2002 Mercury Cougar Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 9%of 95 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 126,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the engine of the 2002 Mercury Cougar, 9% of the 95 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 126,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Since purchasing 2002 Mercury Cougar in january 2010 the vehicle hesitates, surges, and stalls at any rate of speed. Initially the problem was rare, then gradually occurred more frequently. This now happens at least weekly, sometimes several times per day. This issue has endangered me more times than I can currently recall. Replaced alternator, battery, EGR valve and sensor, iac valve, and catalytic converter. The issue persists.”
NHTSA complaint #10724633, filed 2015-06, 92,000 miles“Driving on freeway, car next to me came into my lane towards my car, I hit my brakes resulting in my vehicle swerving and hitting the median head on at high speed, air bags did not deploy upon impact.”
NHTSA complaint #10673086, filed 2015-01, 110,000 miles“I'm having the same issue with my 2002 Mercury Cougar as everyone else, but when I put my VIN number into the search, there are no recalls listed for it. I don't think that its right that my life be put in serious danger because of an apparent design issue. This car is losing all power and shutting down. It doesn't matter how fast you are going, it happens at all speeds. We thought the alternator was bad, had it replaced and the battery at the same time. The same day, the car lost all power again and died out going 60 MPH on the highway. …”
NHTSA complaint #10668046, filed 2014-12, 179,225 miles“I was on my way to work and about one mile from my destination the engine just stopped. I let it sit about twenty minutes and it finally started again. This happened several days of shutting off while I was on the road driving. Luckily I was at a place when I could pull over on the side of the road and get out of the line of traffic except for one time when I was at a stop light and it shut off and I sat and wait and it finally started again and I was able drive it to a safe spot. I took it to a mechanic and he told me the computer needs to be replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #10569334, filed 2014-03, 73,000 miles“I was driving my 2002 Cougar and the vehicle began to lose power, the check engine light and the fuel light came on. The vehicle came to a complete stop in the middle of the road. I have also experienced the vehicle surging while at a complete stop. I contacted the service manager at my local dealer and the only resolution he could provide me was to have a technician drive it and see if it would happen again. Even though I explained there have been numerous complaints about the issue by other drivers on line, he said there was nothing he could do. …”
NHTSA complaint #10467028, filed 2012-07, 180,000 milesEngine: other model years
Other parts of the 2002 Mercury Cougar
49 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsBrakes
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Mercury Cougar
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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