1999 Mercury Cougar from North America - Comments

After one week of owning the new car my brake light came on. After returning it to the dealership I was told "it may be a defective sensor in the brake pad". A courtesy light that is supposed to let you know when it is time for new brakes. The car's brake light came back on leaving the parking lot after getting new brake pads and proceeded to keep coming on after getting the car serviced for the same thing three more times. They finally they seemed to correct the problem only after having the lemon law association called. The sunroof motor went at under a year of ownership, the heat and air conditioning motor flow resistor had to be replaced because the ac/heat only worked on the highest setting (4). I paid to have that replaced, along with the heat duct covers flying off when the heat is used, the cup holder malfunctions, undiagnosed humming in the engine started around 30,000 miles and now I'm being charged for a new alternator, fuel filter, and blown out radio for the second time since I've owned the car. (I am a girl who never listens to the radio loud.) This car has had many other things go wrong with it too lengthy to discuss here, but it was so cute that's why I purchased it and it has been such trouble to keep on the road and too expensive. I'm sorry to say I will be getting rid of it soon and I would not recommend it unless you are a mechanic. I'm getting an import.

Looks cute, is fast and handles well.

I had a 1999 mercury cougar and the problem with the humming is the idle control valve. I also went through 3 blower motors in under 50,000 miles until a new 2000 model year blower was put in and that seemed to fix the problem. You must also be aware that when brakes on this car start making noise get the car fixed a.s.a.p. as they will completely disintegrate. Other problems are with the trunk not popping when using the interior button, warpage on the dashboard insert where heat or air is expelled, alignments having to be done about every 10,000 miles, warpage on the removable anti-theft insert in the radio causing it to keep falling out, door locks mysteriously having a mind of their own and the hood release broke making it impossible to get under the hood. This is especially concerning if you can't add washer solvent in the middle of winter after getting pelted with salt.

I also had the problem with the hood latch freezing up. I finally was able to get a socket on a long extension in through the grille to take the nuts off the bracket and open the hood. The next year it almost froze up again, so I spray it with grease every now and then which helps a lot. Road salt is killer on that kind of stuff.

I can see how the road salt would cause it to freeze up, but for me, it was the cheap plastic hood-release control in the inside of the car that snapped. I was always meticulous when caring for this car (using white grease on the latches and graphite in the locks) and it was always costing me something.

Just saw this post, can't believe what I am reading... Have owned my Cougar since it left the Flat Rock plant in July 1999 and love it. Have had the wire harness re-routed for some int light dimming and the door lock problem, replaced hatch shocks under warranty, fuel pump as well, all tolerable, minor issues for a 1'st year car. Never had other complaints, brakes have been fine, never a problem with the hood latch, no bearing problems... Live in South-Eastern Ontario (cold & Salty up here) have had it Krowned every year since new. Used to take better care of it, now, not so much, but, 115,000km and going strong... Will gladly drive her till she drops, probably another 6 years :)