1999 Mercury Cougar from North America - Comments

I bought the car in Sept. of 1999 supposedly brand new right before the dealership got their 2000 models in with 636 miles on it. At about 3000 miles, the catalytic converter had to be replaced (it smelled like rotten eggs). The instrument cluster had to be replaced due to moisture, my stereo/single CD unit had to be replaced due to the removable preset buttons not working. The left rear speaker had to be replaced. The piece that covers the defrost popped up and won't stay clipped in. This is all when it was still under Ford's warranty. Just after the warranty ran out, my alternator stopped working. I purchased a remanufactered one from Advanced Auto, called Ford service department and asked if there was any special tools needed to complete the job and what parts needed to be removed. No special tools needed and said we needed to remove passenger front tire and maybe something else. I had an experienced friend try to replace and tried for 3 hours using different tools and extensions to even get a socket or wrench and a bolt and could not. Come to find out, the alternator on the car was a Ford reman. I called my dealer and they said it was replaced at 200+ miles. And this was supposed to be a NEW car when I bought it. Even though not under warranty, they agreed to pay everything except for towing and the first $50 of total cost ($90.00 total out of my pocket). I'm not sure what it cost, but when I was calling around for price quotes for a reman. alternator, they quoted me over $400 just for the part. I feel I could have gotten more from them now, but was so desperate to get my car running again, I would have taken any help at the time. Since then my window washer does not work, my fog lights don't work, they went out at the same time so I don't think it is the bulbs, and now my check engine light is on. I have always done the proper maintenance, oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles like Ford recommends, etc. Please leave a comment if any of this has happened to your Cougar, because it will give me a better insight and I won't feel like mine is the only one. Thanks.

Overall, this is a fun car. September 2004 will be 5yrs that I have had the car. I have done some modifications like a 2 inch drop using Eibach lowering springs and a Ractive intake with a K&N filter. Intake made a big difference in acceleration and the springs makes it handle so well around tight turns, but make ride much more rough. I will be trading it in for another make and model before they won't give me anything for a trade in. The value of these Cougars are horrible!!

To fix the Engine light being on constantly I recommend using 89 octane fuel. Apparently the fuel here in the US might not be as great as the car wishes it were, but if you use 89 instead of 87 it will run perfectly, the light will go off, and the engine won't feel jumpy every once in a while.

Better fuel helps, but you'll still probably experience that occasional "jumpiness" because there is a recall on the fuel pump - that is a symptom - they recommend that you don't let gas get low. My vehicle has gotten progressively worse, used to experience problems at 1/4 tank, then just under 1/2 tank - dealer now has parts to fix it thankfully, since it now acts up even with 3/4 of a tank of gas...

I also have problems with the piece that covers the defrost-the left drivers side of it is constantly sticking up, so I push it down whenever I see it and it stays for a week or so. I also have a problem when I am at any stoplight-while waiting the car shakes really bad, almost like it wants to shut off, of course, no one knows whats wrong with it (what do these people get paid for?) Anyways, other than that, I love my Cougar. I thing that it is a sweet looking car for a reasonably good price.

I don't know where this reviewer gets their information, but the cavalier is not worse. I've owned 2 and have been pleased with the service I've received from them. I have put next to nothing in my current cavalier repairwise and at 77,000 miles is still a great car transportation-wise. Much less trouble than this cougar being reviewed has been.