Total Complaints
160 filings
MERCURY COUGAR · model year
1995 MERCURY COUGAR
160 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1995MERCURYCOUGAR carries 160 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 5 fires, 7 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 1995 COUGAR is engine and engine cooling:engine with 15 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (14) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (13). 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 1995 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.
160
Complaints
12
Crashes
5
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
12 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 15 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 14 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 13 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 11 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 6 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20201007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ALONG HWY ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR WHEN CAR ENGINE STOPS. THIS STOPS POWER STEERING, BRAKES ETC. TO STOP WORKING AND YOU HAVE A HARD TIME PULLING OFF THE ROAD. WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND CAR COOLS DOWN A LITTLE. IT WILL THEN START UP AGAIN AND YOU CAN GO AGAIN FOR ABOUT 1/2 MILE OR SO AND ENGINE DIES AGAIN.
Mileage: 7
20201007ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE DIFFERENTLY AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE PURVIS FORD INC LOCATED AT 3660 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY #1, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT COULD BE THE IGNITION MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR, OR THE POWER CONTROL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A MESSAGE WAS LEFT ON THE VOICEMAIL RECORDER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
20201007POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE DIFFERENTLY AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE PURVIS FORD INC LOCATED AT 3660 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY #1, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT COULD BE THE IGNITION MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR, OR THE POWER CONTROL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A MESSAGE WAS LEFT ON THE VOICEMAIL RECORDER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
20150903VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS, APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, I TAPPED THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUSE CONTROL, AFTER MAKING MY EXIT IN TO A RESIDENTIAL AREA THE CRUSE CONTROL TRIED TO RESUME MY LAST RECORDED SPEED WITHOUT ME PRESSING ANY OF THE CRUSE CONTROLS. THE CAR REACHED ABOUT 50MPH IN A 35MPH ZONE AND THE RPM'S SPIKED TO ABOUT 5000 BEFORE I HAD TO MANUALLY TURN OFF THE CRUSE CONTROL.
Mileage: 200,000
20051207SUSPENSION:FRONT
DT: THE CONTACT STATED APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS AGO HE HAD THE FRONT END REDONE. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER THE LEFT BALL JOINT FAILED AND IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN, HE NOTICED Y THAT THE RIGHT BALL JOINT MALFUNCTIONED. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
20051207SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT STATED APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS AGO HE HAD THE FRONT END REDONE. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER THE LEFT BALL JOINT FAILED AND IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN, HE NOTICED Y THAT THE RIGHT BALL JOINT MALFUNCTIONED. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
20051207SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT STATED APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS AGO HE HAD THE FRONT END REDONE. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER THE LEFT BALL JOINT FAILED AND IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN, HE NOTICED Y THAT THE RIGHT BALL JOINT MALFUNCTIONED. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
20050131FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
ONE DAY I WENT OUT TO MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE APPARENT. I PROCEEDED TO START MY CAR AND FOUND IT SLOW TO START THOUGH IT DID START UP AFTER A BIT.THAT EVENING AFTER WORK AGAIN THERE WAS A GAS SMELL AND AGAIN IT TOOK LONGER TO FIRE UP.UPON ARRIVING HOME THERE WAS A BIG WET SPOT ON MY GARAGE FLOOR WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY GASOLINE AND AT WORK THE NEXT DAY ANOTHER PUDDLE OF GAS WHERE I NORMALLY PARK. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THEY TOLD ME MY FUEL LINES HAD WORN THROUGH [CHAFED] IF YOU WILL BY IMPROPER INSTALLATION. BEING THE FUEL SYSTEM IS UNDER PRESSURE AND THE LINE WORE THROUGH THIS IS THE REASON THE CAR STARTED SLOWER THAN NORMAL ANDWHY THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL.LUCKILY THIS FAILURE DIDN'T CAUSE A FIRE IN MY CAR ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS IN MY GARAGE THOUGH THE MECHANIC SAID IT COULD HAVE. THE FUEL TANK HAD TO BE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED ALONG WITH THE PURCHASE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FUEL LINES FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE ENGINE AT
Mileage: 35,000
20050104SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PERFORMING. WELL. CONSUMER STATED THAT GEARS WERE NOT CHANGING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED.*AK
Mileage: 67,000
20050104ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PERFORMING. WELL. CONSUMER STATED THAT GEARS WERE NOT CHANGING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED.*AK
Mileage: 67,000
20050104SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PERFORMING. WELL. CONSUMER STATED THAT GEARS WERE NOT CHANGING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED.*AK
Mileage: 67,000
20031230UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INFORMATION REQUEST CONCERNING RECALLS OR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS FOR THE 1995 MERCURY COUGAR.*MR *CB *JB
20031105VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ODOMETER STOPPED AT 40,296. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER OWNERS OF MY SAME CAR AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *LA
Mileage: 40,296
20030329ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLEW A HEAD GASKET IN MY 1995 MERCURY COUGAR DUE TO A RECALL THAT WAS NOT PERFORMED BY BELL FORD ON MAY 23, 2002 WHEN THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THAT REASON ONLY. WHEN I CONTACTED BELL FORD AND MERCURY ON MARCH 27, 2003, NEITHER WILL PAY FOR THE WORK THAT NOW NEEDS TO BE DONE. I AM NOW LEFT WITHOUT A CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED AND A LARGE BILL TO PAY WHEN THIS COULD HAVE ALL BEEN AVOIDED IF THE RECALL WAS DONE WHEN MY CAR WAS BROUGHT IN. *NLM
Mileage: 53,000
20030326VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
MULTI- FUNCTIONAL SWITCH FOR (SIGNALS, BRIGHT LIGHTS, FLASHER AND WIPERS DEFECTIVE). *JB
Mileage: 75,000
20030128ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE SEIGE UP CAUSING TO SHUT DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
20021127ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATED THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND RPM'S JUMP FROM 2000 TO 3000 CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE ALL POWER. THE DEALER CHANGED MAIN SENSOR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM STOPPED, BUT RPM'S PROBLEM CONTINUED. DEALER CHANGED SPEED SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. FINALLY THE HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED. *YH
20020514FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
FUEL INJECTION LINES WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, THIS CAUSED FRICTION AGAINST THE FUEL TANK AND CHAFED A HOLE THROUGH THE FUEL LINE, CAUSING A LEAK. *SLC
20020501POWER TRAIN
CONSUMER STATES ODOMETER IS INOPERATIVE, DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
20020205ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
A GREEN FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, LOCATED CRACKS IN RADIATOR, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING. *AK *YD
Compare 1995MERCURYCOUGAR to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1995 MERCURY COUGAR have?▼
The 1995 MERCURY COUGAR has 160 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 5 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 MERCURY COUGAR?▼
The most-complained component for the 1995 MERCURY COUGAR is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR.
Is the 1995 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.