1999 Mercury Cougar V6 from North America - Comments

I would like to thank the owners of the 1999-2000 Mercury Cougars. I am trying to find another vehicle and was very well interested in a 1999 Mercury Cougar, not just because of their looks, but, also for the low price and mileage. I really appreciate your opinions and these comments about this vehicle makes me rethink about buying a cougar and also better yet a ford product in general. I am very sorry about your vehicle and I hope that you can trade or sell it back to the dealership.

I'm amazed how many other people are reporting trouble with fuel feed, esp. regarding stumbling, stalling, etc with a half full tank or less. The problem is the molded plastic gas tank in Cougar/Contour/Mystique is prone to warping. The bottom of the tank distorts downward, which lowers the level of the gas away from the pickup. I have a 2k Cougar and Contour and it happened to both; the Cougar at 25k (fixed under warranty) and now the Contour at 53k. The Ford dealer told me some nonsense about "debris" in the tank and wanted to replace the pump and "clean out" the tank. By now I had already been through the identical symptoms with the Cougar so I went to the L-M dealer who at least was aware of the condition. As soon as they put the car up on the lift they immediately saw the "visible distortion". I called the Ford 800# and yelled & screamed - the rep said they "have no knowledge of such a problem" - but the job was done for 30% of the total cost ($968).

Interesting: when the Contour was diagnosed the work order stated: "SOP: replace tank and fuel pump". Who creates Standard Operating Procedures for problems that "almost never happen"? There's a massive cover-up going on here.

I leased the 1999 Cougar, purchased it at lease end (big mistake - thought I was making wise decision as I would have been responsible for $3K in over mileage charge!) Alas, all the miles, 105,000+ are all mine.

I too have had to replace the fuel pump, thou I did get reimbursed from Ford and am in possession of document authorizing any future replacement until 2010.

• Tires are costly - on second set.

• The fan blower also had to be replaced.

• I had the brakes replaced and the mechanic could not reset the brake "idiot light" on the overhead instrument panel. I refuse to pay a Mercury dealership $$$ to reset it.

• The latest "malfunction"! The speedometer choked. Occasionally, it works in reverse - 100 mph = 55 mph - Most of the time the needle is on the right side of the pin. Easily $550 to replace! I've learn to pace myself with the traffic and to gauge from tach!

I do love the styling and for the most part the overall performance. I seem to have jinxed the automotive industry - as I have previously owned a Fiero, T-Bird and now the Cougar. Any car's fate seems doomed following my acquisition.

I would just like to add my comments about the 1999 Mercury Cougar. On the one hand I'm relieved to know that it's not just my daughter's Cougar, but apparently ALL Cougars (at least the more recent models).

My daughter bought her 1999 Cougar in 2000 with 22k miles on it. She was 19 at the time and it was her first "new" car purchase. She paid $17,000 cash (an insurance settlement allowed her to do this) and she was SO excited. This was her dream car at the time. Well, her dream has become our worst nightmare over the last 5 years. We've replaced the tires several times, the check engine light was on for months... turns out that the O2 sensors had to be replaced to the tune of about $400. The driver's side window has stopped working three times, it is not on the fourth. The driver's power seat has stopped working three times, Now it's on the fourth go around (and it's stuck in the all the way back position now since her boyfriend was driving it last night). And for over a year there has been a loud clunking sound coming from the rear ever time you go over a slight bump. Sounds like something banging in the trunk so who knows what THAT problem is. Oh, and the CD changer has broken twice. Add to the foregoing, the gas mileage is terrible. Now she can't drive it till we resolve the seat problem, and we hold our breath every day that it will hold out till she finishes school, has a full time job and can buy a new car. Kiss it goodbye as a trade-in, she won't get a dime for it.

I feel sorry for everyone in this same awful situation that she/we are in with this car. Sure, it looks cute, but what good is that if it's broken down all the time.

Oh my goodness... If I had seen this website and others about the '99 Cougar, I would have ran the other way. I bought my Cougar used with a few miles on it. Since having it only 3 years, I have had more problems than I have ever had with my '98 Honda CRV. From the engine light to the squeaky back brakes, the tires, the motor mounts, the brake senors and the non-existent trunk release. I have considered many times to get rid of it, but no one else would probably want it or I would get nothing for it nor my time spent keeping it going. Ford should be paying us to drive these slap-together, junk-pile cars...MG!

To all of you with a 1999-2002 Mercury Cougar that has fuel pump problems please see the website linked below:

http://www.autosafety.org/uploads/phpbpVnEI_04N02Owner.pdf.

There has been a problem found with the fuel pump & Ford will pay for the replacement.

Mine is for sale... wish me luck everyone! The tranny has now lost its first gear... have to start in 2nd! The Air has been gone since the first summer. The engine light has been on for 3 years (the mechanic has replaced at least 3 of the parts that the diagnostics say has caused this problem and he thinks its the catalytic converter). The sunroof is not working ($2K to fix even though it's a broken cable!) The fuse box was shorting and the dealership wanted $1500 to replace the entire electrical system. The alternator was replace 7 times last year... the design flaw is that the alternator is directly behind the passenger wheel well) and we've had at least 3 batteries because of this. The tires were replaced with a slightly different size when we first got the car so that the replacement isn't quite so expensive, but because of the low profile the rims are not round any more... need I go on... (yes! there's more!)

Anyone want to buy it? As is of course!! LOL!

I have a 99 cougar, and it's horrible.

My newest problem with it is the alarm will not stop beeping, even when the car is unlocked or if I'm driving down the road. Has any one else had this problem, and if so, how do I fix it? It's driving me crazy!!!

I have a 99 cougar as well.. I just got it in August of 2005 after a drunk driver hit my mitsubishi galant in may of 05 and at the time I thought I loved the cougar and it'd be my dream car.

I have not experienced the awful things that you all have, but I do have some complaints.

As with the comment above mine, my alarm went crazy once too!!! The answer was that the previous owner put an aftermarket alarm on it and I was never notified. So one day I locked myself in and opened the door without pressing the "unlock" button first, and my car went crazy for an entire day--- and I've been told by countless people mine has the "loudest most annoying alarm they had ever heard"..

Second- The brakes have started to squeak, not too bad and not like the horror stories you have all posted.

Third- the trunk latch is anything, but normal, you press the button and it just sits there so you have to manually open the trunk with the key.

And this one doesn't even need a number because I'm positive if any of you own the Cougar and live where it snows you have experienced the "winter effect" of it... awful sliding, unable to break and often ending up in ditches--

Plus my car only gets 18.2 miles to the gallon, is that normal?

Wow are you right about the "winter-effect" in the Cougar! I've never spent so much time stuck in the snow, and the sliding around is awful! I havn't had all the other stuff go wrong with mine yet though, so far I still pretty much love it, and it's going on 85,000 miles. Just had the tire rod's and the front left wheel bearing replaced though. And my engine light also won't turn off. My battery light and airbag lights turn off and on too...

"My battery light and airbag lights turn off and on too..."

Your alternator is going bad.

I have a 1999 Cougar, well you're all right about it, it is a piece of junk.

I just got it last month, and I'm already having problems with it.

First it now needs a wheel bearing (making a bad noise on front left wheel), and now it won't start at all. One of the bigger fuses has blown under the hood. It has a fuse box there, well I thought that's all was wrong with it, so I had a friend take me down and I bought two fuses. When I got back home, I put one in and when I turn the key on it, just blows the fuse. I thought well maybe that was just a bad fuse, I put in the other fuse and it did the same thing when I turned the key on. So yes, these cars are not worth anything. As the used car dealer is charging me &8,400 for this junk car, I just hope he will fix it like he said he would.

To anyone out there, please do not make the mistake I did, do not buy this type of car, KEEP AWAY. And yes I think the company should be paying us for this type of car.

Hi guys! I feel your pain! I purchased my '99 Cougar in April '02. I had the warranty on it when the alternator broke. However, the dealership didn't want to replace it. So, I also had to get a battery.

I also have replaced the tires now 2 times. AND that was expensive. I couldn't believe it.

I have had the Brakes fixed all the way around (pads & rotors). I had to have a tune up at the same time. AND I just did the front ones again. (But the light won't go off)

The check engine light came on a few months ago and the throttle positioning sensor was messed up. It sometimes sticks and I go faster (even when my foot is off of the gas.)

I have had the fuel pump replaced, and the fan.

My hatchback latch closes all the time after I try to open it.

The engine light came on recently & they said that it was the catalytic converter. They said something about there being three different one from slightly expensive to extremely expensive. AND of course you guessed it! It is the EXTREMELY expensive one. I did find someone who will put it on for a little cheaper. He also, found out that the fuel injectors were really clogged. This will result in the changing of head gaskets which I have already been told when he looked at it it was already leaking a little. So, I am working on this now.

Oh and when there is some water standing on the road the belt squeals loudly, & sometimes the power steering goes out & its difficult to drive it like that. I haven't figured this problem out.

I also went to have a routine oil change and they called telling me that my brake fluid was burned & my transmission fluid was burned, and I had a clogged air filter. This was a little expensive.

I need an alignment, but I need a sway bar & links.

Now I really wouldn't be complaining if this all didn't start 4 months after getting the car.

I have to let some things go for a little because I cannot afford it.

AEC~

I don't know what you guys are complaining about. Bought my 02 brand new, never had any problems. I want to know how hard you everyone's been driving to make everything break... maybe its my custom after markets that have been keeping me from having problems? Then again, maybe I'm just lucky.

Well, my cougar hasn't been too bad. I have had a few problems, but mostly they're just the normal stuff. I had to replace the brake pads, (something else too, don't know what it was, but it all only cost about $150 and it had to do with the rear brakes). I started looking around here to see what's up with my check engine light being on, and it sounds like I don't need to worry about anything. The trick with the trunk is to go to the trunk with your remote and click the button twice. Then be putting pressure upwards on the trunk when you hear the click and it will pop right open. There's also some kind of combo of buttons (that group of four of them) that you can press and hold for 5 seconds or so to fix the wrench icon on the hud.