Total Complaints
283 filings
MERCURY COUGAR · model year
283 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2000MERCURYCOUGAR carries 283 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 20 crashes, 13 fires, 21 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 2000 COUGAR is electrical system with 25 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump (23) and electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator (20). 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. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 22 investigation files overlapping the 2000 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.
Total Complaints
283 filings
Crashes Reported
20 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 25 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 23 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 20 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 13 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 13 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 12 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 12 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES | 10 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 10 |
| AIR BAGS | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 8 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 5 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
SUSPENSION
FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
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 CONT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
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.
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 WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE ROUTING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V031000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,600.
Mileage: 38,600
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.
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 UP RECALLS. AND ITS THE FUEL SYSTEM ON THE CAR. IT JUST STOPS. EVEN IN TRAFFIC. I DON'T SEE WHAT MY CREDIT. HAS ANYTHING. TO DO WITH GETTING HELP. FIXING MY CAR IF IT HAS A RECALL. ON THE FUEL SYSTEM.
Mileage: 74,000
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
Mileage: 71,000
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 NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
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 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 01V031000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,127 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Mileage: 63,127
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V031000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, SPEEDOMETER AND THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING BEGAN OPERATING SPORADICALLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TR
Mileage: 100,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF FAILED TO CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SUNROOF ROLLERS HAD FAILED. THE SUNROOF WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Mileage: 95,000
THE DRIVERS REAR METAL BRAKE LINE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY ON THE HIGHWAY IN A PANIC STOP. THIS RESULTED IN COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. *TR
Mileage: 165,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ASKED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V421000 (FUEL SYSTEM: GASOLINE), BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Mileage: 83,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V421000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
DURING PERIODIC MAINTENANCE THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL TANK STRAP HAD CORRODED AND BROKE. LIKELY CAUSE WAS THE SALT AND CHEMICALS APPLIED TO THE ROADS DURING THE WINTER. THE DRIVER SIDE STRAP WAS INTACT BUT WOULD LIKELY FAIL IN THE FUTURE. I WAS INFORMED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE SPECIAL ORDER SINCE THEY DO NOT NORMALLY FAIL. RETURNED THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE BOTH STRAPS REPLACED. FORTUNATELY THE ISSUE WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE THE TANK SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE WITH FORD TRUCKS OF THE SAME VINTAGE. *TR
Mileage: 164,729
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THERE WAS BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WOULD HAVE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V031000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Mileage: 75,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AS THE WHEEL LOCKED AND THE RADIO SHUT OFF, SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE LISTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V031000 ( ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES). THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A JUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,288.
Mileage: 135,288
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V421000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 141,000.
Mileage: 140,000
MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR SUDDENLY STARTED SPUTTERING, BUCKING, AND IN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. I HAD TO HAVE IT PUSHED OFF THE ROAD OUT OF TRAFFIC. IT WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. WHEN LOOKING ONLINE FOR RECALLS OR SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGNS, ON THE FORD WEBSITE, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT COUGARS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. THE WEBSITE DID NOT SPECIFY ANY MODEL YEAR. WHEN LOOKING ON ANOTHER WEBSITE AND SEARCHING RECALLS, THE 2000 COUGAR HAD NO RECALLS OR SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGNS. WHAT IS INTERESTING TO ME IS THAT THE OTHER THREE MODEL YEARS, 1999, 2001, AND 2002, ALL HAD RECALLS ON THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUED AN EXTENDED MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY ON THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM FOR THOSE THREE MODEL YEARS UNTIL DECEMBER 2010. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY REGARDING OUR PROBLEM AND WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE SENT A NOTICE REGARDING THE EXTEN
Mileage: 92,500
THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT IS EFFECTING MY VEHICLE. I HAVE A V6 ENGINE, AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I START UP MY CAR AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. I WENT ONLINE TO LOOK AT POSSIBLY RECALLS AND SAW THAT THERE WAS ONE DECRIBING THE EXACT ISSUE I HAVE. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN HUNTLEY, ILLINOIS AND TALKED TO A GUY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, NAMED MIKE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL ONLY AFFECTED CERTAIN MERCURY COUGARS FROM CERTAIN PLANTS.... I AM ALSON HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR.
THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT IS EFFECTING MY VEHICLE. I HAVE A V6 ENGINE, AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I START UP MY CAR AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. I WENT ONLINE TO LOOK AT POSSIBLY RECALLS AND SAW THAT THERE WAS ONE DECRIBING THE EXACT ISSUE I HAVE. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN HUNTLEY, ILLINOIS AND TALKED TO A GUY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, NAMED MIKE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL ONLY AFFECTED CERTAIN MERCURY COUGARS FROM CERTAIN PLANTS.... I AM ALSON HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR.
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.