2002 Mercury Cougar problems
Owners have filed 127 complaints about the 2002 Mercury Cougar with NHTSA. Fuel system, gasoline accounts for 32.3% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 8.7%.
Complaints127
Crashes16
Fires1
Injuries21
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Fuel system, gasoline 32.3% · 41
Engine and engine cooling 8.7% · 11
Power train 8.7% · 11
Engine 7.1% · 9
Air bags 5.5% · 7
Visibility 4.7% · 6
Vehicle speed control 3.1% · 4
Electrical system 3.1% · 4
Severity
Of those complaints, 16 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire and 21 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 10 model years of the Mercury Cougar in this data, 2002 sits 6th by complaint volume. 1999 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 11 in the last three years against 19 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 73,750 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Cougar. The contact stated that while she driving at 30 mph, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the fuel pump. However, the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer advised that the vehicle was not included in recall nhtsa campaign number 04v421000 (fuel system, gasoline). The approximate failure mileage was 29,000. Fuel system, gasoline · reported at 29,000 miles
2002 V6 Mercury Cougar chugs and stalls out at or below half tank of gas. Engine light diagnostic read out indicates replacing fuel pump, regulator, pressure sensor, or o2 sensor. Have replaced fuel pump however issue remains. Called ford regarding recall in aug 2004, but am told that my vin# was not affected by this recall. Reading the description of the recall sounds all too familiar though. Fuel system, gasoline · reported at 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Cougar. The current and failure mileage were 77,000. While driving the vehicle the contact tried to accelerate but the vehicle took a long to shift up to speed. Often times the vehicle would stutter and hesitate. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer, and was told that the vehicle was not included in recall 04v421000 due to the vin. Fuel system, gasoline · reported at 77,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…