MERCURY COUGAR · model year

1992 MERCURY COUGAR

122 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992MERCURYCOUGAR carries 122 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1992 COUGAR is engine and engine cooling:engine with 14 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights:switch (12) and exterior lighting:headlights (12). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 22 investigation files overlapping the 1992 COUGAR. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

122
Complaints
7
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

122 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE14
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH12
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR3
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS3
POWER TRAIN3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3

Recent Complaints

20170922EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, SOMETIMES WILL BLINK BACK ON AND SOMETIMES NOT. VERY DANGEROUS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MUST PULL OVER AND WAIT EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME TO CONTINUE DRIVING.

Mileage: 92,000

20150603SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD REMAIN STUCK AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT WOULD FAIL TO SECURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20131001ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING SHORTS AND SPARKS. EFFECTING TURN SIGNALS, BLOWER MOTOR AND OTHER ELC. FORD ADVISED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED WITH A 1996 RECALL FOR THE SWITCH AND THAT IT WAS SERVICED AND REPLACED. YEA - REPLACED WITH A FAULTY ONE! FORD REP. SAID THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS AT ALL! *TR

Mileage: 89,000

20100510EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET SPOKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

20090610EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WILL SPORADICALLY FAIL AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 139,000.

Mileage: 139,000

20070222EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE CONSUMER'S 1992 MERCURY COUGAR WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. *CC EVENTUALLY THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF MORE THAN THEY REMAINED ON. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A RECALL WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM HE WAS HAVING WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE'S VIN AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THE CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE PART HIMSELF. THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH WAS A MOTORCRAFT, E6EB-11654-AA.*NM

20061222EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT HER 1992 MERCURY COUGAR'S HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OFF AND ON. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE COULD BE SITTING, PARKED OR DRIVING, AND LIGHTS ALWAYS TURN OF BUT IF SHE TURNS THE SWITCH OFF AND ON THE LIGHTS TURN ON AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THIS STARTED HAPPENING BACK IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LAST YEAR. THE CONTACT SAID THAT SHE DID FIND THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH WAS ISSUED 10/08/99 FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS: SWITCH.

20060109SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT END SUSPENSION INCLUDING BALL JOINTS CAUSING FRONT END COLLAPSING. *NM

20041207EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

RECALL 99V275000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON /OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, AND/OR INTERMITTENTLY WOULD GO OFF AND COME BACK ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER FOUND THIS RECALL NUMBER ON NHTSA WEBSITE, CALLED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Mileage: 100,000

20040707TIRES

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH FRONT/REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NATIONAL, XT6000, SIZE 21570R15, DOT#DHM37777018. *AK A SECOND TIRE WAS REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE DEFORMITIES THAT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE ALONG WITH OTHER DIFFICULTIES. (TIRE MAKE/NATIONAL XT6000X) *SC

Mileage: 42,000

20040702TIRES

ON TRIP TO OHIO ONE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE SECOND BECAME DEFORMED WHICH WOULD HAVE SHORTLY BLOWN EXCEPT IT WAS ON THE FRONT AND EXIBITED A DEFINITE WOBBLY . THE TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES ON THEM.MADE IN CANADA BY NATIONAL MODEL XT 6000. *AK

Mileage: 43,000

20031126EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

RECALL 99 V275 000/HEADLIGHTS: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AND COMING BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 99V275 DUE TO VIN. *LA

Mileage: 155,000

20031008EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 99V275000; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.*AK

Mileage: 98,000

20030605CrashSTRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE 1992 MERCURY COUGAR INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT BELONGED TO MY FATHER, BUT HAD BEEN LOANED TO ME. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE PASSED OUT, POSSIBLY FROM LOW BLOOD SUGAR AND RAN THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT HE WAS GOING 50MPH, WHEN HE HIT A DIRT CULVERT THAT WAS ABOUT 5 FT HIGH. THE IMPACT CRUNCHED THE FRONT OF THE CAR AGAINST THE FIREWALL LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE METAL CROSS BARS IN THE TRUNK, BEHIND THE BACK SEAT SNAPPED, WHICH CAUSED EVERYTHING IN THE TRUNK TO FLY INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT FROM THE FLYING DEBREE. THE FORCE OF THE CROSS BARS SNAPPING, KNOCKED THE BACKSEAT COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE. IF A CHILD HAD BEEN IN THE CAR, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE STOOD A CHANCE OF SURVIVAL BECAUSE OF ALL THE ITEMS IN THE TRUNK SLAMMING INTO THE PASSENGER AREA.*AK

Mileage: 120,000

20030605CrashSTEERING

THE 1992 MERCURY COUGAR INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT BELONGED TO MY FATHER, BUT HAD BEEN LOANED TO ME. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE PASSED OUT, POSSIBLY FROM LOW BLOOD SUGAR AND RAN THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT HE WAS GOING 50MPH, WHEN HE HIT A DIRT CULVERT THAT WAS ABOUT 5 FT HIGH. THE IMPACT CRUNCHED THE FRONT OF THE CAR AGAINST THE FIREWALL LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE METAL CROSS BARS IN THE TRUNK, BEHIND THE BACK SEAT SNAPPED, WHICH CAUSED EVERYTHING IN THE TRUNK TO FLY INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT FROM THE FLYING DEBREE. THE FORCE OF THE CROSS BARS SNAPPING, KNOCKED THE BACKSEAT COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE. IF A CHILD HAD BEEN IN THE CAR, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE STOOD A CHANCE OF SURVIVAL BECAUSE OF ALL THE ITEMS IN THE TRUNK SLAMMING INTO THE PASSENGER AREA.*AK

Mileage: 120,000

20030501ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKETS BLEW A LEAK DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION AT RAHWAY, NJ INSPECTION STATION. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734305

Mileage: 77,777

20030331EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE HEAD LIGHTS TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. *JB

20020923POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH ON A ROAD, CABLE GOT STUCK BETWEEN THROTTLE, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. CONSUMER HAD THE PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. *AKTHE TRANSMISSION BOOST CABLE HAD BOKEN WHICH CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO STICK THEREFORE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT. *JG

20020722ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKETS BLEW A LEAK DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION AT RAHWAY , NJ VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION. *AK

20020606ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHEN I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK IT SEEMED FINE. WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR AFTER WORK I IDLED REALLY ROUGH I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MORE EXPENSIVE GAS I PUT INTO IT THE NIGHT BEFORE, SO I PROCEEDED TO THE GAS STATION TO LET THEM KNOW. THE CAR DROVE REALLY ROUGH ALL THE WAY THERE. A RED LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASH JUST BEFORE I GOT TO THE GAS STATION SAYING CHECK GAUGES. THE GAUGE SHOWED THAT THE CAR OVERHEATED. AFTER HAVING MY CAR WORKED ON ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO FOR A OVERHEATING PROBLEM, IT HAD BEEN RUNNING REALLY COOL, SO DIDN'T THINK I WOULD HAVE A OVERHEATING PROBLEM. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE FAN WORKED I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE CAME A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE THAT DISAPATED REALLY FAST AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE. CHECKED OIL THERE WAS NO WATER IN IT, BUT IT WAS LOW . I ADDED A QUART IN ORDER TO GET IT HOME. IT STILL HAD WHITE SMOKE OR STEAM COMING OUT THE TAIL PIPE. ALSO THE SEATS DO NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. THE AIRCONDITIONER DOES NOT

Compare 1992MERCURYCOUGAR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 MERCURY COUGAR have?
The 1992 MERCURY COUGAR has 122 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 MERCURY COUGAR?
The most-complained component for the 1992 MERCURY COUGAR is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH and EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS.
Is the 1992 MERCURY COUGAR safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.