1999 Mercury Cougar Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 50about this part
- Share
- 11%of 454 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 75,750miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 50 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1999 Mercury Cougar, 11% of the 454 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 75,750 miles. 1 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.
“When driven it jerks when u take off and when it shifts, and it makes a clunk noise when I him hit a bump it is so bad my car goes the other way the rear end.”
NHTSA complaint #10460730, filed 2012-06, 130 miles“I have a 1999 Mercury Cougar, and have had it about 4 years now. I have had no problems with the car, except having to have the alternator replaced. I work 3rd shift (7p-7a) at a local hospital, and on my way home, my car started slipping in and out of gear. The car would go for a minute, then it would stop, and I would push the gas and the car would just rev up. I had a line of traffic behind me, so I as trying my best to get the car off the road. I finally got it into an empty parking lot and called to get some help. …”
NHTSA complaint #10243573, filed 2008-09, 120,000 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“I own a 1999 Mercury Cougar which currently has 5700 miles. The flywheel has failed ,resulting in complete replacement of the starter and flywheel. The problem began more than a year ago but was so intermittent that my mechanic could not reproduce the problem in order to diagnose. At this time the vehicle is being repaired. Damaged parts will be retained for future inspection if needed. I conducted a websearch and found a website which contained many other owners of 99 cougars experiencing the exact same problem, even at the same approx. Mileage. …”
NHTSA complaint #10112584, filed 2005-03, 42,000 miles“I own a 1999 Mercury Cougar. I have maintained the vehicle per the service manual through the local Mercury dealership. Sometime during early april 2005, I noticed that the car hesitated and jerked violently after about fifteen minutes of normal driving. We were able to drive the car in for service. The dealer diagnosed the problem and replaced a part. The car continued to malfunction the very next day. I returned to the dealership and was told that the problem was with transmission. I have had the transmission replaced by a local ford dealership. …”
NHTSA complaint #10120837, filed 2005-05, 76,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10014086Dec 13, 2004General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
- 10013369Nov 1, 2004General power train control module (pcm) programming procedures.
Transmission 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 1999 Mercury Cougar
99 complaintsBrakes
77 complaintsEngine cooling
67 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
52 complaintsFuel system
46 complaintsExterior lighting
34 complaintsBody and structure
34 complaintsAir bags
31 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