Skip to content
Electrical systemPart report

1999 Mercury Cougar Electrical system Problems

Complaints
99about this part
Share
22%of 454 total for the year
Median mileage
70,132miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 99 complaints about the electrical system of the 1999 Mercury Cougar, 22% of the 454 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,132 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“1999 Cougar battery connection problems or something faulty. Sometimes while I'm driving my car just goes dead. It's done that a lot lately. I now have a new battery but the same thing happens and I'm scared when it happens on the freeway . Tonight I was driving on the freeway and it went dead! I had no lights , I had no tail lights,no head lights ,no blinkers and no emergency lights and the car close behind me had to slam on breaks cause there was no emergency lane, no side of the road just a guard rail! I was in the middle of the road . …”

NHTSA complaint #10795276, filed 2015-11, 191,487 miles

“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

“3/21/05 vehicle taken to lincoln Mercury driveability concern by>>( my wife)>>>check engine light on, they fond intake gaskets leaking vac & bank 2 also monitor are very active need tune up and plug wires and tires... My wife gave them all technical service bulletins diagnostic trouble codes po420 & po430 paper....also,told them 99-Mercury Cougar 2.5l engine stall and have inability to start car...they kept paper, and told her she need new battery cables!!!! Call manufacturer on TSB and recall, we was told there was no recall on our vehicle I.d. …”

NHTSA complaint #10147941, filed 2006-01, 111,004 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200244%
20011215%
20006330%
19999922%
199745%
199635%
199555%
199464%
199384%
199255%
19911115%
19901922%
19891215%
19881222%
19871339%
1986431%
1985660%
1984741%

Other parts of the 1999 Mercury Cougar

Brakes
77 complaints
Engine cooling
67 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
52 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
50 complaints
Fuel system
46 complaints
Exterior lighting
34 complaints
Body and structure
34 complaints
Air bags
31 complaints
Vehicle speed control
31 complaints
Tires
27 complaints
Other or unknown
26 complaints
Suspension
22 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1999 Mercury Cougar

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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