1991 Mercury Cougar LS from North America - Comments

Air Conditioning failed around 70,000 miles.

Both front and rear brakes have been replaced (rotors and pads) more than once.

Front coil springs at 93,000.

Headlight switch wiring harness malfunctioned causing headlights to blink after 15 minutes of use at around 100,000.

And of course the big one, head gasket went a few months ago at about 102,000.

Rear body mounts have rusted through at 104,000.

Rear coil springs at 104,000.

Rear wheel bearing at 104,000.

First off, this car was my Grandmother's (she got it new) and was passed down to me when I was in college at about 65,000 miles. She didn't drive it a lot in the 8 years she had it and never had any problems. Regular service only and some new tires.

I didn't drive the car much for the first two years I had it. I was at college and only drove it in the summer and the occasional weekend when I came home to visit. With that being said, most of the 40,000 miles I have put on it have been in the past two to three years.

Aside from the AC failing, most problems did not begin until after 80,000 miles. The brakes have been repaired several times in the past three years and just don't seem to last. I do most of my driving in the city (Pittsburgh), so that probably doesn't help. Usually my annual inspection revealed one or two $100-$150 repairs each years during these last few years. I don't feel that this is too outrageous as I park on the street and the car has been exposed to Pittsburgh winter weather for almost five years now. It's bound to take a toll on the car.

Finally, the 3.8 V6 is a sweet engine performance wise, but the head gaskets will go eventually. Mine lasted until about 102,000 and from what I've heard, that's not too bad. The repair, along with a few other minor engine repairs cost me $900.

Despite the frustration over the past year (probably $1500 worth of repairs, with at least $500 more that need to be done now), I really loved this car. When everything was in proper condition, it had a smooth ride and great power for its class. It was comfortable and for the most part reliable until the past year or so when it became an almost constant problem, most likely due to weather and mileage deterioration.

In closing, I am shopping for a new car as I have realized that it's time for the Cougar to move on to the great junkyard in the sky.

It's amazing, i have had the same problems with my cougar as you have had. mine only has 81k miles and was also family owned since new with proper care. i also have an 87 cougar which is much more reliable and seems to be built better.

My 91' Cougar LS has had most of the same problems (head gasket, brakes, and now struts) at 89K. Over all, I love this car! I've done all the work on it myself, which saves A lot on the bills. To date I have only spent about $400 in repairs in the last two years. (about $1000 less than I spent on my 76' Chevy Luv this year alone!)

Good power, smooth ride, power everything... Yeah, I'm happy.

I have a '91 Cougar LS 3.8 that has finally given up on me. All of the above problems sound so familiar! I dumped thousands into my car because I have a sentimental tie to it, but also because it's been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. I haven't had air conditioning in my car for about 8 years! In this day and age, I don't even think they use Freon anymore. I have replaced the tires, brakes (too many times to mention), springs, struts, alternator, starter, steering column, front end, calipers, hoses, belts, oxygen sensors, many many oil changes, windshield, water pump, fuel pump, transmission, head gasket, valve cover gaskets. I know, you're reading this thinking I'm crazy, but I DROVE the car on highway and around town. It was a fun and comfortable car to be in. It had power and luxury. When it hit 200,000 miles (yes, I put the right amount of zeros) I took a picture of the odometer. I was so proud!! But a week later, on a Sunday night, in the snow, I saw the temperature gauge move towards the H for the first time ever. As I was driving, it got hotter and hotter. I put the heat on full to keep it from overheating. I know a little about cars and my predictions about what was to happen next, came true. The white smoke began to pour out of my tailpipe. I knew I had a very short amount of time to get home to my driveway, where it now resides under a car cover. I pulled in to my driveway about 5 minutes later and it started to buck and shake. This was the end. She was about to die. I turned the key to the off position and that was it. She never turned back on. I had cracked the head, and antifreeze was apparently leaking into the engine (not onto the ground where I could have seen it) for some time. One year later, I am in a new Ford, but my heart aches every time I see my Cougar in the driveway. I am trying to save up some money to get it fixed, because everything but the motor is new. I've been told to get rid of it by everyone I know, but they don't understand the love one has for their car. They tried to remake it after 2000, but it will never be the same. It looked like no other and ran like a dream. Take a look around; there are still many of them on the road today! (It's 2008!)

My step dad recently died and my mom is sticken with multiple sclerosis so she can't drive any more.

Today she asked me if I was interested in her 91 cougar.

I said how much & she said nothing, just help her with her yard and house maint.

I said yes of course.

This car is in showroom condition and always been garaged

and it has 87,000 miles on it.

I'm a little concerned with the stuff I've read on this

page because the mileage is right where people start having problems.

The car runs, drives, and looks perfect.

No dings or anything.

My stepfather was a jet mechanic in the air force for 20

years and was intense when it came to auto maint.

He would change the oil every 3 months regardless of miles

since they bought the car new in 91 and now it has 87000

miles on it with 4 oil changes a year and now it's 2008

so It's had at least 17 oil changes and you pull the dipstick it's so clean you can hardly see the oil

on the stick it's so clean.

I'm hoping the excessive care of a retired man that didn't have enough to do, but work on his car pays off.