1999 Mercury Cougar V6 from North America - Comments

I've got a 2000 cougar and it makes this loud air noise when cold start up. Goes after 3 minutes. Any suggestions?

I have a 1999 Cougar, I loved it when I bought it. I haven't had as many problems with it as many others but I have had my problems. Had to replace the alternator 3 times, the firs time was 3 days after I bought the car, the blinkers don't work, don't know what is wrong with it and my engine light is on. The dealer says it is just the oxygen sensor that I shouldn't worry it won't cause that much of a problem but is has now! The AC fan works when it wants to. So we have to hit it from time to time to get it started. Don't want to pay for a new fan, plus when it is on a lower setting it makes a funny noise threw the speakers, and messes up the radio. My husband and I are counting the days until we can get rid of it.

OMG, everything I read you guys said is true. I have a 2000 Mercury Cougar; the trunk struts don't work, had to replace spark plugs and wires, the alternator had to be replaced, it has transmission fluid and oil leaks, and the intake manifold runner control has to be replaced, the windows go up slow, the sun roof don't work, replaced new tires twice.

This car is seriously nothing but a big headache.

I wish to post regarding the slick '99 Cougar I purchased recently. It is silver in colour with a kick a$$ sunroof. It runs great except when I try to accelerate hard from the lowest gear.. starts sluggishly. I want to make this vehicle my hobby car and do repairs myself. It is an automatic. What could the problem be? possibly the fuel pump?

I've owned my 99' Cougar since driving it off of the showroom floor in 99' and I have to say that I haven't had tire wear issues, engine light issues, electrical problems, transmission problems, fuel delivery problems (but, did take the car in for the recall, of course), or any of these issues. I actually cannot believe what I'm reading. The only issue that I have is the squeaky windows, but all they need is to be greased and they're good for another few years... no biggie. And, I've replaced the battery and alternator recently, but expected after all these years. If you take care of your car, it will in turn take care of you. I'm am happy to say since purchasing the Cougar, nearly 9 years ago, all I've done is basic maintenance. I drive hard, but I'm driven to maintain and protect it just as hard.

I too cannot believe what I have been reading. I bought my 1999 Cougar about 6 months ago. It has 125,600 miles on it. I only paid $2000 for it, but the transmition was bad. I rebuilt it myself and it has been running fine sense.

The only issues I have with the car is the problem with the hatch not opening properly and the cup hold is JUNK! The hatch I fixed just by adjusting the latch. The cup holder on the other hand is never used.

As I was reading through the other comments about this car I noticed that 90% of the complaints were to do with regular maintenance. People are complaining of the spark plugs and wires needing to be replaced. Whats next your going to complain that the oil needs to be changed?!?!?!

I saw a few saying that the tires wear out quickly, then they say that it needed an alignment. The tires are wearing out BECAUSE it needed the alignment!

To be fair there was some lagitamate complaints. On person said that they are only getting 18 mpg. Either your calculations are off or there is something wrong. My car is consistently getting 30+ mpg and I am not an easy driver.

I am an original owner of a 2000 Cougar with about 94K miles on it. I have had many of the problems that many others have commented on. My car has been properly maintained over the years by my husband, who tends to be quite anal about things so I feel a lot of my issues are not maintenance related and frankly related to my car being a lemon...

Shortly after buying the car, the flywheel went at about 4K miles, luckily it was still under warranty!

The starter went on my car at about 20K miles, again covered under warranty.

I have had an ongoing issue with the driver's side window motor dying and had that replaced. It had died after that for a day here or there and then it's never happened since then-go figure! It still squeaks while going up or down. The famous Cougar sunroof died and cost me $1200 at about 50K miles. I had an alternator replaced at 50K miles. A few times, it wouldn't start in the morning and had it towed to the dealership to have it start right up for them!

I have had problems related to my check engine light being on/off for about a year. Last year, I had the EGR valve and the PVC valve (I think that what it was!), then the light came back on and they said my catalytic coverter needed to be replaced for $1200 which I declined so it is not essiential to do for emmisions in Michigan (frankly I couldn't afford it!).

So last week I started noticing a screeching noise and my husband thought my alternator was going again! Well, took it in yesterday, the tensioner drivebelt, the idler pulley and the alternator are all bad. So this is my 3rd alternator, not as many as some but still unacceptable in our eyes. The other items could have worn out naturally but still...Also, CEL was on again and this time they said upper intake needed repair so that was done and a tune-up which is normal maintenance so $1K later, I pick up my lemon today. Thank god Uncle Sam deposited our $1200 into our account today!

I know I am forgetting some things that have gone wrong with my Cougar. I like my car and the styling but frankly we are always waiting for the other shoe to drop with this car. Based on other experiences, this car has definite quality issues and it is very disappointing that Ford will not acknowledge them, especially all of us inflicted with the sunroof issue-the dealership tried for 2 hours to just get the darn thing down and closed (though unusable) and they couldn't-my only option was to replace it. A side note, I have a coworker who has a 2001 Cougar who hasn't had ANY issues with her and she can't believe it when I tell her all my problems!

I bought a 99 Cougar a little under a year and a half ago, and have nothing but problems with it. It has been sitting in my yard for the past 6 months until recently with a blown transmission. It has a little over 120k on the engine, and it has turned sluggish on acceleration. I have tried the octane boots and cleaners to put into your fuel. No help. Also having the tire wear problem. Yes, I've had it realigned but still no help. The fuel gage on it is off by a hair or two, which is alright with me. No turning issues or anything.

Another problem I've been having is car batteries. I've went through 2 BRAND NEW batteries in less than 2 year.. No idea what to do about that. I now double check to make sure all the lights are out of it before I leave it, interior and exterior.

When I bought it, it had the trunk latch problem, which I can live with.

Even through all of this complaining, I still love the car, when it is running, and love driving it.

Yes, it sounds like a lemon you bought, and yes, all car companies have them. And to be honest, if it were me having problems like that from the get go, I would have gotten rid of it ASAP. You know with problems like that from the beginning, your in for a lot of problems later on.

I have to honestly say that I haven't had that many problems with my 1999 Mercury Cougar, which is now at about 220,000 clics. The biggest (and most annoying and consistent) problem I have with it is the trunk latch: I hate the fact that it's always getting stuck. My button for the passenger window only works periodically but I think it may just be a contact problem as we can put the window up and down fine with the passenger window button on the driver's side door. Other than that, haven't had any problems with either the gas (and my husband runs that thing REALLY low), or alarm, or parts problems. I'm not big on the cup holder, which conveniently broke off one day so now I'm looking for another one... Maybe I got lucky with this car...

To all those with alternator problems. Check for oil leaks. You will probably find one dripping oil into your alt. and burning it up. Which causes it to slowly go out causing all sorts of other electrical problems.

Has anyone had any problems with their brake lights not working at all? I have checked the fuses, switches, and grounds. Replaced all the bulbs. Can't find a relay, might not have one, don't know. Any suggestions?

I have a beautiful red 99 Cougar, with 137,000 miles on it. I agree with the person who said a lot of people are complaining about problems, but aren't doing regular maintenance. Also a lot of people are complaining about SIMPLE issues that cost very little to fix.

Having said that, I have had problems too. It is a fun car, just not the best made ever.

-Yes, my fan switch only worked on high, but I bought the replacement blower motor resistor and replaced the faulty one (located under glove box, in the ductwork. it cost maybe 25 bucks and took 5 minutes. (note this can happen to any car)

-Yes the front seat cup spiller is crap. It would appear that the designers intended it to be used only with a half full medium coffee cup and nothing else... Use the one in the rear seat or deal with it, or install an aftermarket one (cupholder is a design flaw)

-I have had the flickering lights issue and gone thru one alternator and the electrical harness leading to the battery. (design flaw - the harness runs behind the engine and tends to get rubbed and burnt... this causes shorts and flickery lights, and the alternator is buried under the car, making it more susceptible to oil, dirt and water issues)

-The noise on cold starts? -common problem with the cougars its called "moosing" it is caused by resonance in the IAC controller tubing that is emitted back out the intake. Sounds like an angry moose or a fog horn. give it a little gas, or fiddle with the throttle or ignore it.

-The transmission? its not the best. baby it and keep the fluids checked.

-The trunk? yes the latch it miserable and yes the pistons go bad. replace em when they go bad. stretch out the springs every now and then and the hatch lid will pop up like it should, or add another spring to strengthen the ones in it.

-tires wearing too fast? get an alignment done!!! don't hit potholes and maybe get a different tire.

I have not experienced any issues with the windows or fuel pump or some of the other odd issues that some have.

My advice? find a good mechanic and also do some searches on some online cougar forums.

99 Cat. I like my cupholder. That's about it.

I have a 99 Cougar V6 that I bought in April of 2002. For the first 2 years it was a great car. Alway did routine maintenance, alignment, tire rotations, tune-ups. So in the past 3 years one of the arms for my sunroof broke, new battery, alternator, clutch, starter, tons of headlights and fog lights, window motor, 3rd gear syncro or slider broke and my a/c clutch went out. I have never had so many problems with one car. I also get that loud fog horn sounding noise at start up... only during the cold months though. The windows are pretty loud. I have actually gotten used to the cup holder. I use it everyday. The trunk latch sticks a little, but I don't use the trunk much. It also seems like it cost a fortune to get any kind of work done. I will be trading this car in. I should have done this a long time ago.

I have a 99' Cougar that my parents got for me when I was a sophomore in high school. It did what we wanted it to, but not without some minor irritations.

The check engine light has been on for the full 4 years that I've had the car. The break light turned on and never turned off again 3 months after I got it.

It seems the trunk door of the car is too heavy or something because the door will reclose and lock if not opened right away.

There has always been a bad synchro in 3rd. (The car had 100,000mi on it when I got it.)

Whenever I fill my gas tank more than 3/4 full, the entire passenger compartment smells like I dumped gas on the seats instead of in the tank.

All of those problems were pretty minor and I could live with them.

I learned to ignore the warning lights.

I don't use the trunk unless completely necessary.

I've readjusted my shifting so that 3rd syncs before I let it engage.

I never fill my gas tank more than 3/4 full.

Simple. I can live with it.

Now that I've moved 1100 miles away from home, though, the problems have suddenly gotten worse.

The synchro in 3rd grinds almost every time I shift into 3rd.

First grinds and pops out when I try to start.

The engine has developed a terrible smell like it's getting ready to burn.

The gas tank now causes the car to smell EVERY time I get gas.

The locking system has failed completely.

Now, if I want to open my trunk, I have to do this awkward fuse-in, push button, fuse-out, teamwork circus act to get it open, and that act causes the car alarm to go off.

These new problems are a bit more serious and a lot less livable. I want to get rid of the car, but I don't think I can get enough money for it to get a new car. Since I'm in school, I probably will be living with it until the trans goes completely.

I know that these problems are not related to service and the previous owners wrote down every service with the date and miles and I've continued that. This car has been taken care of.

I love the looks, but hate the car.