2nd Apr 2008, 16:34

I have owned my 99 Cougar 5sp for 4 years now.

I've replaced the alternator 5 times, tires 5 times, my check engine light has been on since 2004 when I bought it, but it seems the light goes off every once in awhile for like 30 minutes at a time.

My moon roof broke in one corner, so it won't completely shut, the suspension set up eats tires like mad.

I have had to replace the throw out bearing; it had been going out since I purchased it.

I have replaced the whole motor due to an oil leak; what happened is that the oil filter blew off its housing because of too much pressure... I had a shop run tests and the couldn't figure it out, they told me I could rebuild it from the ground up, so I just found an 02 motor and swapped it out. Still the check engine light is on, but seems to run better and stronger.

Also the passenger window barely goes up and down.

I had to replace all the wheel bearings also.

My suggestions are; if you have a 99 with a ton of problems like I did, and trust me I didn't write all of them down, swap the motor for an 02, it will eliminate a lot of problems, but I did everything myself cause it was a lot cheaper.

Other than that, the body is perfect, the paint still looks brand new, and every time I clean her she looks showroom ready.

8th Apr 2008, 15:36

Anyone else ever have a problem with your brake lights not working? My brake lights didn't work so I took it into a shop and they said that the wires were coroded. So they cut and spliced them but then like 6 months later, they stopped working again. I didn't have the money to take the car back to the shop so I just didn't fix them, dangerous I know but there was nothing I could do. Then out of the blue, like a couple moths later, they started working again for a few months. Now just recently, they once again do not work. Anyone else have this problem before?

8th Apr 2008, 16:03

I have a '99 Mercury Cougar and it is THE BEST CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN! It is a gorgeous car with a 2.5L V6 that runs like it's brand new even though it has almost 100,000 miles on it. I have not yet had to replace anything on the car. It has a 5spd manual transmission that lets me shift smoothly and the clutch feels firm. I think Ford motor company did a very good job on the Cougar because it truly is a very nice vehicle.

21st May 2008, 21:44

OK, I have a 99 Cougar and I'm pretty much fed up with it at this point. I've replaced 2 motor mounts, a/c pump, LF wheel bearing, and LF control arm. The problem I'm having is when I turn the car slightly to the left it starts humming/vibrating through out the car, but once I get about 60MPH it goes away, or if I turn to the right. I have one person that says its the wheel bearing, and another person that says its the half shaft. Anyone have an idea or have had this problem themselves??

13th Jun 2008, 20:20

I have a 99 cougar with 139k miles and I like it a lot. Ever since I got it this past year once in a while when I go to start it, it makes a loud screeching noise. Then when I turn the key and go to start it up again it will start right up. And within the first minute or so of it running it will start making a ticking noise for like 4 minutes. I'm not really sure why it does this, my guess would be the timing belt, but for the starter I have no clue. it seems to be worse when the check engine light is on, but when it goes off it won't do it for a while.. I'm not sure if I need a new starter of alternator or what. any ideas on either of these concerns would be greatly appreciated.

Email - cougar_108@yahoo.com.

7th Jul 2008, 19:09

I bought my 1999 Cougar in 2000 with 10k miles. Now with 100k+.

Normal problems except for the consistently annoying one that seems like it can't be fixed because no one knows how: the engine light has been on for years. Is it the cat converter? Is it the O2 sensor? Do I just need to get a good piece of electrical tape to put over the engine light?

This problem has cost me over $3000 as I try to pass the emissions tests in each new state I move to (so far, CT and MD). Fortunately, MD has a cap on how much I have to spend before I receive a waiver, and it is only going to cost $450 every 2 years.

Would love to know how to fix that engine light problem -- been to three shops including Firestone and two competent independent shops. Firestone told me they didn't know what else they could do, so do not to come back.

Otherwise, I enjoy my Cougar.

7th Jul 2008, 23:12

After reading all these comments I feel like I am joining an AA meeting..

I too have a 1999 Mercury Cougar, red, V6, 2.5L, 5 speed. It has 171,000 miles on it and it is still kicking. My check engine light has been on since a few days after I purchased it in January 2006 with 98,000 miles on it. I didn't have a clue how to drive it and I had drove Chevy Cavaliers before it. I absolutely love my Cougar! I have had issues with tires, and wheel bearings, and I just replaced the rear struts. I haven't done anything more than once and everything I have done has come with regular maintenance.

It was a lot of power going from a 4 cylinder car to a 6 cylinder stick. I paid for it too. I had my first speeding ticket withing the second week of owning this car and two more within the first six months.

This car has been worth every penny of the $3,900 I paid for it. I love driving it and I love learning to work on it.

8th Jul 2008, 22:45

I also have a 99 Cougar White / 5 speed / dual exhaust / tinted windows / Rockfer Fosgate system. 135,000 miles.

I have two problems. One it is really hard to put into first or reverse, and when over 1k RPMs, all the lights dim and come back up, then dim and come back up, almost like a strobe light. Anyone know a way to fix these problems? I'd love to know.

21st Aug 2008, 09:04

I have owned my 99 Cougar for 6.5 years and love her, she is very temperamental.

I never let men drive her. She's definitely a ladies kinda ride.

I have replaced the transmission 1.5 years ago, the tires twice, the alternator twice, the battery, the brakes and things like that twice, however it's been paid for for the last 3 years and I know what she has in her new, and well sometimes things need to be maintained and replaced. For this fact I will keep her and my son will be 16 next year so he wants to drive her, she doesn't like that idea, LOL.

I am having the oil pan gasket, crank shaft seal replaced because of the oil leak that no one can find. So for her sake, I am taking care of her now, instead of it being worse later.

And she is that "burple" color, looking purple all day and blue all night, nice.

Stop talking trash about these babies, mine can go 125 mph easy before I scare and let off of her.