1985 Mercury Cougar Problems
- Complaints
- 10filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 18 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl RWD · 16 city / 20 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1985 Mercury Cougar (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 1985 Mercury Cougar. The part named most often is electrical system, with 6 complaints (60% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (2) and engine cooling (1). Of all complaints, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system6 60%
- Engine cooling1 10%
- Seat belts1 10%
- Body and structure1 10%
- Tires1 10%
Example complaints
Vehicle speed control: “Driving at various speeds vehicle would surge & accelerate; would have foot on brakes at time to slow down. After driving a while would pull off road & turn vehicle off & then restart; no sign of surging/accelerating; problem is intermittent. Took to dealer & could not find problem.”
NHTSA complaint #814303, filed 1997-09Engine cooling: “While driving at any speed vehicle stalls. When consumer reaches to 60 MPH vehicle will shutdown, and the consumer has to coast off the highway to get to the side of the road. Vehicle has been in the repair shop, and dealer can't determine the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #836914, filed 1999-04Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1985 Mercury Cougar version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cougar RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 17 | 24 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Cougar RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 16 | 20 | 17 | $3,950 |
| Cougar RWD | 3.8L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 16 | 20 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Cougar RWD | 3.8L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 17 | 20 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Cougar RWD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 22 | 17 | $3,950 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 85V025000Mar 11, 1985Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinderCovers: Mercury Cougar 1985, Ford Thunderbird 1985
Brake master cylinders may have improperly anodized internal surfaces causing accelerated wear of a piston seal. Consequence of defect: one portion of the split brake system would become ineffective resulting in increased stopping distance which may cause an…
Recall details for the 1985 Mercury Cougar → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1985 Mercury Cougar.
Other model years of the Mercury Cougar
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 95 | 66,600 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 82 | 69,900 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 211 | 65,000 | 3 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 454 | 68,217 | 7 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 76 | 71,550 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 62 | 80,000 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 109 | 60,000 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1994 | 137 | 75,000 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 195 | 114,664 | 3 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 92 | 95,000 | 3 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 73 | 95,000 | 3 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 86 | 75,400 | 3 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 81 | 116,828 | 4 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 55 | 67,500 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 33 | — | 1 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1986 | 13 | 100,000 | 2 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 1985 | 10 | — | 1 | — | 18 | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 17 | 41,000 | 1 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
All Mercury Cougar model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1985 Mercury Cougar have?
NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 1985 Mercury Cougar as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1985 Mercury Cougar is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 6 complaints (60% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 2.
Has the 1985 Mercury Cougar been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1985 Mercury Cougar get?
The EPA rates the 1985 Mercury Cougar (Cougar, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.