1999 Mercury Cougar V6 from North America - Comments

I bought the vehicle brand-new in February 1999. I did not have any problems during the first two years.

Third year, front brakes and rotors were replaced.

Front ball-bearings were replaced.

Front engine hood latch broke, was fixed.

Last year (2004), alternator went out, and was replaced by dealer. Some months later the alternator went out again, and was replaced yet again by the same dealer. However, they wanted me to pay labor charges because the alternator they used for the first replacement was not a Ford OEM part, even though they are a certified Ford (Mercury) dealership! Both times the alternator went out, towing charges were incurred, totaling around $400 for both times.

Now it has a humming sound in the engine when first turned on (O2 sensor maybe?). The heater/AC blower only works in max, which can be fixed by replacing the blower resistor, sold only at Ford dealerships or by special order from auto parts stores.

Trunk automatic latch release never did work right, even when I first bought it.

My best advice I can give to 1999 or later Cougar owners is to buy after-market parts whenever possible, especially brakes and rotors. Also use mixed-metal brakes if you can afford them. After-market parts eliminate, or at worst reduce, many of the inherent problems with this car.

Also, if you bought a Cougar without the rear spoiler, do not purchase it from the dealer. Get an equivalent after-market model, they cost half of what the dealer would charge you. Same argument goes for in-trunk CD changers.

I apologize for not specifying mileage for every incident because I would have to look at the service records to get that information.

I guess I consider myself lucky for not having gone through many of the other issues other Cougar owners have faced.

On the bright side, the car has very good power, excellent handling and decent acceleration.

I wrote a comment on the alternator issue for my 2000 cougar. The alternator is placed on the underside of the engine, where dirt and oil is spun into the alternator by the front-wheel drive shaft. If the engine has oil leaks from the steering pump, the leaked oil will cause premature alternator failure within four to six months, if not sooner. The fix is to keep the oil from leaking and keep the general area around the alternator clear of dirt and oil build-up. I myself have gone through three alternators, because my steering pump has been leaking oil down towards the drive shaft (half-shaft).