1999 Mercury Cougar Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 52about this part
- Share
- 11%of 454 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 56,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 52 complaints about the visibility of the 1999 Mercury Cougar, 11% of the 454 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 56,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“My blower fan quit working on anything but high. I took it to a mechanic and he found the heater blower resistor had gone out and it melted the connector. There is a safety recall program for 1999 Mercury cougers 01s22.”
NHTSA complaint #10100728, filed 2004-11, 69,500 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“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. I haven't seen a Cougar since with a sunroof that is not broken. Please recall this item!!!”
NHTSA complaint #10155450, filed 2006-04, 32,000 miles“I own a 1999 Mercury Cougar. I just bought the car in january of 2003 with 32,000 miles on the car. Two weeks after purchasing the car the alternator died, which is a common problem with this car, and the dealership replaced the alternator. But two or three weeks after that, my power sunroof broke, which is also a very common problem, and because the car was not under warranty anymore it cost me over $1200.00 with labor to fix. I have since learned that there are many Cougar owners that have had the sunroof break because the 1999 and 2000 cougars were made with plastic rails that easily break. …”
NHTSA complaint #10016632, filed 2003-04, 33,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10011159Aug 9, 2004Rear window defroster grid/integral antenna diagnosis and repair - terminal tab repair.
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 6 | 6% |
| 2001 | 7 | 9% |
| 2000 | 18 | 9% |
| 1999 | 52 | 11% |
| 1997 | 3 | 4% |
| 1996 | 5 | 8% |
| 1995 | 5 | 5% |
| 1994 | 7 | 5% |
| 1993 | 2 | 1% |
| 1992 | 3 | 3% |
| 1991 | 6 | 8% |
| 1990 | 4 | 5% |
| 1989 | 2 | 2% |
| 1988 | 4 | 7% |
| 1987 | 2 | 6% |
| 1986 | 1 | 8% |
| 1984 | 1 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1999 Mercury Cougar
99 complaintsBrakes
77 complaintsEngine cooling
67 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
50 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 30, 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