1994 Mercury Cougar Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 36about this part
- Share
- 26%of 137 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 89,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 36 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1994 Mercury Cougar, 26% of the 137 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 89,500 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When the car is cold, the transmission does not respond to moderate to extreme accelerator pedal depression. It does not matter if I am in first or 4th gear or the speed. The engine is slow to respond in rpms when I ask for it, then goes to 2,000, then to 3,000, but with no change in vehicle velocity. The car responds relatively well with light, increasing depression to the pedal, but not to anything that would cause a down shift. The problem goes away after 8 miles or so of city driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10014006, filed 2003-04, 110,000 miles“The Cougar at all times refuses to upshift from 1st gear to the next higher gear unless you release the gas pedal at 3,000 RPM, and then reapply gas that seems to allow the gears to change. This also occurs when I am trying to use the passing gear, the cars transmission winds up useless I again release trhe gas and then re-aply it. That is not a very safe situation.”
NHTSA complaint #708866, filed 1999-07“I have had to have the transmission fluid changed numerous times because the transmission studders. That does not seem to fix the problem. But no else can tell me what I should do.”
NHTSA complaint #704120, filed 1999-03“Dealer replaced the transmission in 1996 with a little over 20,000 miles on the car. At less than 60,000 miles, I began having transmission failure. The car shudders very violently when driving at any speed. I do not feel that this is very good workmanship on the part of the ford motor company. I have always owned ford vehicles and never had a pblem such as this. I am very unhappy. There is no way under normal driving conditions should this car be on its second transmission, let alone to be having problems again. …”
NHTSA complaint #713489, filed 1999-10“The cars engine has been replaced(so they said) on july 1997 and now the engine is gone again. The speed control does not work. We have had to replace the brakes 4 times already. The door on the drivers side the window sometimes does not work the windows are power and will not go up or down.also the transmission has been replaced also the car has tire vibration thank you this car is now broke down again and we still are making payments I called the dealer on 4-5-2000 and they said there was nothing they could do thank you again for looking at our car problems.”
NHTSA complaint #721108, filed 2000-04Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 10 | 11% |
| 2001 | 10 | 12% |
| 2000 | 9 | 4% |
| 1999 | 50 | 11% |
| 1997 | 10 | 13% |
| 1996 | 4 | 6% |
| 1995 | 23 | 21% |
| 1994 | 36 | 26% |
| 1993 | 3 | 2% |
| 1992 | 4 | 4% |
| 1991 | 1 | 1% |
| 1990 | 2 | 2% |
| 1989 | 6 | 7% |
| 1987 | 2 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1994 Mercury Cougar
32 complaintsBrakes
29 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsSuspension
7 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1994 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