1999 Mercury Cougar Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1999 Mercury Cougar most often describe fuel-system symptoms — hesitation, loss of power and stalling, frequently on uphill grades, left turns or with a low fuel level — and many note that a fuel delivery module recall did not cover their vehicle by VIN. Electrical complaints are also common, especially repeated alternator and battery replacement and brake-light switch failures, alongside sunroof track breakage and transmission shifting problems at moderate mileage.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Hesitation and stalling, often with low fuel or on turns

   • 107 complaints (24%)
   • median 71,631 mi at 7.0 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2017

   Complaints describe the engine hesitating, losing power, backfiring or stalling, most often while climbing a grade, turning left, or with part of a tank of fuel. Several owners report the car restarted after stopping, and some were told by dealers or independent shops that the fuel pump or fuel delivery module was at fault. A number of owners say the 04V421000 fuel delivery module campaign did not apply to their VIN, so they paid for diagnosis or repairs themselves. Reported from roughly 36,000 to 165,000 miles, with many between 50,000 and 90,000 miles, and often tied to low fuel level or uphill driving.

   Recall 04V421000

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel delivery module campaign 04V421000 was performed on this VIN, and test drive with a low fuel level on a hill or during a left turn to see whether hesitation appears.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I've got a repeatable failure that happens when I make a left turn or go up an incline while I have less than a quarter of a tank of gas in my vehicle. The car will lose power and start to stutter, and has completely stalled a couple times. I haven't had any parts replaced yet, but I found other people with this problem and an extended coverage program offered by the manufacturer that they say doesn't apply to my vehicle. This has also been NHTSA campaign id as well. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10284562, filed 2009-09, 50,000 miles

   “The car stalled in the middle of the street and engine could not be started. It had to be towed in to the nearest dealership. Diagnosis: fuel pump failure. Cost: $500. Two weeks later I found out that Mercury had a recall on fuel pumps, however my VIN number was not included in the recall. I suppose it's just a big coincidence that my car experienced the same exact symptoms and the fuel pump failed at the same time as the recall. Mercury to this date has not reimbursed me the $500.”

   NHTSA complaint #10078282, filed 2004-06, 53,555 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Repeated alternator and battery failures

   • 55 complaints (12%)
   • median 69,500 mi at 7.5 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,115 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2017

   Owners describe batteries going flat, dashboard lights flashing, windows moving slowly and the car dying without much warning, with the alternator replaced two or three times. Some mention the battery cable routing recall 01V031000 and say dealers found no open recall for their VIN. Others report starter and flywheel problems appearing around the same time. Reported from about 15,000 up to 175,000 miles, with several owners noting failures repeatedly within a few years or a few thousand miles.

   Recall 01V031000Recall 01V230000

   What to check: Ask for service records showing how often the alternator and battery were replaced, and have a shop check the charging system and battery cable routing before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Most recent information is given. Had to have alternator replaced twice with in a 7-8 month period due to a recall issued by ford on february 6, 2001. Nhtsa campaign id number: 01v031000. I had 2 dealerships search for recalls using my VIN, no recalls came up.”

   NHTSA complaint #10162851, filed 2006-07, 64,100 miles

   “The battery seemed low on the car, indicated by interior lights not being very illuminated, but then dashboard lights started flashing and windows rolled up very slowly. I charged the battery for many hours and it took a charge, so I could get to the Mercury dealer. It died when I got there and they were closed, so I had to jump it and move to a safe location to leave overnight. This had happened twice before in the past 2 1/2 years, so I new it was the alternator again! That's three alternators in 2 1/2 years. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10080541, filed 2004-07, 93,000 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Sunroof track and plastic guide breakage

   • 36 complaints (8%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,100 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2012

   Complaints describe the sunroof binding, stopping in the raised or open position, or making a snapping sound, traced to broken plastic guide pieces in the track assembly. Owners say dealers quoted replacement of the whole sunroof assembly, in some cases around $1,000 to $2,000, rather than a small part. A few report water entering the cabin once the panel no longer seals. Reported from roughly 32,000 to 135,000 miles; several owners mention the failure occurring soon after buying a low-mileage used car.

   What to check: Cycle the sunroof fully open and closed several times during a test drive and look for binding, uneven travel or water stains; ask whether the assembly has been repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The sunroof on my 1999 Mercury Cougar has stopped working. It stopped in the raised position and upon investigating the problem it seems that the plastic pieces on the track have broken. While researching the problem I discovered that this is a known problem and can be dangerous because there have been many reports of the sunroof panel actually flying off the car while moving. Ford/Mercury knows this was a problem because they changed the plastic pieces to aluminum after this manufacture year. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10163436, filed 2006-07, 95,000 miles

   “We bought our first Cougar in 2001. It is a 1999. A month after I bought it, the sunroof broke and froze in the up position. I had an extended warranty that was told to us covered this part. When took it in to get looked at, it did not cover it and they said that the sunroof would cost $2000 to fix. Rain, snow, and anything else comes into my car now and the fabric is now ruined. It is utterly ridiculous that this manufacturer made such a faulty product and refuses to do anything to help fix it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10155450, filed 2006-04, 32,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifting and slipping problems

   • 43 complaints (9%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,030 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2016

   Complaints describe delayed or harsh shifts, hesitation and surging during acceleration, the gear selector moving out of drive too easily, and in some cases the car only engaging reverse. Owners report dealers recommending torque converter replacement, transmission rebuilds, or electrical repairs to the transmission. Mostly reported between about 32,000 and 93,000 miles, with a few at higher mileage.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive through all gears including a downshift to first, and ask whether the transmission has been rebuilt or the control module reprogrammed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While the car is running, my 1999 Mercury Cougar will shift from drive to neutral, to reverse, without ever releasing the lock. All it takes is slight pressure on the gear shift to change gears unintentionally. The dealer I just bought the car from 2 weeks ago, and ford tell me that it is normal for the gears to move from drive to neutral with no effort. The dealer said no harm is done. You are just driving down the road at 60 miles an hour when you bump the gear shift, and lose all acceleration until you move the gear shift back to drive. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10079205, filed 2004-07, 48,800 miles

   “The consumer begun to drive, when she attempted to place the vehicle in 3rd gear, it did not. She had taken the vehicle to the dealer, and was told that she needed a new transmission. The consumer felt that this should not have happened with less than 60k miles. Ts the lowell dealer stated that the vehicle had a mazda transmission, and that the transmission had to be completely rebuilt with a new torque converter. Scc”

   NHTSA complaint #10002405, filed 2003-01, 59,000 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights not working (brake lamp switch)

   • 25 complaints (6%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2015

   Owners report the brake lights failing to illuminate, sometimes with the shift interlock not releasing, and in some cases a hot or melted switch connector. Complaints frequently reference recall 01V032000 and say the dealer or manufacturer declined coverage because the VIN was not included. Repairs described include replacing the brake lamp switch and related harness. Reported from about 78,000 to 175,000 miles, typically noticed while driving when other drivers signalled the lights were out.

   Recall 01V032000

   What to check: Have someone watch the rear lights while you press the pedal, and check whether the brake lamp switch and harness recall work was ever done for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Nhtsa campaign id number 01v032000. Ford motor company had a recall for the exterior lighting: brake lights: switch. Even though my vehicle had the same issues as the vehicles under the recall. They will not honor. October 30, 2001 I had the brake switch and jumper harness replaced. Due to the malfunction of my exterior brake lamps”

   NHTSA complaint #10133579, filed 2005-08, 81,491 miles

   “To whom it may concern: (management) I was driving on a residential street and was honked at by another driver who told me that my brakes lights were not working. I had a friend of mine that is a certified repair person look at it and he said it wasn't the light or the fuse or the brake switch under the pedal and that he was 95% sure it was the stop lamp extension harness that has bronze terminals at the brake lamp switch connector. I bought this car in 2004 and under a recall had the blower switch resistor repaired under the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10724828, filed 2015-06, 175,000 miles

Buying note. Check the fuel delivery module recall status for the specific VIN and test drive with low fuel on a hill, then verify the brake lights, charging system and sunroof operation; service records showing recent transmission and alternator work are worth reviewing before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.