1999 Mercury Cougar Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 31about this part
- Share
- 7%of 454 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 65,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 31 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Mercury Cougar, 7% of the 454 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,000 miles. 12 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Passenger side air bad deploys in a parked car causing injury and damage worth $3,500 and ford refuses to pay for it. On 31st may 2003, we went to the library to drop off our books. We parked our car, and I got down to drop the books. My wife, who was sitting on the passenger side turned around to pick more of the books from the back seat and her side air bag blew out. She brought her hand forward to cover her face and was hit by the blown air bag. Airbag deployed when the car was parked. The car is a 1999 Mercury Cougar smoke started coming out and we had to call the fire department. …”
NHTSA complaint #10023104, filed 2003-06, 64,000 miles“While parked in driveway driver side airbag deployed inadvertently. The manufacturer was contacted. The insurance company was also contacted but stated the failure was not covered.”
NHTSA complaint #10037861, filed 2003-10, 66,600 miles“I got in my car one day after work in the parking lot and started my car and my airbag light was on. It stayed on for three days and is no longer on. It seems like no one wants to take account or provide solutions for the problem. Everytime I roll up my windows, my lights dim as if the battery is dying. My windshield wiper control doesn't shut off and im not able to change the speed.”
NHTSA complaint #10947691, filed 2017-01“I hit the car in front of me traveling at 40mph, my seatbelt did not restrain me, my lip hit the steering wheel which made my teeth go all the way through. The air bags did not deploy either, so my head broke the windsheild. The lap portion of the seatbelt kept me from going all the way out, I had bruises on my abdoman from it.”
NHTSA complaint #765905, filed 2002-08“I have had numerous problems with my '99 Cougar such as, failure of my pat system and computer system. I have had problems with my brakes which they can't seem to figure out the problem. I have had my starter replaced twice. I have had defects in several sensors, which is not under warranty that I had to pay a good amount of money for them to repair. My fan has even blown out. There is a burning smell whenever I turn on my heater that none of the dealers can't seem to smell. I also had to purchase a new radiator. …”
NHTSA complaint #10000023, filed 2002-12Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 7 | 7% |
| 2001 | 6 | 7% |
| 2000 | 17 | 8% |
| 1999 | 31 | 7% |
| 1997 | 1 | 1% |
| 1996 | 1 | 2% |
| 1995 | 3 | 3% |
| 1994 | 10 | 7% |
| 1993 | 2 | 1% |
| 1991 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 1999 Mercury Cougar
99 complaintsBrakes
77 complaintsEngine cooling
67 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
52 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
50 complaintsFuel system
46 complaintsExterior lighting
34 complaintsBody and structure
34 complaintsVehicle speed control
31 complaintsTires
27 complaintsOther or unknown
26 complaintsSuspension
22 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 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