the battery replaced. After multiple incorrect diagnostics, it…”
“Having so many problems with the fuel systems. I have put fuelput a new fuel pump in gas tank 2 yes. Ago. Put fuel pressure sensor this year. Put new fuel regulator this year now when driving it will just stop. And wouldn't startup”
“Letter from congressman griffith on behalf of constituent re electrical safety issues with 2000 mercury cougar. *tgw the consumer stated he constantly experienced wiring/electrical problems. *jb”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 mercury cougar. The contact stated that the interior lights and headlights flickered. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the wiring harness had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer informed the contact that the vin was not included in…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 Mercury Cougar as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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