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SteeringPart report

1990 Mercury Cougar Steering Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
5%of 86 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the steering of the 1990 Mercury Cougar, 5% of the 86 complaints for this model year. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

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.

“While driving the vehicle about 2o MPH the vehicle pulled to the right without any warning. Consumer had no control of the vehicle, and the vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle. Consumer had the vehicle repaired and they told the consumer that it was a faulty steering rack. Consumer has contacted the dealer.”

NHTSA complaint #814519, filed 1997-07

Steering: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200233%
200111%
200084%
1999204%
199723%
199623%
199533%
199421%
199321%
199255%
199045%
198945%
198824%
1984212%

Other parts of the 1990 Mercury Cougar

Electrical system
19 complaints
Vehicle speed control
18 complaints
Seat belts
15 complaints
Brakes
9 complaints
Engine cooling
9 complaints
Exterior lighting
5 complaints
Fuel system
5 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
5 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaints
Body and structure
2 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
2 complaints
Engine
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1990 Mercury Cougar

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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