1986 Mercury Cougar Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 15%of 13 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1986 Mercury Cougar, 15% of the 13 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Head gasket on 3.8 engine has blown two times in 8 months. Car overheats and has oil in radiator. Heater does not work. And very dim lighting on speedometer.”
NHTSA complaint #10098640, filed 2004-11, 100,000 miles“The hood is held up with a thin metal rod and placed into a hole in the hood. There are several holes to put the rod into but only one is proper size and fit. If you are under the hood and you or someone else accidentally bumps the rod, then you will have your head or hands literally chopped off since the weight of the hood is so heavy due to heavy metal plates placed in there for front end crash protection. I complained to the ford company in 1986 but they just laughed as well as NHTSA. …”
NHTSA complaint #10060600, filed 2004-03Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 4 | 4% |
| 2001 | 3 | 4% |
| 2000 | 16 | 8% |
| 1999 | 31 | 7% |
| 1997 | 2 | 3% |
| 1996 | 5 | 8% |
| 1995 | 7 | 6% |
| 1994 | 11 | 8% |
| 1993 | 4 | 2% |
| 1992 | 8 | 9% |
| 1991 | 9 | 12% |
| 1990 | 18 | 21% |
| 1989 | 21 | 26% |
| 1988 | 10 | 18% |
| 1987 | 3 | 9% |
| 1986 | 2 | 15% |
| 1985 | 2 | 20% |
| 1984 | 1 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1986 Mercury Cougar
4 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1986 Mercury Cougar
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology